Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

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)

Episode 92: Beef Beyond Borders

Canada’s beef industry is built on exports — with most heading to the U.S. and Japan as the second-largest market in 2024. Highly marbled beef is prized differently across countries. Canada and Japan use different grading systems, including different grading sites. The ribeye marbling from the same carcass will always score higher in Japan than in Canada. This episode explores research comparing the different grading systems and the opportunities associated for Canada’s beef industry.
 
Relevant Links: 
Carcass Grading (webpage)
BRD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator (interactive tool) 

Episode 91: Bale Grazing Checks the Boxes for Three Canadian Producers

Bale grazing can cut costs, save labour, and boost pasture health—but it comes with a learning curve. In this episode, three Canadian beef producers share their experiences, tips, and lessons learned on extending winter grazing and why it’s been a game changer for their operations.
 
Relevant Links:
Bale Grazing Checks the Boxes for Three Canadian Producers (article)
Beat Costs and Boost Yields With Bale Grazing (article)
Extended Grazing (webpage)
Alberta Beef, Forage & Grazing Centre, Pasture 101, Extended Grazing Systems (webpage)
Evaluating Feed Test Results (interactive tool)
 

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)