A new survey on presence of digital dermatitis in Ontario feedlots … Are you a feedlot producer in Ontario? Here’s your opportunity to provide input on a growing issue on Ontario Feedlots: digital dermatitis. This article outlines the intent of a new survey launched by the Ontario Animal Health Network exploring digital dermatitis on Ontario feedlots and includes the link to participate.
Month: September 2023
Trace mineral monitoring in beef cattle herds
Assessing mineral status in Ontario beef herds…Season after season, the topic of mineral supplementation tends to be central to beef cow nutrition outreach campaigns – for good reason. Since trace minerals are critical to physiological functions, including those related to growth, health, and reproduction, effective mineral supplementation practices are important to herd productivity and profitability. A recent Bovine Ontario Animal Health Network survey took a closer look at mineral status in beef herds across Ontario and this article details the results of the study and take-aways for Ontario beef producers and their advisors.
Benefits of feeding an oral larvicide in comparison to Fly Tags to control Horn Fly Populations on Grazing Cattle
Evaluating fly control strategies...Horn flies are a pest that cow-calf producers grapple with every grazing season. Horn flies are blood-feeding and are not only irritating to cattle but can also cause changes in grazing patterns and reduced weight gain. In her article, OMAFRA summer student Isabella Principe describes the project she and OMAFRA Beef Cattle Specialist, James Byrne, undertook in cooperation with Algoma Community Pasture to assess and compare strategies for horn fly control on pasture.
Decisions around Creep Feeding
To creep feed, or not to creep feed… In his article “Decisions around Creep Feeding”, OMAFRA Beef Cattle Specialist James Byrne outlines some key decision-making criteria for creep feeding practices.
Frost Injury in Sorghum Species
Caution! Members of the sorghum family – sorghum, sudangrass, and hybrid sorghum-sudangrass – contain dhurrin, a glucoside that breaks down to release hydrocyanic acid, also known as prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide, HCN). A sudden disruption of growth such as frost, drought or cutting, causes prussic acid to be released inside the plant at a more [...]
Poisonous Plants
Are you aware of the harmful weeds that may be lurking in your pasture? Do you know what the symptoms of weed poisoning are for your livestock? A weed that is toxic to one species may not be toxic to another. It is important to be able to identify which plants are particularly dangerous for [...]
Dairy and Beef Cattle Production 