Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

Episode 102: Calf Health Management Practices - What Does the Science Say?

Research studies don't always agree, and that doesn't mean that the research is flawed. It is often because context and study design matter. Systematic reviews help by combining all relevant research to identify consistent findings and help turn science into practical guidance. In this episode, we discuss a systematic receive on management practices linked to preweaning death loss in beef calves and insights from 12 veterinary experts on which practice offers the greatest benefit to cow-calf producers. 
 
Relevant Links:
Calving Seasons (webpage)
Early Calf Life Survival (webinar)
Calf 911: How to Manage Colostrum to Allow Newborn Calves to Thrive (resources)

Episode 101: Top Tips for a Smooth Calving Season

The most important day of a calf’s life is its first. Several key factors influence whether a newborn calf gets off to a strong start and research shows that the first 24 hours are critical for survival through weaning and beyond. This episode will explore when intervention may be necessary and highlights the importance of follow-up care such as ensuring the calf consumes adequate colostrum and providing a clean environment.
 
Relevant Links:
Top Tips for a Smooth Calving Season (article)
Ready, Set, Calve: How to Prepare Yourself and Your Beef Operation for the Upcoming Calving Season (article)
Calf 911 Resources (resources)
How Fresh Pens and Pastures Prevent Calf Losses (article)
BCRC Webinar Series

Episode 100: Special Edition - Calving Season in Focus

The Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast has reached a major milestone - Episode 100! To mark the occasion, this episode brings together key insights, tips and strategies from multiple past episodes into one must-listen edition. Whether you’re a new producer or a seasoned rancher, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you achieve a smooth and successful calving season.
 
Relevant Links:
Calving and Calf Management (webpage)
Calf 911 - How to Intervene with a Difficult Calving (article)
Calf 911 - How to Spot Dehydration in Young Calves (article)
Proper Management Key to Reducing Calf Scours (article)
Calm, Cool and Collected - Prepare for a Smooth and Healthy Calving Season (article)

Episode 99: Can Grading Cameras Predict More than Overall Carcass Yield?

Grading cameras are used to predict carcass yield. However, a team of researchers has found that camera grading technology can do more than simply predict the five retail yield classes that Canada is currently using. It can also identify differences between carcasses, the composition and potentially the value of individual primal and retail cuts for both fed cattle and cull cows. Listen to this episode to learn more.
 
Relevant Links: 
Carcass Grading (webpage)
Beef Beyond Borders (article)
Beef Quality Audits (webpage)
Can Grading Cameras Predict More than Overall Carcass Yield? (article)

Episode 98: Stop Foot and Mouth Disease at the Gate

Keeping Canada free from foreign animal diseases like Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a shared responsibility. In this episode, we focus on what beef producers and other agricultural travelers need to know. Including travel guidelines, simple prevention steps, and key resources to help safeguard our beef industry from potential disease threats while traveling.
 
Relevant Links: 
Travel Safe: Stop Foot and Mouth Disease at the Gate (article)
Foot and Mouth Disease (webpage)
Calf 911: How to Manage Colostrum to Allow Newborn Calves to Thrive (resources)

Episode 97: Be Mindful of Minerals

Beef producers know that mineral supplementation is essential for herd health — but choosing the right product can feel overwhelming. With tubs and bags in every color, price range, and formulation, it’s hard to know what your cattle actually need. In this episode, we cut through the confusion to help you make informed decisions about mineral programs. Learn what minerals matter most, how to assess your herd’s needs, and the best ways to deliver them efficiently. Tune in for practical insights and trusted resources to support your herd’s performance and profitability.
 
Relevant Links: 
Be Mindful of Minerals (article)
Nutrition in Beef Cattle (webpage)
Supplementation Matters - Navigating Trace Mineral Requirements of a Beef Herd (podcast & article)
Copper Deficiency Takes Heavy Toll (article)
A Tool for Evaluating Feed Test Results (interactive tool)

Episode 96: What Canadian Beef Producers Are (and Aren't) Adopting

This episode highlights new insights from the Beef Cattle Research Council’s latest report on management trends in Canadian cow–calf operations. Drawing on data from the 2022–23 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey, the Census of Agriculture, and multiple academic studies, the report tracks adoption of 31 practices across reproductive management, calf health, herd management, forage utilization, environmental stewardship, and record-keeping.
 
What Canadian Cow-Calf Producers Are (and Aren't) Adopting (article)
Results of the Inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey (article)
Cow-Calf Production Indicator Calculator (interactive tool)

Episode 95: Growth Promotants and the Environment Revisited

Past research has measured how long residues from growth promoters stay around in a feedlot environment. It showed that certain ones dissipated very quickly, while some could still be found on the pen floor for up to five months after they were last fed. In this episode, we will hear results from a follow-up study that looked at whether composting manure, stockpiling it, or incorporating it into the soil might help to break down these residues.
 
Relevant Links: 
 
Growth Promotants And The Environment (article)
Can We Replace Growth Promotants? (article)
Exploring Growth Promotants Used In Feedlot Cattle (article)
Body Condition (webpage)

Episode 94: Adaptive Winter Grazing Strategies

Extended winter grazing can lower feed costs, improve soil fertility, reduce fuel use, and distribute manure more evenly across pastures. Success, however, depends on meeting cattle’s nutritional needs at different stages of growth and pregnancy. In this episode, we explore adaptive winter grazing strategies and hear from three experienced Alberta producers as they share their top tips and lessons learned to help you make extended grazing work on your operation.
 
Relevant Links: 
Adaptive Winter Grazing Strategies (article)
Extended Grazing (webpage)
A Quarter-Century of Progress with Extended Grazing (podcast & article)
Water Systems Calculator (interactive tool)

Episode 93: Bale Feeding Pros and Cons

Bale feeding is common across Canada for all classes of cattle especially during winter months, but how you feed those bales can make a big difference. In this episode, we break down the pros and cons of three common approaches — rolling out or processing bales to feed on pasture, bale grazing and using round bale feeders.
 
Relevant Links:
Bale Feeding Options: Pros and Cons of Common Strategies (article)
Stored Forages (webpage)
Nutrition in Beef Cattle (webpage)
Body Condition (webpage)