RAISING STEAKSthe
RAISING STEAKS
MARITIME BEEF STRATEGY GOALS
•Increase level of professionalism of beef producers through training, education, and other leadership initiatives
•Develop & employ new and existing risk management tools and strategies (Risks: Financial, Climate, Production)
•Maximize utilization of pasture and forage through enhanced Community Pastures and innovative production systems.
•Improve industry profitability throughvalue chain coordination
•Improve connectivity & collaboration within and between commodity & stakeholder groups
GREETINGS COUNCIL
from the
Welcome to the first edition of the Maritime Beef Councils publication of Raising the Steaks! There have been numerous discussions around the various ways to engage information and upcoming event information to producers and this is another layer in an attempt to bring some value to the Maritime Cattle Producer. As a reminder, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island sends out monthly e-news with updates and upcoming events. Maritime Beef Council does not hold a separate distribution list and relies on those provincial newsletters and e-news to get information out. This project is a trial of a winter magazine which is free of charge, but paid for with our annual check off dollars, a portion of the development goes to our Connectivity project with the 3 provincial Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership funding as well as highlighting the annual sponsors that we work with.
We hope you find something useful in this publication and it may inform you of a number of resources you may be able to use in the future. Beef Cattle Research Council for example, hosts a number of resources, and interactive calculators and what is contained in the pages to come is just a small subset of what is out there at fingertips if you know where to look (www.beefresearch.ca)
Regional collaboration is central to the formation of the Maritime Beef Council and we thank you for reading, please engage by attending a meeting or the virtual sessions that will be happening over the course of the winter meeting season. The Atlantic Beef School, the Atlantic Forage Field Day, the Maritime Beef Conference, Beef Day @, VBP+, Production Clubs are examples of the projects that the 3 provinces have aligned and pool resources to work
together on. The launch of Price Insurance in NB and PEI is another example of some previous years projects that have finally come to fruition as tools for industry to utilize.
Our Maritime Beef Council board consists of 3 people from each of the provincial cattle producer groups (NB, NS, and PEI): Myself, Dean Manning, joins Victor Oulton and Geoff Larkin representing Nova Scotia while Aden Culberson, Nathan Phinney, and Charlie Dyer represent New Brunswick who join Kevin Simmons, Dennis Hogan, and Nick Green from Prince Edward Island. Thanks to all of the board members past and present for their work on progressing the Maritime Beef Strategy to this time!
Factors like vegetation, fencing and water sources can contribute to tag wear and tear. Increase retention by implementing environmental modifications or choosing an indicator best suited to your area.
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Dean Manning, MBC Chair
THE INS AND OUTS OF BULL SALE AND CALVING SEASON
by: Emma Cross, VBP+ Blog
It’s no secret that calving time draws extra attention to keeping pathogens out of pens, but it’s also a time when there are more opportunities for them to come in.
In Season 3, Episode 2 of the Simply Verified Beef podcast, we sat down with three guests to discuss advice for producers who are out shopping for seedstock while calving at home. The guests included Leigh Rosengren (Chief Veterinary Officer with Canadian Cattle Association), Ed Pajor (Director, WA Ranches) and Heidi Bennett (Cow Boss and Activity Coordinator, WA Ranches). You can find it wherever you find your podcasts!
Of course, newborn calves are more susceptible to disease and calving cows are under more immune pressure
than usual. However, we don’t always consider the human pressure at calving time.
“Calving season is such a critical time of year,” says Leigh. “It’s what sets us up for our production for the entire year. We double the population and quadruple the workload. So if you haven’t thought through ahead of time what you’re going to do to protect that herd, you’re certainly not going to be thinking about that during calving.”
Planning ahead with clear protocols for preventing disease in the herd makes executing those practices easier when the time comes. As Leigh puts it, “biosecurity is a mindset. We can think about it as this protocol that you write and put away, but biosecurity really works best when we think about it as a daily practice.”
Biosecurity can be intimidating, so it often helps to hear what other producers have had success with. Here’s what Leigh, Heidi, and Ed recommend when out looking for bulls or other breeding stock:
• Dedicate a set of clothing and boots for visiting other farms
• Use rubber floor mats in your vehicle and wash them when you return home
• Wash, disinfect, and dry clothes and boots
• Quarantine new stock when they come to your farm
Of course, producers selling seedstock also need to consider the risks of having visitors who handle cattle come to their farm. Here are the group’s tips for sellers:
• Designate “dirty” areas of the farm for visitors away from calving facilities, etc.
