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When beef cattle producers administer injections, the choices they make can have a significant impact on both effectiveness of the products being administered and carcass quality at the end of the production chain. Even when cattle are far from entering the food supply, overlooking proper injection practices can have broader consequences that affect the entire industry. In this episode, we explore best practices for injections in beef cattle.   Relevant Links:  Injection Best Practices for Beef Cattle (article) Injection Techniques (resource) Remote Drug Delivery (webpage) Understanding the Five W's of Cattle Injections: Who, What, When, Where & Why (article) Pregnancy Detection Tool (interactive tool)

Internal parasites can steal valuable nutrients from cattle and impact herd performance. In this episode we’ll explore how parasite loads develop, the impacts of good grazing management and research from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine examining the effects of different deworming strategies on cattle growth, production and carcass quality.   Relevant Links:  Is Something Worming Its Way Into Your Pastures? (article) Parasites - Internal (webpage) Managing Internal Parasites (webinar) Injection Techniques Best Practices for Beef Cattle (resource) Injection Best Practices For Beef Cattle (article)

Weaning is one of the most critical and stressful events in a calf's life, and the way it is managed can have lasting effects on calf health, performance and overall welfare. In this episode, we explore the most common weaning methods used. We discuss the advantages, challenges and management consideration of each approach, including differences in labour requirements, calf stress and health outcomes, to help producers choose the weaning strategy that best fits their operation.    Relevant Links:  Choosing the Right Weaning Strategy for Your Beef Operation (article) Weaning (webpage) Pregnancy Detection Tool (interactive tool)

Even clean pastures and well-maintained handling facilities can contain hidden hazards that are not immediately visible. A single piece of metal or a stray shotgun pellet can go unnoticed in cattle during production and may only be discovered during processing. This episode discusses common sources of foreign material, why foreign material contamination matters and what beef producers can do to reduce the risk of foreign material hazards on their operations.   Relevant Links:  Hidden in Plain Sight: Preventing Foreign Material in Cattle Hides and Meat (article) On-Farm Practices to Improve Food Safety (webpage) Foreign Material Contamination of Hides and Meat (resource) Injection Techniques Best Practices for Beef Cattle (resource) Injection Best Practices For Beef Cattle (article)

This special episode brings together key insights, tips and strategies from past episodes into one must-listen edition. Whether you’re a new producer or a seasoned rancher, this episode is packed with practical information to help you plan, prepare and feed with a plan this winter.   Relevant Links:  Improve Your Bottom Line With the Power of Feed Testing (article) Bale Feeding Options: Pros and Cons of Common Strategies (article) 11 Ways to Avoid Feed Waste this Winter (article) Don't Roll the Dice on Forage Quality: Feed With a Plan (article) A Tool for Evaluating Feed Test Results (interactive tool)

Biosecurity risks on beef operations are often underestimated. Diseases can be introduced through common practices such as shared fence lines, purchasing replacement animals, borrowing equipment, hosting visitors or wildlife interactions. In this episode, we discuss why no herd is completely closed and share practical steps to develop a biosecurity plan that helps protect herd health and reduce the risk of disease introduction. Relevant Links:  Prevent a Biosecurity Breach (article) Biosecurity (webpage) Biosecurity During Calving (webinar) Vaccination of the Beef Herd (webpage) Preconditioning & Backgrounding Calculator (interactive tool)

In this episode, we look at what over 500 Canadians across the beef sector told the Beef Cattle Research Council to help guide research and knowledge mobilization priorities for the next five years through the development of the Five-Year Canadian Beef Research and Knowledge Mobilization Strategy. We’ll explore why having a shared strategy is important to help ensure research and communication efforts are focused on the industry’s most important challenges and how it can help ensure check-off dollars are invested strategically and effectively to develop the right solutions.   Relevant Links: Canadian Beef Research & Knowledge Mobilization Strategy (article) Five-Year Canadian Beef Research & Knowledge Mobilization Strategy (full document) Canadian Beef Advisors - Industry Goals to 2030 (webpage) Water Systems Calculator (interactive tool)

Growth implants are one of the most researched and cost-effective technologies available to beef producers, yet their use on Canadian cow-calf operations remains relatively low. In this episode we explore the performance and economic benefits of growth implants and address common questions about labour requirements, animal health, implant procedures and other factors that often influence adoption decisions.   Relevant Links: Maximizing Calf Performance: Where Do Implants Fit on a Cow-Calf Operation? (article) To Implant or Not? What Cow-Calf Producers Need to Know (webinar) Growth Implants on Cow-Calf Operations (webpage)v Preconditioning & Backgrounding Calculator (interactive tool)

