Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

Episode 61: Colostrum Management for Beef Calves

Calving season is busy, and there’s a lot to manage when it comes to cow and calf care. However, colostrum management should be at the top of your list. This episode features the audio form a recent video with Dr. Claire Windeyer, where she shares the latest research on managing colostrum for beef calves. She covers what to look for, when to take action, and how to ensure calves get this vital "liquid gold," all backed by science.
 
 
Relevant Links: 
 
Colostrum Management for Beef Calves (video)
Calving and Calf Management (webpage)
Calf 911: How to Handle Colostrum So Newborn Calves Thrive (video)
Carrying Capacity Calculator (interactive tool)

Episode 60: Vaccines: Use as Directed

Vaccines teach the immune system to recognize what particular pathogens look like, so that it can respond more quickly and effectively if those pathogens are ever encountered in real life. Like any other teaching exercise, repeating the lesson helps it to sink in and establish a stronger memory. Vaccines are the same, so revaccinating or boosting strengthens the immune memory. Listen to learn more!
 
Relevant Links: 
Vaccines: Use as Directed (article)
Bull Valuation Calculator (interactive tool)
Vaccination of the Beef Herd (webpage)
Understanding the Five W's of Beef Cattle Injection (article)
Injection Techniques Best Practices for Beef Cattle (pamphlet)

Episode 59: How to Calculate Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity is the amount of forage available for grazing animals in a pasture. Accurately calculating it is key to setting the right stocking rate, ensuring animal productivity, and maintaining grassland health. The BCRC Carrying Capacity Calculator includes two methods for calculating carrying capacity: Method #1, using forage estimates from provincial guides, and Method #2, the field-based "clip and weigh" method. This podcast episode will explain the four steps involved in each approach. Listen to learn more!
 
Relevant Links: 
Two Methods, Four Steps for Calculating Carrying Capacity (article)
Carrying Capacity Calculator (Interactive Tool)
 
Provincial Guides: British Columbia Rangeland EcologyAlberta Ecological site and community guides, Range Reference AreasSaskatchewan Rangeland Ecosystems: Ecosite Guide (2015)Manitoba Rangeland Classification
Grazing Game Plan - How o Develop a Grazing Plan  (webinar)
Grazing Management (article)
Calf 911 Checklists (printable resources)

Episode 58: Out With the Old, In With the New

Forage plays a crucial role in providing annual feed for beef cattle. New varieties enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the grazing season however, selecting the right forage variety to meet the needs of each unique operation and feeding scenario can be challenging. This podcast episode explores the benefits of new varieties and provides key considerations for choosing the best option for your operation. It also highlights valuable resources to assist in the selection process.
 
Relevant Links: 
Out with the Old, In with the New (article)
Choosing Forage Varieties Without Getting Lost in the Weeds (article and podcast episode)
Forage Species (webpage)
Improving Forage Yields (webpage)
Forage U-Pick (interactive tool)

Episode 57: Protecting Your Investment: Bull Management

The investment in a herd sire is often a large purchase for a cow-calf operation. To ensure this investment will remain in the herd, breeding bulls must be properly maintained during and between breeding seasons. Dr. Colin Palmer, a specialist in animal reproduction, shares factors to consider and best practices when sourcing and maintaining bulls.
 
Relevant Links: 
Protecting Your Investment: Bull Management (article)
Bull Management (webpage)
BCRC Webinar Series

Episode 56: Responsible Antibiotic Use on Canadian Cow-Calf Operations

The requirement for a “Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship” (VCPR) before all antibiotics could be prescribed or sold came into force in 2018, and was designed to ensure that the right antibiotics are used in the right animals, at the right dose, at the right time. This episode will explore findings from Dr. Cheryl Waldner and colleagues at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine on the impacts of this change on antibiotic use in Canadian cow-calf herds. 
 
Relevant Links: 
Responsible Antibiotic Use on Canadian Cow-Calf Operations (article)
Remote Drug Delivery (webpage)
Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) (webpage)
How to Spot Dehydration in Young or Scouring Calves (article and video)

Episode 55: Proper Management Key to Reducing Calf Scours

Calf diarrhea (scours) is the leading cause of death in calves between two and 30 days of age. In this podcast, we explore one Nova Scotia producer’s battle with calf scours, along with proper management and prevention strategies to minimize the risk of scours in your herd. Featuring expert advice from veterinarians across Eastern and Western Canada, this episode will provide valuable insights to help you reduce the risk of calf scours on your farm.
 
Relevant Links: 
Proper Management Key to Reducing Calf Scours (article)
How Fresh Pens and Pastures Prevent Calf Losses (article)
How to Spot Dehydration in Young or Scouring Calves (article and video)
Calf 911 Checklists (printable resources)
Records for Tracking Genetic Improvement (free e-course)

Episode 54: Bull Selection to Improve Your Bottom Line

Purchasing the best bull for your operation starts with good record keeping to identify your operation’s strengths and weaknesses. From there you can work to narrow down your search based on your breeding system, genetic goals and budget. The following tips can help guide you in the process of purchasing your next herd sire.
 
Bull Selection to Improve Your Bottom Line (article)
Bull Selection: Using Economically Relevant Traits (article)
Bull Selection: New Calculator to Determine the Value of a Bull (article)
Bull Valuation Calculator (tool)
How to Evaluate Newborn Calves Using the Calf VIGOR Scoring System (article and video)

Episode 53: How to Spot Dehydration in Young Calves

With newborn calves comes risk for disease and dehydration. Having the skills to quickly identify dehydration and knowing methods for early intervention can have a meaningful reduction in the rate of calf illness and death on your farm. This episode will review the steps that can be followed to evaluate dehydration and health status of young calves in order to develop a successful treatment plan. 
 
Relevant Links:
How to Spot Dehydration in Young Calves (article)
Calving & Calf Management (webpage)
Calf 911: Emergency Support for Distressed Newborn Calves (videos)
Calf 911: Dehydration Checklist (resource guide)
Acidosis - Ruminal (webpage)
BCRC Webinar Series

Episode 52: Microbiome - The Little Things May Mean A lot

A “microbiome” is all the microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes) living in a specific environment, and how they all interact with each other. Imbalanced microbiomes can cause numerous issues for cattle, including rumen acidosis, bloat, bovine respiratory disease, and liver abscesses. To adjust an established microbiome can be challenging, but it may be effective to intervene early in a calf’s life.
 
Relevant Links: 
Microbiome – The Little Things May Mean a Lot (article)
How to Manage Colostrum to Allow Newborn Calves to Thrive (article)
Emergency Support for Distressed Newborn Calves (Calf 911 Resources)