Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

Episode 90: Don't Let Nitrates Sneak Up on Your Herd

Nitrates can pose a serious risk in beef cattle diets when consumed at high levels. Understanding how nitrates work, when they become a concern, and how to manage them effectively is key to protecting both your herd and your bottom line. In this episode, we break down the science, the risks, and the practical management strategies you need to know.
 
Relevant Links: 
Feed Testing: A Tool for Better Returns (article)
Don't Roll The Dice on Forage Quality - Feed With a Plan (article)
BRD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator (interactive tool)

Episode 89: Fiber in Finishing Diets

High-grain feedlot diets improve feed efficiency and marbling, but they must be managed carefully to protect cattle health and welfare. Forage, often silage, provides the fiber needed to support rumen function—but not all fibers are created equal. The real challenge is striking the right forage-to-concentrate balance, and finding the right type and level of fiber. This episode explores research around this topic and more. 
 
Relevant Links: 
Optimizing Feedlot Efficiency (webpage)
Feed Grains For Beef Cattle (webpage)
A Tool for Evaluating the Economic Value of Feeds Based on Nutrient Content (interactive tool)

Episode 88: Tap Into Savings

Water is the most critical nutrient for beef cattle, with shortages having immediate and severe impacts — especially in heat or drought. This episode highlights the importance of well-designed water systems for cattle health, productivity, and pasture use, and introduces the BCRC’s updated Water Systems Calculator to help producers weigh costs, benefits, and payback.
 
Relevant Links: 
Tap Into Savings: Comparing Water Systems for Better Beef Herd Performance (article)
Economics of Water Systems Calculator (interactive tool)
Water Management for Beef Cattle (webpage)
Preconditioning & Backgrounding Calculator (interactive tool)
 

Episode 87: A Quarter Century of Progress in Extended Grazing

For Canadian farmers and ranchers, extended grazing systems have proven their worth over the past 25 years—cutting feed costs, improving efficiency, and benefiting the environment. Compared to conventional drylot systems, extended grazing reduces expenses tied to labour, equipment, transportation, planting, harvest, storage, infrastructure, and manure management. In this episode, we’ll explore the history of extended grazing and the progress made along the way.
 
Relevant Links: 
A Quarter-Century of Progress with Extended Grazing (article)
Extended Grazing (webpage)
Evaluating Feed Test Results (interactive tool)

Episode 86: Rest Stops During Long-Haul Transport: Helpful or Harmful?

Transport regulations have renewed attention on the role of rest stops for weaned calves. While the idea is that breaks during long-haul transport might reduce stress and improve animal welfare, research from 2018–2020 tells a different story. Across all trials, rest stops showed no consistent benefits—and calves that rested actually carried more BRD-related bacteria than those hauled straight through. Tune in to learn why rest stops may pose more risk than reward.
 
Relevant Links: 
Do Transport Rest Stops Put Calf Health at Risk? (article)
Improving Calf Transportation (article)
Transport (webpage)
Preconditioning & Backgrounding Calculator (interactive tool)
 
 

Episode 85: Evolution in Cattle Feeding, Management and Demand

Over the past 25 years, research has helped producers who background and finish beef cattle gain a deeper understanding of how nutrition supports animal health and meets consumer needs. In this episode, we review the key changes over the years and how the industry has adapted to better align with evolving demand.
 
Relevant Links:
Evolution in Cattle Feeding, Management and Consumer Demand (article)
Nutrition in Beef Cattle (webpage)
Hormones & Other Growth Promotants in Beef Production (webpage)
Optimizing Feedlot Efficiency (webpage)
Environmental Footprint of Beef Production (webpage)
Weaning (webpage)
 
 

Episode 84: Looking to Make the Most of Forage Quality?

Forage quality plays a critical role in cattle nutrition, yet it’s not always prioritized when management decisions are made. By focusing on quality, producers can often reduce costs—getting more from the forage they already have and cutting back on expensive concentrates and feed additives. In this episode, we explore key factors to consider for making the most of forage quality.
 
Relevant Links: 
Looking to Make the Most of Forage Quality? Consider These Factors (article)
A Tool for Evaluating Feed Test Results (interactive tool)
Feed Quality, Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage)
An Introduction to Farm Records & Benchmarking (webpage)
A Tool for Evaluating the Economic Value of Feeds Based on Nutrient Content (interactive tool)

Episode 83: Improve Your Bottom Line with the Power of Feed Testing

Now that cattle feed has been—or is being—harvested, it’s a good time to start thinking about testing it. While a visual check can help you spot the difference between good and poor-quality feed, it won’t tell you much about energy or protein levels. Only a feed test can give you that information. In this episode, we’ll talk about why feed testing matters, how to do it properly, and how to make sense of the lab results.
 
Relevant Links: 
Improving Your Bottom Line With the Power of Feed Testing (article)
Have You Had Your Feed Tested? (article)
Feed Quality, Testing & Analysis For Beef Cattle (webpage)
A Tool for Evaluating the Economic Value of Feeds Based on Nutrient Content (interactive tool)
Weaning (webpage)

Episode 82: Keep Your BVD Down

Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is a serious disease that can lead to abortion, infertility, immune suppression, and calf losses. If the virus crosses the placenta in the first four months of gestation, calves may be born persistently infected and shed high levels of the virus throughout their lives—posing a major risk to unvaccinated cattle. In this episode, we explore why it’s critical to keep BVD out of your herd and how different vaccination protocols can help protect your cattle.
 
Relevant Links: 
Vaccination Of The Beef Herd (webpage)
Cost-Benefit of BVD Vaccinations (interactive tool)
Economics of Pregnancy Testing Beef Cattle Model (interactive tool)

Episode 81: Five Strategies to Stop Sickness Before it Starts this Fall

Biosecurity hazards on beef operations are sometimes overlooked, but the risk of introducing disease to your farm is real—and more common than many realize. This risk increases in the fall, when cattle return from community pastures, grazing leases, or pastures bordering neighbouring livestock. In this episode, we cover five practical strategies to help prevent sickness before it starts this fall.
 
Until the Cows Come Home: Five Strategies to Stop Sickness Before it Starts this Fall (article)
Think you Have a Closed Herd? (interactive graphic)
Getting the Dirt on Cleaning Versus Disinfecting (article)
Always Look a Gift Cow in the Mouth (article)
Tracking Genetic Improvements (course)