Inviting people onto your beef operation, whether for tours, sales or casual stock viewings, is a valuable way to build connections and share your story. However, it also comes with an important responsibility. Every visitor, from neighbours and tourists to friends and family, can unintentionally bring in or spread disease, making biosecurity a critical part of any on-farm visit. In this episode, we explore why biosecurity matters and break down the practical steps that can be taken before, during and after a visit to reduce disease risk.   Relevant Links: Welcoming Visitors: Show off Your Herd (article) Biosecurity (webpage) Cleaning & Disinfecting Footwear (resource) Feed Quality, Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage and tools)

Not all forage is created equal, and not all cows have the same nutritional needs. Matching forage quality to herd requirements throughout the production year can reduce costs and improve productivity, but it requires more than just a visual assessment. Feed testing is the first step and understanding how to use the results is just as important. Nutrition drives reproduction and performance and guessing what's in your feed can leave both money and productivity on the table.   Relevant Links: Don't Roll the Dice on Forage Quality: Feed With a Plan (article) Feed Quality, Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage) Forage Sampling Best Practices (infographic) Canadian Beef Industry Conference (webpage)

Beef is an excellent source of nutrients for people, but it is also an excellent nutrient source for microbes. To better understand how food safety is maintained in beef processing environments, researchers partnered with a major Canadian beef packing plant to examine bacteria throughout the cleaning process. Their findings reinforced the effectiveness of rigorous cleaning protocols and strong food safety standards practices, while also identifying opportunities for future research.   Relevant Links: Clean Cuts: Can We Improve Cleaning at Packing Plants? (article) In-plant Mitigation of Pathogens (webpage) Food Safety is Rocket Science (article) E.coli (webpage) Tracking Genetic Improvements (course)

Haying season is underway and the work doesn't stop once the bales are made. Proper hay storage is essential for preserving valuable nutrients, minimizing losses and ensure livestock have access to high-quality feed throughout the winter months. In this short and sweet episode, we discuss six key considerations for maintaining hay quality in storage and maximizing the value of your feed supply.   Relevant Links: From Field to Feed: Six Things to Think About When Storing Hay (article) Stored Forage (webpage) Taking Some of the Guesswork out of Winter Feeding Challenges (article) Tracking Genetic Improvements (course)

Every breeding decision shapes the future of your herd. Cattle have a long generation interval, so the bulls and replacement females you select today can influence productivity, profitability and performance for years to come. Understanding which traits are highly heritable, how different traits are connected and how to use selection tools effectively can help ensure your breeding program is moving in the right direction. In this episode, we unpack heritability and trait correlations and explain how selection indexes can help beef producers make informed genetic decisions that support their production goals.   Relevant Links Cracking the Heritability Code: Choosing Traits That Pay Off (article) EPDs: What Do All Those Numbers Mean? (article) Breeding Cow Management (webpage) The Wire Newsletter (sign up)

In this episode, we explore how one ranching family in British Columbia is navigating the growing challenges of water stewardship, conservation and climate change. From upgrading irrigation systems, building off-stream watering infrastructure to protecting wildlife habitat and advocating for agricultural water rights, they demonstrate how proactive planning, innovation and collaboration are essential for long-term sustainability. Their story highlights the evolving relationship between ranching, conservation and responsible water management in a changing environment.   Relevant Links: Water Stewardship: A Ranching Family's Approach to Conservation and Changing Landscape (article) Drought Management Strategies (webpage) The Hidden Driver to Success: How Water Impacts Beef Cattle Health and Performance (resource) Water Systems Calculator (interactive tool) Forage U-Pick (interactive tool)

Healthy and productive pastures are essential for sustainable beef cattle operations, but invasive weeds and brush can reduce forage quality, impact livestock health and alter native ecosystems. Managing these challenges requires long-term strategic approaches that may include multiple control methods to reduce weed pressure while supporting pasture productivity and environmental stewardship. In this episode, we discuss how proper plant identification and strategic control are key to protecting both cattle performance and pasture health.   Relevant Links: Weed and Brush Control in Pastures (article) Carrying Capacity Calculator (interactive tool) Forage U-Pick (interactive tool) Weed & Brush Control in Pastures (webpage) Combating Invasive Weed Species (webinar) The Wire Newsletter (sign up)