PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS
DECEMBER 2023
CE 1998 SIN
"Guess it's time to move the cows home." (Photo credit: Trevor Nolan/Operator of Nolan Stock Farms)
Highlights from Cow-Calf Study to be Presented at Beef & Forage Production Conference Manitoba’s beef producers will get a sneak peek at some of the findings from the Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network that has been looking at collecting production data and biological samples from herds across Canada over the past five years. The project, which followed on from a prior five-year cow-calf study conducted across just western Canada, aimed to create a benchmark for what is happening with Canada’s cow-calf herds in term of things such as production performance, management practices, antimicrobial resistance and disease levels. “The benefit of this research is that we find out what is normal that gives producers something to compare
their own production against,” says Dr. John Campbell of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, who will present some of highlights from the project during his keynote address at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Production Conference in Brandon on December 12-13th. There have also been a few surprises, such as the fact that copper deficiency is common in many herds across the country. “Almost two-thirds of the cows we sampled had less than adequate copper levels in their blood, which is an issue from a nutritional point of view,” Campbell says. “It’s one example where we were able to identify an issue that many producers might not be aware of, and go on to see how better to manage it.” Campbell will also give an overview of other
research work looking at levels for infectious diseases such as Johne’s disease, Bovine Leukosis virus, Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) and leptospirosis, as well as information about vaccine and antimicrobial use and animal welfare practices. “I think we have a good idea of what producers are doing in regards to these practices and can show that most of them are doing a good job,” Campbell says. To see the full agenda of speakers and to register for the conference, please visit https://www.mbfi.ca/ conference . Manitoba Beef Producers is proud to be a supporter of this event.
EXTENDED WARRANTY on Purchases
just by using your Sunrise Credit Union MemberCard! Ask us for more information.
sunrisecu.mb.ca www.mbbeef.ca
POSTMASTER : PLEASE R ETURN UNDELIVERABLE C OPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPE G, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLIC ATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMEN T NUMBE R 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPE G.
BY: ANGELA LOVELL