Tools & Resources

The Beef Cattle Research Council is collaborating with practicing veterinarians and RVTs across Canada to build and modify trusted tools they can use or share with beef clients to improve herd health and profitability. Following are a few examples of the resources and tools available for veterinary clinics and the beef producers they serve.

Nutrition & Feed Testing

The Beef Cattle Research Council offers relevant, science-based information that veterinary teams may use or share with beef clients. Sign up to be notified when new beef herd nutrition resources become available.

Beef Cattle Nutrition

Winter Feeding Cost Comparison Calculator Excel | 109kb

Nutrition in Beef Cattle (BCRC webpage)
Alternative Feeds (BCRC webpage)
Bale Feeding Options (BCRC article)

Carrying Capacity Calculator (BCRC decision tool)

including a legume like alfalfa in a pasture can boost carrying capacity by

Body Condition

BodyConditionScoring.com (BCRC webpage)
Impact of Body Condition Scoring on Cow Productivity and Profitability (BCRC decision tool)

Feed Testing & Analysis

Feed Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle (BCRC webpage)
Tool for Evaluating Feed Test Results (BCRC decision tool)

Water Systems & Testing

It's time to test the waters. Think your stock water is fine? Bad water can lead to a 30% increase in open cows and thousands of dollars in losses.

Clean water makes for heavier calves. Calves with access to clean, pumped water average 18 pounds heavier at weaning time.

Water Systems for Beef Cattle (BCRC webpage)
Economics of Water Systems Calculator (BCRC decision tool)
Test Stock Water & Reduce Worry (BCRC Blog)

Explore the BCRC’s many other resources under the For Producers tab.

Preventative Herd Health

Antimicrobial Use and Resistance

Antibiotic Resistance (BCRC webpage)

Biosecurity

Think You Have a Closed Herd? Think Again (BCRC blog)
Disease risks in herd expansion (BCRC blog)
Johne’s Disease—Cheap to Buy, Costly to Live With (BCRC blog)

Calf 911: Emergency Support for Newborn Calves

Calf Health

Giving Calves a Healthy Start (BCRC blog)
Tips for a Smooth Calving Season (BCRC blog)
Proper Management to Minimize Risk of Calf Scours (BCRC blog)
Benchmarking Calving Management Practices (BCRC blog)

Pain Mitigation

Castration (BCRC blog)
Pain Mitigation (BCRC webpage)

Beef producers care. The number of producers providing pain management to reduce discomfort has increased 500% in recent years.

Vaccinations

BRD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator (BCRC decision tool)
BVD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator (BCRC decision tool)
Vaccination of the Beef Herd (BCRC webpage)
An (Other) Ounce of Prevention (BCRC blog)
Bovine Respiratory Disease (BCRC webpage)

Explore the BCRC’s many other resources under the For Producers tab.

Record Keeping and Data Analysis

The Beef Cattle Research Council offers relevant, science-based information that veterinary teams may use or share with beef clients. Sign up to be notified when new beef cattle record keeping resources become available.

Cow-Calf Production Indicators Calculator Excel

Introduction to Record Keeping & Benchmarking (BCRC webpage)
Guide to Keeping Records That Make Profitable Decisions (BCRC blog)

Explore the BCRC’s many other resources under the For Producers tab.

Set goals and level up. Setting goals and keeping records can achieve 60 more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed. BCRC

Reproduction and Genetics

The Beef Cattle Research Council offers relevant, science-based information that veterinary teams may use or share with beef clients. Sign up to be notified when new reproduction resources become available.