Recently Published (52)

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  Eleven Ways to Avoid Feed Waste this Winter

  ... suggests a portable feed bunk can be a better option to reduce wasted feed. Swath grazing can be an effective method of feeding cattle; however, it requires planning to ...

  Last Updated: November 26, 2020   |  Tags: Feed Testing, corn silage, silage, stored forages, feed waste

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  Images

  ... about forage and grassland management at http://www.beefresearch.ca/research/forage-grasslands.cfm. Download French version of this image. Extended grazing methods, including swath, stockpiled and bale grazing, have considerable economic benefits over traditional winter feeding systems. Well managed ... topic.cfm/extended-grazing-45 Have an idea for another Raise Your Beef IQ image? We'd love to hear it! Email us at info@beefresearch.ca. Alternatives to Antimicrobials Dealing with Drought Beef's Place In a Healthy Environment Grazing and Pasture Management Learn more about effective grazing ...

  Last Updated: November 6, 2020   |  Section: Resources

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  Decision Making Tools

  ... Control Manure and Nutrient Management Economic Analysis Overall Operation Cow-Calf Feedlot Reproduction Manure Drylot Winter Feeding Costs Extended Grazing Winter Feeding Costs Summer/Fall Grazing Costs Nutrient Management Costs Record Keeping Animal Health and Welfare Body Condition Impact of Body ...

  Last Updated: November 5, 2020   |  Section: Resources

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  Bale Grazing Checks the Boxes for Three Canadian Producers

  Editors note: The following isthe final instalment of a two-part seriesthat will help you to evaluate different considerations for bale grazing across Canada. Long, narrow strips give you flexibility for grazing or bale grazing, John says.

  Last Updated: October 8, 2020   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, bale grazing

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  Beat Costs and Boost Yields with Bale Grazing

  extended winter grazing may include annual forages for swath grazing, corn grazing, and grazing crop residue or cereals. Perennial forages can also be stockpiled for later grazing. Body Condition (BCRC web page) Extended Grazing (BCRC web page) Feed Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle ...

  Last Updated: October 6, 2020   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, bale grazing

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  Calculating Net Returns from Preconditioning Programs

  Calculator Results Scenario 1 Results 30 45 60 Traditional Gross Revenue ($/head) 1132.79 1132.79 1132.79...

  Last Updated: September 28, 2020   |  Tags: preconditioning

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  Meet the Council: Implementing Management Practices that Pay Off

  ... seem to have less trouble calving and have attributed some of that to their fitness level due to them having the space to walk around in the extended grazing system. Swath grazing cows are pastured near the yard site and are given access to about a week to ten days worth of feed at a time using ...

  Last Updated: September 18, 2020   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, preconditioning, Meet the council series

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  Winter Feed Cost Comparison Calculator Regional Trends and Opportunities

  ... can be achieved through extended grazing, where possible. Producers can investigate how extended grazing could impact costs for their own operation, changing the days on feed and the ...

  Last Updated: August 24, 2020   |  Tags: Feed Rations, Feed Testing, winter feed

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  Bov-Innovation

  ... www.beefresearch.ca/files/pdf/Pasture_Managment_Facts_for_Producers_ Infographic_Aug2018.pdf Extended grazing Beef Cattle Research Council http://www.beefresearch.ca/research-topic.cfm/extended-grazing-45 Forage seed mixes for different regions of CanadaBeef Cattle Research Councilhttp ... http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/rotational_grazing_in_extensive_pastures.sm_.pdf Stockpiling perennial forages for extended grazing Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/beef/facts/99-009.htm Dryland forage ...

  Last Updated: August 13, 2020   |  Section: Resources

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  Meet the Council: Willingness to Adapt is Key for Managing Canadian Beef Operations

  While in university, Manning first started learning about extended grazing and once returning to the farm began to try different practices. Over the years they have continued to experiment with different grazing ... notes that in his area having a backup plan is essential. Storms, wet conditions, ice, or mud often limit what they are capable of doing with extended grazing. For example, last years hurricane knocked down all of their corn at a 45-degree angle meaning they were forced to silage rather than graze ...

