Alfalfa is a nutritious feed and good for the land, but bloat can kill cattle that graze it and many farmers prefer not to take the risk. Experts say that risk is overblown if grazing is managed well.
Tag Archives Grazing
Grazing alfalfa without fear of bloat
Targeting the proper growth stage and slowing digestion can make alfalfa a safer and beneficial grazing option
Grazing fails to move needle on cover crop soil health study
Saskatchewan and Manitoba research found soil benefits from cover crops, but grazing made surprisingly little impact.
Although cover crops with diverse forages can build up desirable soil traits, grazing cattle showed less soil health value than researchers expected.
Watch out for pasture poisons where livestock graze
Western water hemlock leads the pack on toxic plant grazing risks
After successive dry years, Manitoba Agriculture is warning farmers to be on the lookout for toxic plants on their grazing lands. “In the years where we’ve had drought and we’re struggling to find enough good feed sources, animals end up foraging on species that they wouldn’t normally eat,” said Manitoba Agriculture weed specialist Kim Brown.
Life hacks for winter fencing
Tips for temporary fencing when corn grazing
The humble pigtail is a common sight on most cattle operations that use rotational grazing. They’re light, easy to stomp into the ground, easy to pull out and it takes only seconds to insert the wire. They’re a key labour-saving tool for the miles of temporary fencing that farmers string and unstring every season. When
Corn-soybean intercrop put to grazing test
The novel crop combination is getting an even more novel utility test
[UPDATED: Feb. 23, 2024] Brett McRae is spicing up his corn grazing system this year. He’s got more than one variety growing – a grazing-oriented option and the typical silage corn – but the real experiment is happening beneath the canopy. This year, the corn shared space with forage soybean and hairy vetch. The beans
PHOTOS: November in photos
Through the Lens: A snowy start melted into a mild month
‘Little hammers’ control weeds on organic farm post-harvest
Tillage, grazing and cover crops make up organic post-harvest toolbox
Glacier FarmMedia – Conventional grain farmers have chemical tools to manage weeds post-harvest, but for certified organic producers like Ward Middleton, options are limited. “We don’t really have a sledgehammer-type problem-solving option to control weeds, so we have to use many little hammers,” said Middleton, quoting weed ecologist Eric Gallandt, who coined the phrase at the 2012 Canadian
Turning back the clock with grazing
Cattle can help fill the biodiversity void left from the loss of bison
Cattle are often maligned for their contributions to greenhouse gas levels, but Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Tim McAllister says that’s wrongheaded. “We hear about people advocating for the need to eliminate livestock from agriculture production, basically without really understanding the negative connotations that would have,” the researcher said during a University of Manitoba webinar in August. “We really need to be
Rotational grazing training ground
Western Manitoba operation trains a new group of animals every year
Ryan Canart’s approach to pasture management reflects a lot of the principles that have become old hat during grazing tours across the Prairies. He is among the proponents of rotational grazing. His 907 animals are mostly moved daily through relatively small paddocks, with a goal to grow soil health and productivity. His land features an extensive piping system to
Making the most of available forage
Start the grazing season with a plan and lower cost of production over time
Developing a grazing plan is an important first step to ensure effective grazing management on an operation, and it can help save a producer on cost of production in the long run. A grazing plan that matches animal numbers to predicted forage yields should be made before turn out. Several key steps should be included:
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