• Post signage to direct visitors and advise them of any protocols
• Direct parking to a dedicated area
For seedstock producers, it can be hard to set expecta-
tions for visitors. A welcoming, customer-forward atmosphere is important for any production sale or for private treaty buyers. But as Leigh and Heidi point out, producers are looking to buy breeding stock from operations with solid herd health. “They’re protecting their program, which means you will protect your program as well,” says Heidi. Demonstrating attention to biosecurity could be a selling point.
In most cases, biosecurity is viewed as more about avoiding problems than promoting solutions. “Sometimes you don’t really know when you’re being successful unless you’re tracking things,” says Ed. Keeping good records and promoting the hard work you put in to protect your herd should be celebrated as success!
MARITIME BEEF CALF CLUB
Marketing calves is a hot topic when prices are depressed, every penny counts and alternatively when prices are running hot as they are this past fall, ever penny still counts. The calf club, which is a model that was designed to mimic the successful Grey-Bruce county clubs that were started over 15 years ago. They have specialized sales at the end of October and they have built a reputation of producing a consistent group of calves that perform in the feedlot. These calf buyers have noticed that their first pulls, second pulls, and death loss on the calves coming out of this program are consistently less than their averages and because of this- they are willing to pay a premium at sale time. The Maritime group did modify a few of the marketing elements based on our numbers and direction of the club members.
The Maritime Calf Club grew to 13 participants with 285 head selling through the various Atlantic Stockyards feeder sales this past fall. The calves sell in producer lots backto-back within the existing ASY sale and are announced when they start selling.
Below are the results of the October feeder sale calves. This was the largest group with 83 steers and 44 heifers. The trend line for the other sales is similar. In this data set, one should also consider that the calf club results also factor into the sale average as we use the Atlantic Stockyard public report as the barometer for how the club is faring
to the average. If we pulled the calf club results out of the ASY averages to compare the remaining data points it would widen the premium value even more.
Feedlots and Backgrounders are paying more than ever for calves (and taking an incredible risk in doing so I might add). There are a few different purchase strategies that they may employ. One of many strategies is to buy 2nd cut cattle and plan accordingly for health events or manage those animals accordingly. This is a risky proposition considering the cost of drugs and the cost of increased days on feed if you wind up pulling once or twice or dealing with mortality. The one that this calf club model supports is that if high health status cattle are brought to the market then those feeding these critters during those high risk transition months can do so with a bit of knowledge that these calves were given a good start. The protocol isn’t anything wild either, it calls for a modified live respiratory vaccination (i.e. Vista Once, Bovishield Gold One Shot, etc.) and a clostridial vaccination (i.e. Tasvax or Covexin plus) done minimum 3 weeks (max 3 months) ahead of sale day; a treatment of ivermectin; and a selenium supplementation strategy that has attending veterinarian approval. The calves are properly dehorned and castrated as well (and in the rare occasion something gets missed- they sell at the end of the group.
The calf club is recruiting for the spring feeder sales if there are interested parties who would like to get involved, and if you would like to get on the list for next fall, then please reach out to Amy projects@agricommodity.ca
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT FROM NOVA SCOTIA
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is pleased to announceHoldanca Farms, located near Wallace Bay, Nova Scotia, as the recipient of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2024.
Holdanca Farms is owned and operated by father-daughter duo, John and Maria Duynisveld, who focus on ensuring that their management practices are economically sustainable while also enhancing the environment, which is home to many wildlife species.
They raise grass-fed beef cattle, sheep, pastured pigs and poultry, and can custom graze up to 150 head of beef cattle, depending on the year. They manage the land to benefit both livestock production and environmental sustainability – of their 500 acres, 250 acres is a managed, biodiverse native woodlot, and the other 250 acres is in long-term (30 plus years) pasture production.
Nova Scotia’s North Shore is a key stopping point and breeding location for migratory birds. They’ve recorded over 1000 wild species on the farm, and over thirty of those are threatened or endangered. The Duynisvelds ensure that there are spaces in the barns and sheds for barn swallows to safely enter and exit during breeding seasons and protect the nests from damage. During nesting periods, they avoid cutting forages and put fences around the nests to prevent livestock from unintentionally damaging the nests. John and Maria believe that gaining knowledge of these endangered species and protecting their habitat is critically important to the longevity and success of native species.
The award was presented in-person by Mike Duguid, Co-Chair of CCA’s
Environment Committee and Kelleen Tait, Agriculture Services Leader and Food and Beverage Processing Leader with MNP, during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC). Holdanca Farms was one of six regional nominees from across Canada vying for the prestigious national award.