  Last Updated: June 22, 2020   |  Tags: forage mixtures, silage, Meet the council series

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  New Webpage: Forage Species

  ... cereal crops, including barley, oats, wheat, triticale, millet, sorghum and corn, as forage for grazing, cutting and baling as greenfeed, and extended grazing. Many factors must be considered when making a

  Last Updated: June 15, 2020   |  Tags: Forage U-Pick, Forage species

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  Forage Species

  On this Page Key Points Grasses Legumes

  Last Updated: May 20, 2020

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  Grazing Management

  On this page: Key Points Plant Growth Rest and Recovery Stand Management Developing a grazing plan Grazing systems Paddock Design Livestock Distribution Grazing Legumes ...

  Last Updated: May 7, 2020

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  Water Systems For Beef Cattle

  It is important to control nutrient accumulations in water by providing off-site watering systems that limit direct livestock access to the water source, aeration to keep the water moving, and reducing run-off into water bodies. Water Systems and Sources Water systems can be designed that utilize either ground water or natural sources.

  Last Updated: April 22, 2020

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  Putting Your Check-off Dollars to Work through Research

  This article was written jointly by the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency and the Beef Cattle Research Council. The Canadian Beef Cattle Check-off If you sell cattle in Canada, you pay check-off. The Beef Cattle Research Council Allocation of Research Funds The Beef Cattle Research ...

  Last Updated: February 6, 2020   |  Tags: Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency

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  Improve your profits by lowering open rates in first calf heifers

  ... able to consume about 80 per cent as much dry matter as mature cows. Mature cows tend to be more aggressive at the feed bunks or in extended grazing situations, outcompeting these younger cows for the highest quality feed. On top of this, the post-partum interval (the period after calving before ...

  Last Updated: November 12, 2019   |  Tags: Pregnancy, Breeding

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  Time for a Back-Up Plan - Managing the Impacts of Drought in the Winter

  Beef producers may consider an extended grazing season. While it may not be practical for all operations, some producers can reduce costs and labour and manage manure effectively by ... of Pregnancy Testing Beef Cattle Model (Calculator) BeefResearch.ca Extended Grazing - BeefResearch.ca Feed testing and Analysis for Beef ...

  Last Updated: November 5, 2019   |  Tags: Cattle Nutrition, Extended / Winter Grazing, drought

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  Winter Feeding Cost Comparison Hay vs. Alternative Feeds

  Extended Winter Grazing While the above analysis focuses on alternative winter feeds, extended grazing, such as stockpiled perennial forages, use of annual forages, crop residues, and bales left in the field, have considerable economic and ...

  Last Updated: October 23, 2019   |  Tags: Alternative Feeds, Feed Rations, Feed Testing, Cattle Nutrition, Extended / Winter Grazing

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  Webinars

  Video Guide: 00:00 - 02:25 : Welcome comments and agenda 2:25 - 7:05 : Who is the BCRC 7:05 - 1:03:48 : Canada's Beef Quality Audit, what have we learned? Video Guide: 00:00 - 02:02 : Welcome comments and agenda 2:02 - 11:05 : Overview of the Certified Sustainable Beef Framework 11:05 - 48:20 : Understanding and managing forage diseases. Managing body condition of beef cows to improve profit Beef Cattle Research Council https://www.youtube.com/watch?

  Last Updated: October 22, 2019   |  Section: Resources

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  Keeping legumes in pasture stands longer

  ... to grazing, extreme weather events, and/or negative soil attributes. Complex mixtures of legumes and grasses will be stockpiled for extended grazing and a database of soil nutrient changes in response to management as it relates to soil carbon sequestration and impact on pasture productivity will be ...

