Advertise on podcast: Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

Winter feeding is one of the largest costs for Canadian cow-calf producers, and how it's managed can have a big impact on both herd health and the bottom line. In this episode, we look at common winter-feeding strategies and discuss the benefits and challenges of each. We'll also cover practical ways to make the most of your winter-feeding program, including feed testing, ration balancing and regularly monitoring body condition.   Relevant Links:  Choosing the Right Winter-Feeding Strategy: Pros & Cons (article) Feed Quality, Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage) Stored Forages (webpage) Impact of Body Condition on Cow Productivity and Profitability Tool (interactive tool) Take Some of the Guesswork out of Winter Feeding Challenges (article) Impact of Body Condition on Cow Productivity and Profitability Tool (interactive tool)

Mycotoxins can be hidden hazards in beef cattle diets, causing issues such as impaired immunity, poor growth, reduced reproductive performance and lameness. In this episode, we discuss what mycotoxins are, when cattle are most at risk, signs of toxicity and practical steps producers can take to prevent and reduce their impact on cattle health. Relevant Links: Hidden Hazards: The Challenge with Mycotoxins in Beef Cattle Feed (article) Mycotoxins (webpage) Feed Quality, Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage) Injection Techniques Best Practices for Beef Cattle (resource) Injection Best Practices For Beef Cattle (article)

Beef Cattle Research Council Proof of Concept projects are designed to test new technologies, practices and research ideas on a small scale before investing in larger projects. This episode highlights three projects and how each has answered the question it set out to investigate, uncovered unexpected findings or pointed towards next steps. Regardless of the outcome, these Proof of Concept projects nearly always generate something useful with a minimal investment of producer dollars.   Relevant Links Function & Funding (webpage) Refining and Improving BRSV Testing (fact sheet) Not the Usual Suspects - Understanding the Bacterial Populations of Septic Arthritis Cases in Feedlot Cattle (fact sheet) Developing a Rapid, Chute-Side Diagnostic Test to Inform BRD Treatment (fact sheet) Cow-Calf Yardage Calculator (interactive tool)

Parasites can quietly impact cattle health, performance and profitability. This episode explores practical strategies for monitoring and managing internal and external parasites, with a focus on targeted treatment, grazing management and slowing resistance to dewormers. Learn how an assess-first approach can help producers make more informed treatment decisions, protect herd health and keep parasite control products effective for the future.   Relevant Links: The Ins and Outs of Parasite Management Webinar Recap (article) The Ins and Outs of Parasite Management (webinar) Parasites - Internal (webpage) Parasites - External (webpage) When the Worms Come Marching In (article) Calculator Toolbox (interactive tools)

Foreign material and toxin consumption in beef cattle can lead to serious health issues, reduced performance and economic losses, even on well-managed farms and ranches. In this episode, we explore how foreign materials and toxins can unintentionally enter feed, water and pastures. We discuss common risks including hardware disease, twine and net wrap.   Relevant Links: From a Piece of Wire to Contaminated Feed: Preventing Foreign Material Hazards in Beef Cattle Operations (article) Lead Poisoning in Beef Cattle (webpage) Mycotoxins (webpage) Consumption of Foreign Materials and Toxins (infographic) Cow-Calf Yardage Calculator (interactive tool)

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)