Glacier FarmMedia – Forage-efficient beef cows maintain their back fat during winter, calve earlier in the calving season and wean heavier calves relative to their own weight, according to a University of Saskatchewan study. Dr. Greg Penner said the study shows how cow-calf producers can assess their cows without relying on feed-use efficiency, which is […] Read more
Tag Archives livestock feed — page 2
Research identifies cow efficiency
Study finds gain-to-feed ratio not the best measurement for cows; ability to maintain condition and calve more important
Livestock producers see relief on feed prices
Corn and soy both on downward trends following record highs, after livestock producers looked to alternatives and new practices or just had to pay more
There is some optimism for Ontario livestock sectors rocked in the past two years by rising feed costs. Continued projections of a strong 2023-24 corn supply are putting downward pressure on prices. The United States Department of Agriculture’s July 12 supply and demand report also had a downward effect on prices, with a record corn […] Read more
Charting the return of silage hybrids
Many producers want a broader range of attributes for corn
When assessing value in a corn crop, producers’ needs vary according to end uses. For cash croppers, it is measured in yield and bushels, but livestock producers want greater digestibility and more efficient feed use. It’s been 25 years since genetically modified hybrids became the norm and some in the seed trade say dual hybrids […] Read more
Oat miller to steer clear of lambda-cy
Grain Millers bans oats treated with insecticide product
The federal government’s decision to ban the use of lambda-cyhalothrin insecticides on any crops destined for feed use has now led at least one Canadian miller to prohibit any deliveries of oats treated with the chemical. Oregon-based processor Grain Millers, whose Canadian operations include its oat mill at Yorkton, Sask., said in a memo Tuesday […] Read more
Feed producers, farmers cautioned on trypsin inhibitor exposure
As cost pressures across the feed industry drive more feed producers and farmers to alternative soybean ingredients, a Canadian company says more awareness is needed on the risk of exposure to trypsin inhibitors that can undermine feed quality for pigs, poultry and ruminants. “Exposure to trypsin inhibitors can be an overlooked consequence of using these […] Read more
Feed processors get new standards
Animal nutrition companies now have a new set of standards to follow with recent updates to the FeedAssure program. The Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC) recently announced the official release of the updated FeedAssure program, version 4.0 (2022). FeedAssure, the feed safety program designed for the Canadian feed industry, is owned and administered by […] Read more
Ways to identify and prevent pregnancy toxemia in small ruminants
Intake, not percentage, matter when feeding to prevent metabolic disease
Producers of small ruminants must pay close attention to a pregnant dam’s nutritional needs, especially those with multiples. That was the message given by Dr. Robert Van Saun, Pennsylvania State University professor and extension veterinarian, to Goat Day attendees at Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week. Without adequate nutrition, Van Saun said small ruminants face increased risk […] Read more
Investment in balanced nutrition boosts long-term herd productivity
Optimizing maternal nutrition leads to more efficient and better quality progeny
Skimping on cow nutrition to meet a shrinking bottom line could hurt more than it helps by reducing herd profitability. Holly McGill told Beef Day attendees at Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week that optimizing nutrition through forage testing, measuring cow mineral intake and minimizing or eliminating waste is better than cutting corners to save cash. “Especially […] Read more
Transgenic corn touted for dairy feed efficiency
Originally developed for the U.S. ethanol industry, Syngenta’s Enogen could benefit dairy producers
A transgenic corn variety originally developed for the United States ethanol industry is being officially launched by Syngenta in Canada in 2023 for cattle feed. The Enogen line of hybrids contains a bacteria-derived transgene that produces alpha amylase, a naturally occurring enzyme that speeds the breakdown of starch. Since its introduction in the U.S. in […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Tight logistics underpinning Prairie feed market
MarketsFarm – Canada’s barley crop may have improved considerably in 2022 compared to 2021’s drought-stricken crop, but the logistics of getting that grain to Alberta’s feedlot alley are keeping prices well supported. Canada grew 9.4 million tonnes of barley during the 2022 growing season, which was up by 35 per cent from the previous year. […] Read more
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