The Effect of Winter Cattle Feeding Systems on Soil Nutrients, Forage Growth, Animal Performance, and Economics
Beef cattle producers in Western Canada compete at an economic disadvantage relative to other regions in North America due to high winter feeding costs. Our ability to compete with these regions may relate to how effectively we can reduce these costs by managing manure nutrients, machinery use and fuel/fertilizer consumption more efficiently yet still maintain acceptable levels of beef cattle production. Producers have been responding to these issues by moving from traditional wintering systems in which the cattle are kept in pens and the manure is hauled out to those in which the cattle are fed in the field and the nutrients stay in place.
Cutting and Grazing Management of Orchardgrass
Cutting and grazing management greatly influences forage quality, productivity, and persistence. Quality is most affected by maturity stage at harvest. To obtain high-quality preserved forage (hay or silage), harvest orchardgrass at early boot stage. Delaying harvest until head emergence or early bloom increases yield but reduces quality and regrowth.
Manure Powers Forage Crop Benefits
When it comes to hay and pastureland productivity, Paul Cowger and Brian Clarke have seen the power of manure. The B.C. Peace River Region farmers both describe a dramatic difference in forage stands on their respective farms after manure application. The producers from the Fort St. John area participated in a multi-agency funded forage and nutrient management project. Part of that funding came from the federally funded Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program (GHGMP).
Calibrating Sprayer Saves Money and the Environment
Statistics Canada figures show only about 50% of Canadian producers calibrate sprayers at the beginning of the season, and fewer do it between application of different pesticides. At the same time, calculations also show calibrating a sprayer can save producers hundreds of dollars in crop input costs.
Alfalfa Economics to be Assessed in 2005 Grazing Demonstrations
Perennial legume crops such as alfalfa, clovers and others have long been regarded as productive and environmentally sound forages with great potential for livestock production provided the risky bloat-issue could be managed. Availability of an effective bloat control product opens a wide range of opportunities for Canadian beef producers who have either limited or avoided the use of forage legumes due to the high risk of animal losses from bloat.
Pasture Management
Mixes are more common in pasture seedings, and are often more complex, with many species being included on the theory that given the variable conditions that often occur in pastures (e.g. wet areas, hilltops, etc.) the species most adapted to a particular part of the pasture will eventually dominate. Unfortunately, what usually happens is a great many species will try to grow initially, usually at the expense of the most productive species. The primary recommendation for pasture mixes is to keep it simple, with no more than 2 to 4 species in the mix.
Multiple Benefits Make Relay Cropping a Good Option for Producers
Italian ryegrass inter-seeded with corn in the spring is helping B.C. lower-mainland farmers use surplus soil nitrogen while producing excellent forage for livestock. The practice, known as relay cropping, further benefits the environment by significantly reducing the amount of nitrogen lost through leaching or to the atmosphere.