“The Duynisvelds truly demonstrate land and wildlife stewardship,” said Duguid. “Holdanca Farms is a testament to how responsible farming practices can go hand in hand with success and their importance to protecting and preserving our land and wildlife. We want to congratulate all provincial and regional nominees for their outstanding dedication to environmental stewardship and for setting a remarkable example for sustainable farming practices across Canada.”
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, MNP, and our Foundational Partners, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Birds Canada, and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), for supporting this year’s TESA program. CCA would also like to recognize the contributions of our judging committee, Karli Reimer with Ducks Unlimited Canada; Norine Ambrose with Cows & Fish; Doug and Linda Wray, 2023 TESA recipients; and Brad Downey with the Alberta Conservation Association, who had the difficult task of selecting this year’s recipient
About TESA
CCA’s TESA recipient is named annually during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference and has recognized the outstanding stewardship efforts of Canadian beef producers since 1996.
John & Maria Duynisveld with the herd in Wallace, NS
2024 ATLANTIC FORAGE FIELD DAY
There were a total of 132 producers, extension, students, and industry stakeholders out to Nappan, Nova Scotia for the Maritime Beef Council’s Atlantic Forage Field Day that is held in partnership with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada. This was the 10th anniversary of the event with the inaugural one being held in 2014. There were some similarities between the first one and this 10th event, such as the consistency and dedication to the Agriculture AgriFood Canada staff and researchers. There has been some building off of that successful first event to the great day that was had on Wednesday August 7th. We had sponsor Kingston Farm Supply who brought their Arrowquip mobile handling unit that had people looking at throughout the day.
The day began with a brief welcome and got everyone moving out to the field for some talks from Dr. Yousef Papadopolous with a talk on Greenhouse Gas Friendly Pasture rejuvenation and incorporating legumes and efficiency within. Dr. Kathleen Glover spoke on Alfalfa Root Type and persistence and work that has been going on in that space. John Duynisveld spoke about carbon capture some of which highlights were outlined in both the Soil Pit that Perennia Caitlin McCavour explained the soil changes that go on between perennial pasture and annual
production. Dr. Paul Manning with Dalhousie University brought a bucket of dung beetles and manure and explained the benefits to soil health. The tour made it’s way back to the tent to have a great beef on a bun lunch and had time for some networking and visiting. The afternoon commenced with a Rainfall Simulator Demonstration put on by Fangzhou Zheng and Yulia Kupriyanovich from AAFC. They set up a grassy strip side by side with a piece of plain soil demonstrating how much runoff and loss can happen when soil is left uncovered.
Dr. Paul Manning with his Dung Beetle Buddies.
2024 Atlantic Forage Field Day attendees.
Our feature speaker Dr. Kim Schnieder from the University of Guelph who talked about some research they have been doing on cover cropping and grazing. Some of the key takeaways were split up grazing the crops in the spring or fall. For example; fall grazed cover crops adding a legume into the mixture can boost forage quality; spring grazed cover crops moderate fall grazing did not impact yield of winter cereals in the spring. There are many reasons for grazing cover crops but may lead to some improvements in cost of production and environmental outcomes. Funding for Kim’s talk was provided by AAFC and the On-Farm Climate Action Fund and Perennia facilitated that which we are very thankful for.
After Kim spoke, the Atlantic Living Labs contingent gave a brief update of some of the things that are going on in NB, NS, PEI and NL. The day concluded with a brief runover of some of the equipment that sponsor Green Diamond Equipment had brought. Speaking of sponsors, this event also could not happen without the support of NB, NS and PEI through Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as Farmer for Climate SolutionsFaRM program.
NBCP UPDATE
Hopefully this year's warm fall weather delivered a gracious forage season to you, after the hot, dry summer we experienced. Since our last report, the NBCP has been busy planning upcoming events and working on current projects.
The December 2024 edition of the mailed NBCP newsletter will contain the NBCP 2025 Producer Registration Application Form. Please complete this annual reporting form and return it to the NBCP office by January 15, 2025.
At the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off Agency’s Annual General Meeting this past August, I was elected as the new Chair for the Agency. I am extremely honoured and humbled to be in this position and am excitedly looking forward to the Agency’s future.
