Christine O’Reilly, forage and grazing specialist explains the complicated relationship between alfalfa breeding efforts and yield potential. Christine describes trends in past and current research and unravels the reasons for yield fluctuations in newly released alfalfa varieties.
The transition to a finishing environment is a challenging period for beef cattle. Bunk management strategies for newly received cattle were evaluated as part of a bunk management project that began in 2020 with OMAFRA and the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program. Megan Van Schaik, beef cattle specialist outlines feeding behaviour of newly received cattle as well as bunk management and ration transition strategies identified in participating feedlots.
The cost of cattle production is not a one-tier topic. John Molenhuis, business analysis and cost of production specialist outlines the 2020 cost of production results for the beef cow-calf sector. The cost of production at each of the three levels is also introduced to explain the differences between cash profit, non-cash costs and opportunity costs on the farm.
As part of the collaborative bunk management project launched in 2020 by OMAFRA and the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program, summer student Sedley Benitz describes the application of robotic feed pushers and explains its benefits and disadvantages.
Pasture managers can determine the minimum grass growth rate required to feed their herd. Producers who track grass growth rates and compare them to their minimum required rate can make proactive management decisions to avoid running out of pasture.
Dairy and Beef Cattle Production 