  Last Updated: October 2, 2019

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  Acidosis

  Bunk management Feeding behaviour Restricted access in extended grazing Prevalence and Severity Ongoing Research Acidosis can occur in grazing situations as well. When practicing extended grazing, particularly swath or corn grazing, restrict cattle access to three or four days’ worth of feed at a time in order to minimize selective ...

  Last Updated: October 2, 2019

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  Reducing Swath Grazing Costs, Part 2

  ... known to do well in your area. There were both pros and cons to all crops used to swath graze. It is important to have a back-up plan when swath grazing. When just starting out with swath grazing, it helps to work with others in ...

  Last Updated: September 25, 2019

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  New Web Page: Extended Grazing

  More information).Thenew Extended Grazing page,which is previewed below, is one example. Further webpageswill be added or updated onBeefResearch.ca to include the valuable ... 268" />Extended grazing methods include: Stockpiled perennials Grazing annual small grain cereals Swathgrazing Corn grazing Brassica crops Grazing crop residues Bale grazing For any type of extended grazing system to be ...

  Last Updated: August 1, 2019   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, forage

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  Extended Grazing

  Key Points Benefits of Extended Grazing Considerations When Choosing an Extended Grazing System Stockpiled Perennials Numerous studies have demonstrated the economic and environmental benefits of extended grazing ...

  Last Updated: August 1, 2019

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  Evaluating forage species for stockpiled forages

  ... of the grazing season and decrease the cost of winter feeding. It is clear that research is required to identify superior strategies for extended grazing to improve animal performance under the range of soil and weather conditions observed in the prairie provinces. Stockpiling can refer to forage ... industry-led steering committee, a variety of perennial and annual forages were selected for assessment based on potential suitability for extended grazing, accessibility and cost. In a small plot research trial, annual and perennial forages chosen were; oats (Haymaker), barley (Maverick ...

  Last Updated: July 15, 2019

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  Rejuvenation of Hay and Pasture

  Forage Rejuvenation Methods Grazing Fertilization Mechanical Disturbance Herbicide Application Mowing Sod Seeding

  Last Updated: June 18, 2019

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  Improving Forage Yields

  On this page: Introduction Soil Fertility Moisture Legume-Grass Mix Organic Fertilizer Economics Conclusions Highlights Introduction ...

  Last Updated: March 28, 2019

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  Producers share ideas for developing safe and relatively economic pastures with greater longevity

  CEDRIC MACLEOD, CENTREVILLE, NB Over the past 14 years, Cedric MacLeod has been working to develop mixed stands of legumes and grass forage blends on pastures on his central New Brunswick farm. The frost seeding forage blend includes Alice white clover along with the orchard grass, fescue and Italian ryegrass seed mix. Pastures planned for re-seeding are grazed fairly heavily prior to seeding, then sprayed with a one-half litre rate of glyphosate, before ...

  Last Updated: July 6, 2018   |  Tags: forage mixtures, Forage breeding

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  Genetic evaluation of cattle raised under high vs. low input winter feeding systems

  ... whether genetics identified as “efficient” under feedlot conditions will produce cows with superior lifetime productivity when wintered under intensive drylot vs. extensive range conditions. FDE.06.17, feed efficient, feed efficiency, economics, swath grazing, extended grazing ...

  Last Updated: July 6, 2018

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  Reducing ammonia emissions from beef production

  ... weights increased, resulting in an overall improvement in productivity per breeding herd and efficiency per kg of beef produced. Increased extended grazing of cows (e.g., swath, stockpiled and bale grazing) in 2011 compared with 1981 reduced the NH3 emissions associated with confined ...

  Last Updated: June 11, 2018

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  Eight beef producers share their recent changes

  TREVOR WELCH GLASSVILLE, NB Rotational grazing and forage stand improvements [caption id="attachment_6129" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo submitted by Trevor Welch[/...