We continue to collaborate with the Prince Edward Island Cattle Producers and Nova Scotia Cattle Producers on
industry projects with the Maritime Beef Council (MBC). We collectively share the interests of providing producer education, enhancing production systems, continuing additional implementation of Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) and executing farm data management systems. Last month, MBC hosted the Maritime Beef Conference at the Delta Beausejour in Moncton, NB, where many NBCP Board representatives were in attendance. This event was very well attended, with plenty of producer support, and focussed on the Healthy Cattle, Healthy Grass, Healthy Profit theme. Stay tuned to the MBC website and social media for upcoming events, such as the Atlantic Beef School modules occurring in the New Year.
In conjunction with this year’s Maritime Beef Conference, NBCP held just one District Meeting this year on the Saturday morning, November 9th, during the conference break. Elections for District Representatives were held in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 8. Election results are as follows: District 1 – Trevor Welch was re-elected, Districts 3, 5 and 8 –to be appointed by the Board. Thank you to all producers who attended the meeting.
This year, the NBCP Board awarded the Bob Colpitts Memorial Award to Brenda MacLoon. Brenda has worked for the NBCP for many years, answering the phone, doing the financials, overseeing programs and she has demonstrated dedication to this industry by seeing our Association through lean times, always confident we would get through it … and she was right. Brenda works for several agricultural commodity boards but has always been a “Beef Champion” further demonstrating her commitment to our industry. Thank you, Brenda, for your hard work and dedication over the years - it has not gone unnoticed. The Bob Colpitts Memorial Award was created to recognize and honour industry partners for their dedicated commitment and outstanding service to the beef industry in New Brunswick
Trevor Welch, NBCP Chair
Maritime Livestock Price Insurance launched in New Brunswick this summer, as a two-year pilot project. This program provides producers with protection against unexpected drops in prices over a defined period of time. Similar risk management programs have been available in the other parts of Canada for years, but this is the first time New Brunswick producers have had access to this type of risk mitigation tool. The NBCP Board encourages producers to sign up. We need to show support of this program as a lot of hours (years actually) have been put into getting the Maritime and Federal governments to support this, and we don’t want to lose it due to lack of participation. Please contact Amy Higgins to get signed up: projects@agricommodity.ca or (902) 893-7455. No financial commitment is required by signing up. I compare it to vehicle or house insurance … you hope to never need it, but if the time comes and prices drop, you’ll be glad you had it. If you are interested in additional information, please visit www.lpi.ca/maritime-livestock-price-insurance/, where you can also sign up to receive the Maritime Price Insurance e-news.
A variety of Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (SCAP) Programs are still open for applications, including the Beef Herd Renewal and Improvement Program, Beef Rotational Grazing Initiative Program, and Beef Genetic Enhancement Program. NBCP encourage beef producers to look at these programs to find out their eligibilities. For a full list of all agriculture programs, including programs guidelines and applications, please visit www.gnb.ca/agriculture.
As always, connect with us via the NBCP website: www. bovinsnbcattle.ca, Twitter @BovinsNBCattle, or Facebook: @NewBrunswickCattleProducers. You can also drop us a line via email at coordinator@agricommodity.ca or give us a call at 506-458-8534.
PROTECT THE DOWNSIDE
The time has come! New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island launched the Maritime Livestock Price Insurance Pilot Project on June 12th, 2024. Nova Scotia had some delays but is expected to come on board soon.
This Insurance program is about protecting your downside as it relates to the overall eastern market. Vehicle insurance exists to protect against the cost of accidental damage, I certainly am thankful every year that I don’t have to file a claim for insurance. Price insurance premiums are a similar concept. If the market index finishes better than what you have locked in, theoretically, you should be happy as that indicates that you are selling into a strong market and therefor policy doesn’t pay out (similar to being OK with not having to file a car insurance claim: it means the market didn’t have a wreck).
At the moment the feeder index is the only on that we have available to us (Until February 4th 2025 when the calf index reopens). The feeder index is based on an 850lb steer which is designed more for the backgrounder stage (OR if you wean and market calves a bit heavier- you would be eligible to utilize this index). That said, the calf (600lb) index typically is unavailable beyond the middle of June because of the lack of sales data through the winter while the heavier weights have a bit more year round marketing. When you are reading the premium table, the left hand side is the Eastern Market Index that you are insuring, while the top of the grid shows the time domain options, and the middle of the grid contains all of the premium prices. Remember that all of this data is based on Steer data from Ontario and Quebec so keep that in mind when selecting your coverage levels. (you can insure the weight on heifers, but the heifer spread does not factor anywhere into this program)
WHAT does price insurance NOT do?
