Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

Episode 18: Where There are Cattle, There are Parasites: 9 Tips for Managing Parasites in Your Herd

Effective parasite management is a balancing act. On the one hand, controlling parasites is essential for maintaining cattle health, welfare and productivity. On the other hand, over-use of some treatment methods can lead to parasite resistance, which negatively impacts the long-term health of the herd and can also affect the environment.
 
Relevant links: 
Body Condition Scoring Tool (interactive tool)
Feed Testing and Analysis (webpage)
Grazing Management (article)
Internal Parasites Impacting Beef Cattle (webpage)
External Parasites Impacting Beef Cattle (webpage)

Episode 17: Looking to Cut Costs This Spring?

With increasing input costs and many regions having poor growing conditions in recent years, there is pressure to reduce input costs wherever possible. It is important to make these decisions carefully – sometimes the short-term savings are out-weighed by much greater long-term costs.
 
Relevant links:
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/think-twice-before-cutting-vitamins-minerals-and-vaccinations/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/cut-costs-carefully-after-drought/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/copper-deficiency-takes-heavy-toll-2/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/intranasal-vaccines-are-timely-and-effective/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/the-cost-benefit-of-using-vaccines-bovine-respiratory-disease/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/the-cost-benefit-of-using-vaccines-bvd/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/new-vaccination-resources-now-available/

Episode 16: Eastern Canadian Perspectives on Defining the Calving Period

These producers did their homework and planned ahead before shifting their calving seasons in order to meet the needs of their particular farms and families.
 
Show note links:
Eastern Canadian Beef Producers Change Their Calving Period (article)
Calving Seasons (webpage)

Episode 15: Passing the Torch Successfully

Legendary forage breeder Bruce Coulman will be formally inducted into Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Hall of Fame. By continuing the University of Saskatchewan’s forage breeding program, Bill Biligetu has been able to continue Bruce’s legacy.

Episode 14: Taking Cattle Pain Management Mainstream

Pain management for beef cattle has evolved significantly in the past two decades. Scientists have gained a greater understanding of what pain looks like in an animal and how reducing pain can affect an animal’s well-being. The beef industry has also responded, with the advent of user-friendly, cost-effective pain medications as well as veterinary teams and producers skilled at implementing effective pain mitigation. 
Relevant links:
https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/pain-mitigation/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/cattle-pain-management/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/can-we-reduce-castration-pain-in-week-old-calves/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/pain-pain-go-away/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/production-practices-on-cow-calf-operations/

Episode 13: How To Rebound From High Open Rates

High open rates recorded in areas across the west last year mean affected producers should be implementing strategies now to set their herds up for success.
 
Resources mentioned in this week's episode:
How to Rebound from High Open Rates (article)
Feed Testing and Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage)
Body Condition Scoring (interactive calculator)
A Quarter Century of Progress with Extended Grazing (article)
Preventing Reproductive Failure in Cow-Calf Herds (webpage)
Value of Calving Distribution Calculator (interactive calculator)
How to Calculate Carrying Capacity Calculator (article)

Episode 12: One Health Strategies

Brutal winter weather, stress, and a mystery disease that targeted newborn calves created a perfect storm for one family’s “winter from hell.” Using a One Health Initiative model of care, Tyler and Nancy Haragas, their veterinarians, University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health collaborated in diagnosis, recovery and biosecurity.
 
Links: 
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/one-health-principles-help-family-navigate-outbreak/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/biosecurity/
https://open.spotify.com/show/6usRJEXMVPR2uITfOgDfoH

Episode 11: When Do I Turn Out My Cows? Managing Spring Pastures During and After Drought

Managing grasslands through drought is not an easy task, but having a plan going in, monitoring pastures and being willing to adapt as the weather changes can prevent pasture decline. Facing pasture productivity challenges head-on can help producers be better poised for recovery and reap the rewards when moisture is abundant.
 
Show note links:
https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/drought-management-strategies/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/how-to-calculate-carrying-capacity-video/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/carrying-capacity-calculator-method-1/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/developing-a-grazing-plan/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/alternative-feeds/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/considerations-when-using-alternative-feeds/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/webinars/raising-heifers-for-reproductive-success/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/decision-making-during-drought/

Episode 10: Producer Survey Helps Check-Off Dollars Go Further

When research generates a product or practice that fills a real need, producers will adopt it. Tracking producer adoption helps the Beef Cattle Research Council prioritize and focus extension efforts.
 
Links mentioned in this week's episode:
https://beefresearch.ca/topics/castration-in-beef-cattle/
https://beefresearch.ca/topics/pain-mitigation/
https://beefresearch.ca/survey/
https://beefresearch.ca/fact-sheets/reducing-the-pain-of-band-castration/

Episode 9: Chute Decisions – Using Low Tech and High Tech Record Systems to Help Make Decisions Chute-Side

The best record-keeping system is the one that will be used by your operation. Whether it is recipe cards in a tin container or a more advanced digital recording system, if the system is gathering dust on the shelf, it isn’t adding value to your operation. These producers made the switch from paper records to higher tech systems and found greater value in tracking data digitally.  
 
Show note links: 
www.beefresearch.ca/blog/cattle-records-for-chute-side-decisions/
www.beefresearch.ca/topics/record-keeping-benchmarking-intro/
www.beefresearch.ca/blog/courses/
www.beefresearch.ca/webinars/
www.beefresearch.ca/cowbytes/