  Last Updated: April 24, 2018   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, calving, water

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  Planting corn this spring for your cattle to graze later? Here are 10 corn planting tips

  ... for grazing. Kelln says there is a learning curve for both the producer and the cattle, especially for cattle who have never been exposed to extended grazing. Lardner recommends starting small and planting only 5-10 acres to see how grazing corn can fit into your winter feeding program ...

  Last Updated: March 13, 2018   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, Bart Lardner Ph.D., corn

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  Producing beef using less water

  ... feed grains and protein crops were most commonly used in Eastern and Western Canada in 1981 and 2011. For example, using annual crops for extended grazing was unusual in 1981 but quite common by 2011. The amount of water required by each crop at different stages of production was determined from ...

  Last Updated: December 15, 2017

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  The Canadian beef industry's water footprint is shrinking

  ... feed grains and protein crops were most commonly used in Eastern and Western Canada in 1981 and 2011. For example, using annual crops for extended grazing was unusual in 1981 but quite common by 2011. The amount of water required by each crop at different stages of production was determined from ...

  Last Updated: December 14, 2017   |  Tags: water footprint, water

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  Different approaches/same goal for winter management of heifers

  ... about a month early so they are not trying to still feed a calf and can use available nutrition for their own body growth. Replacement and first calf heifers can do well on fall and winter extended grazing programs, they just need to be properly managed says Lardner.

  Last Updated: October 5, 2017   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, Body condition score (BCS)

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  3 Tips for Swath and Bale Grazing

  ... youre planning to feed your cattle this way into the winter months, here are a few recommendations to consider from a recent BCRC webinar. Extended grazing methods, including swath, stockpiled and bale grazing, have considerable economic benefits over traditional winter feeding systems, such as ... soil organic matter, but generally speaking, the more crop that cattle utilize for energy, the more efficient the extended grazing system. Overall utilization in extended grazing systems is relatively high with both researchers on the webinar reporting between 65-90% utilization during their ...

  Last Updated: September 27, 2017   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, Vern Baron Ph.D., Webinar, swath grazing, John Duynisveld MSc, bale grazing

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  Refining corn grazing recommendations: Webinar October 12

  ... learn more about this extended grazing practice with advice on maintaining good profitability and animal performance. When

  Last Updated: September 14, 2017   |  Tags: Bart Lardner Ph.D., Webinar, corn

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  Registration open for 2017-18 BCRC webinars

  ... out on corn? Want to be sure you are up to date with the latest corn grazing recommendations? Join us to learn more about this extended grazing practice with advice on maintaining good profitability and animal performance.

  Last Updated: August 21, 2017   |  Tags: Webinar

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  Making Dollars out of Sense

  ... as efficiently as possible through extended grazing (where appropriate), feed testing and appropriate supplementation are other examples where increased costs in one area are offset by lower overall costs. Feed requirements are higher in extended grazing systems, partly because cows need more feed ...

  Last Updated: May 15, 2017   |  Tags: Canadian Cattlemen magazine, Canadian Beef Industry Conference, Bov-Innovation

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  The Importance of Trace Minerals

  ... in western Canada.  Herd size and management practices have changed substantially since then, especially with the increased adoption of extended grazing. To identify geographical regions at high risk for micronutrient deficiencies and evaluate the impact of micronutrient status and ...

  Last Updated: March 22, 2017

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  Today is Canadas Agriculture Day

   

  Last Updated: February 16, 2017   |  Tags: Canada's Agriculture Day, CdnAgDay

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  Making Forage and Beef Research Results Accessible to All

  ... category contains the topic Extended Grazing Season. Clicking on Extended Grazing Season will bring up several sub-topics such as Extended Grazing Using Stockpiled Forages, Extended Grazing with Annuals, Extended Grazing with Brassicas, Extended Grazing with Perennials, and Swath Grazing. The ...

