Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

Episode 72: Cracking the Code on Grazing Management

Does grazing management feel overwhelming—full of acronyms and jargon like AUs,  AUMs or AUEs that leave you scratching your head? You're not alone. In this episode, we break down what an Animal Unit (AU) is, how Animal Unit Months (AUMs) are calculated, and how to apply them to estimate forage requirements for different types of livestock. By understanding these, you'll be better equipped to match forage demand with supply and make more informed grazing decisions.
 
Cracking the Code on Grazing Management Terminology: Animals Units, AUMs, & How to Apply Them (article)
Carrying Capacity Calculator (interactive tool)
Grazing Management (webpage)
Vaccination of the Beef Herd (webpage)
 

Episode 71: 15 Ways to Keep Your Beef Herd Safe

As humans transitioned from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled agricultural societies, domesticated cattle became a cornerstone of farming life. Their natural resilience to disease made them an ideal livestock choice. But even hardy animals like beef cattle face health threats. In this episode, we explore common high-risk situations that could compromise your herd's health—and share practical, preventative strategies producers can use to protect their cattle and keep herds thriving.
 
Relevant Links: 
The Best Offense is Defense: 15 Plays to Keep you Beef Herd Safe (article)
Think You Have a Closed Herd? (interactive resource)
Biosecurity (webpage)
Cow-Calf Record-Keeping Course, Forage and Grasslands Records (course) 

Episode 70: Developing a Grazing Plan

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 their cost of production in the long run. A grazing plan that matches animal numbers to predicted forage yields is something that should be done prior to animal turn out. This episode we will review several key steps that should be included in a grazing plan.
 
Relevant Links: 
Developing a Grazing Plan: Making the Most of the Forage you Have Available (article)
Grazing Management (webpage)
Managing & Planning Grazing (webpage)
BCRC Carrying Capacity Calculator (interactive tool)
Vaccination of the Beef Herd (webpage)

Episode 69: Food Safety is Rocket Science

Food safety underpins consumer confidence and demand for Canadian beef. Canada’s researchers develop effective solutions that help to prevent food safety problems from arising, and the check-off you pay helps fund their work.
 
Relevant Links: 
Food Safety is Rocket Science (article)
E.coli (webpage)
BCRC Carrying Capacity Calculator (interactive tool)

Episode 68: Forage Rejuvenation

In this episode, we explore how to rejuvenate forage stands—whether for hay or pasture—by using practical methods to boost productivity. Learn how shifting to higher-yielding, more nutritious forage species can improve livestock health and farm efficiency.
 
Relevant Links: 
Forage Rejuvenation: Fertilization and the Influence on Soil pH (article)
Rejuvenation of Hay & Pasture (webpage)
Rangeland & Riparian Health (webpage)
Forage U-Pick (interactive tool)

Episode 67: Protect Canadian Livestock from Foot and Mouth Disease

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious virus with serious consequences for the beef industry. Effective on-farm biosecurity measures can help prevent the disease from entering, spreading within, and leaving your herd. In this episode, we’ll highlight practical tools and strategies to support disease prevention, along with resources to help you identify the signs of FMD and take action to stop its spread. These efforts are essential to protecting both your herd and the Canadian livestock industry from the health and economic impacts of foreign animal diseases like FMD.
 
Relevant Links: 
Practical Tools to Protect Canadian Livestock from Foot and Mouth Disease (article)
 
Animal Health Canada (webpage)
 
Food and Mouth Disease in Cattle - Spot the Signs, Stop the Spread (resource)
 
Protect Canadian Livestock form Food and Mouth (video)
 
How to Spot the Signs of Foot and Mouth Disease in Livestock (video)
 
How to Stop the Spread of Foot and Mouth Disease in Livestock (video)
 
Foot and Mouth Disease (webpage)
 
Biosecurity (webpage)

Episode 66: Birds, Bees and Breeding Beef Cattle

The goal of a cow-calf operation should be for each breeding female to deliver a healthy calf to weaning each year. While this sounds simple enough, there is a long list of variables that must fall into place before that can happen. In this episode, we’re breaking down the key considerations to keep in mind when it comes to your beef cattle breeding program. From timing and nutrition to herd health and preg checking - to help you improve outcomes and boost productivity. 
 
Relevant Links: 
Birds and Beef and Breeding Beef Cattle (article)
Breeding Cow Management (webpage)
Bull Management (webpage)
Pregnancy Detection Tool, interactive tool)
Tighten the Calving Season: How to Increase Profitability Through Calving Distribution (resources)
Carrying Capacity Calculator (interactive tool)

Episode 65: Icebergs and Native Forages

With drought a recurring reality in many regions across Canada, you might wonder what affects pastures more – the drought, or overgrazing during drought? Recent work from the University of Alberta studied how grazing season and intensity affected forage yield and root mass under drought conditions.
 
Relevant Links: 
Icebergs and Native Forages - What You Can't See Can Sink You (article)
Grazing Management (webpage)
Drought-Related Resources for Cattle Producers (webpage)
Bull Valuation Calculator (interactive tool)

Episode 64: Polycrops: Challenges, Triumphs and Valuable Lessons from Beef Producers

Polycrops, also known as cover crops, forage mixtures, or cocktail crops, are gaining popularity among beef producers for improving soil health, managing grazing, boosting cow performance, and enhancing resilience to changing weather. However, like many farming practices, the results can vary depending on location, weather, and management strategies. The Living Lab Central Prairies program has been growing polycrops on producer operations, evaluating both the long- and short-term impacts. In this episode, we’ll explore the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from the beef producers who have participated.
 
Relevant Links: 
Polycrops: Challenges, Triumphs and Valuable Lessons from Beef Producers (article)
Living Lab Central Prairies (website)
Cover Crops (webpage)
Calf 911 Checklists (printable resources)
Calf 911 - How to Manage Colostrum to Allow Newborn Calves to Thrive (resources)

Episode 63: How to Intervene with a Difficult Calving

Calving season is a busy time, and there are many factors that contribute to a healthy calf being born. While some of these factors are beyond our control, we can prepare for the possibility of difficult calving. In this episode, we’ll review the steps to take when intervening to assist a cow having a challenging calving.
 
Relevant Links: 
Calf 911 - How to Intervene with a Difficult Calving (article)
Calf 911 How to Intervene with a Difficult Calving  (video)
Calf 911 Calving Decision Tree (printable resource)
Dystocia (resources)
Calving Health and Management (resources)
Forage U-Pick (interactive tool)