  Last Updated: September 13, 2015

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  Announcing the mentors in the Beef Researcher Mentorship Program

  ... of the Canadian cattle industry. Emmas current collaborative research projects include evaluation of perennial and annual forages for use in extended grazing systems, mitigation of enteric methane emissions from cattle through supplementation of forage diets and establishment of the environmental ...

  Last Updated: September 15, 2014   |  Tags: Research Capacity, Mentorship, Emma McGeough Ph.D., Bill Biligetu Ph.D., Raquel Rodriquez Doce Ph.D.

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  The High Cost of Shortchanging Cows

  ... 79% of producers were using some form of extended grazing technique by 2007. Well-managed extended grazing is an excellent way to lower winter fed costs, provided the cows dietary requirements are being ...

  Last Updated: April 16, 2014   |  Tags: Market Cows, Feed Testing, Pregnancy, Canadian Cattlemen magazine, Body condition score (BCS)

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  Raise your beef IQ

   

  Last Updated: March 5, 2014   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, Raise your beef IQ

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  Is it OK to use snow as the only water source for cattle?

  ... Successful Extended Grazing to Reduce Winter Feeding Costs BCRC Blog | December 10, 2012 http://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/extended-grazing-tips/ BeefResearch.ca http://www.beefresearch.ca/research-topic.cfm/extended-grazing-45 Includes videos. Beef Research School: What you Need to Know about Winter Feeding

  Last Updated: February 12, 2014   |  Tags: Extended / Winter Grazing, Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle

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  Top 5s on BeefResearch.ca

  (October 5, 2012) Tips for successful extended grazing to reduce winter feeding costs (December 10, 2012)

  Last Updated: August 8, 2013   |  Tags: Videos, Tech Transfer

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  Ruminal acidosis: Beef Research School episode

  RFI to select for feed efficiency, and extended grazing systems. For more information on the Beef Research School, visit

  Last Updated: March 18, 2013   |  Tags: Feed Rations, Cattle Nutrition, Videos, Greg Penner Ph.D.

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  New video explains the use of RFI to select for feed efficiency

  ... manure management, and the latest beef quality audit. Past episodes discussed extended grazing systems, managing winter nutrition, and

  Last Updated: February 11, 2013   |  Tags: Feed Rations, DNA, Genomics, Videos, John Basarab Ph.D.

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  Extended grazing systems covered in latest episode of Beef Research School

  www.BeefResearchSchool.com The practice of extending grazing into the winter months is quickly gaining popularity. Extended grazing methods, including swath, stockpiled and bale grazing, have considerable economic benefits over ... about extended grazing Tips for successful extended grazing to reduce winter feeding costs BCRC Blog www.beefresearch.ca/blog/extended-grazing-tips/ Extended Grazing

  Last Updated: January 22, 2013   |  Tags: Cattle Nutrition, Videos, Extended / Winter Grazing, Kim Ominski Ph.D., Vern Baron Ph.D.

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  Managing winter nutrition: new Beef Research School episode

  ... School, Dr. Ominski discusses the changing nutritional needs of bred cows and heifers over the winter, and some considerations when using extended grazing techniques. See the video here:

  Last Updated: January 10, 2013   |  Tags: Feed Rations, Feed Testing, Cattle Nutrition, Pregnancy, Videos, Extended / Winter Grazing, Kim Ominski Ph.D.

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  Tips for Successful Extended Grazing to Reduce Winter Feeding Costs

  , in collaboration with Dr. Reynold Bergen, BCRC Science Director. Extended grazing systems have a number of benefits. By extending grazing into the winter months, costs related to traditional winter feeding and the labour it requires can be significantly ... based on a 78% reduction in yardage costs and a 25% reduction in feed costs. Extended grazing can also have environmental benefits, such as residue and manure management. However, extended grazing in our Canadian winters requires some added planning and management. Replacement ...

  Last Updated: December 10, 2012   |  Tags: Karin Schmid, Cattle Nutrition, Extended / Winter Grazing