It does NOT look at your individual or individual selling value. IF you have Rockstar calves that you were able to extract a premium from the market and do BETTER than the market index, the insurance will still pay you if the Market Index did not reach your floor value the week you had selected. Alternatively, if you had calves that sold for under the market value for whatever reason and the rest of the Market does better, the payout will depend on the market index. It is a “market index” to “market index” comparison and that index is established by utilizing a number of data points in Ontario and Quebec.
Because there are no minimum purchase requirements, you can really test out this program for literally less than a cup of coffee per head in some scenarios and if nothing else, you can subscribe to the program free of charge to show that you may use this. Note- the fed index for fat cattle is still in development.
For more information, sign up for the newsletter which will send out information about the program Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday evenings at www.maritimebeef.ca (scroll down for the signup form). Email Amy projects@agricommodity.ca if interested in more information.
MARITIME BEEF CONFERENCE
Was held November 7th and 8th in Moncton, New Brunswick. The tickets sold out ahead of the conference and there were 130 people in attendance for the event. The agenda was jam packed with interactive grazing session, featured weather forecaster Matt Makens as a keynote, and had industry program and project updates as well as
an ever-popular veterinarian presentation on Reproductive Efficiency by Dr. Lisa Freeze.
The Next Maritime Beef Conference will be held in 2026 with our Beef Day @ UPEI happening in November 2025.
Atlantic Beef Products is proud to support the Maritime Beef Council and all the producers who provide us with exceptional quality beef.
Our Beef has special flavour and special character for the tables of those who choose to eat better.
Matt Makens presents his keynote session: Weather Outlook: How Global Ocean and Atmosphere Patterns Impact Our Sustainable Future
PEICP UPDATE
This past year has been a busy one for us here on PEI in our office with staffing changes, board member changes and lot of events that some of us from the board have attended here on PEI, and in other areas of the country as well.
Our Board welcomed 2 new board members this fall. I was honored to be part of our first ever PEI Federation of Agriculture and PEI Ministers Round Table Discussion in October and also attended a National Beef Strategy Meeting held in Calgary.
We will be holding our annual District Meetings the first week of December and looking forward to hearing what our guest speakers have to share with us.
There has been another development with the job opening of a Livestock Champion here in PEI which will help progress some beef initiative projects. Are you an enthusiastic, forward-thinking individual with a passion for the Prince Edward Island livestock sector? We are looking for a results-driven, big picture thinker who is willing to work toward identified goals. Projects will be varied in scope and sector (to include beef, dairy, and small ruminants).
The immediate focus will be working with beef producers, processors, government and industry associations to increase the number of cattle raised and grow the Island herd. The focus may evolve over time to other initiatives.
General purpose & Scope of position:
The Livestock Champion will provide leadership, expertise and direction to Island livestock sectors, and will work collaboratively with partners toward an end goal of expanding Island herds in a sustainable manner. The Livestock Champion will be an employee of the PEI Cattle Producers but will report and be directed by an Advisory Group, to be comprised of representatives of the PEI Cattle Producers, Atlantic Beef Products Inc. and the PEI Department of Agriculture.
To apply for this position or for full job description, please reach out to info@peicattleproducers.com and put Livestock Champion in the subject line.
As another year comes to a close, and we look forward to the future of beef here on PEI, I look forward to being part of great things to come in our industry and becoming more closely connecting with all of our great producers here on PEI that keep our industry going!
Dennis Hogan, PEICP Chair
WHY ARE YOU SO LAME?
ANALYZING LAMENESS IN CATTLE
Dr. Reynold Bergen, BCRC Science Director
Cattle get lame for a lot of reasons, including injury, poor conformation, grain overload, mycotoxins (e.g., ergot) and bacterial infection. Different types of lameness need to be treated differently. Antibiotic treatment only helps if a bacterial infection is involved.
Lameness is the second leading reason (behind bovine respiratory disease) that feedlot cattle are pulled and given antibiotics. Lame cattle eat less, grow more slowly and less efficiently, may be shipped early and often don’t grade as well. These add up to a significant economic cost. When cattle get lame late in the feeding period, pre-slaughter withdrawal times limit the number of antibiotic treatment options.
A team of Canadian researchers led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein recently published a review of large-scale studies of foot-related lameness in feedlot cattle (A Review of Foot Related Lameness in Feedlot Cattle; www.doi.org/10.1139/cjas2024-0047).
What They Did
These researchers reviewed studies of infectious foot-related lameness (i.e., not including chronic arthritis related to mycoplasma or histophilus) in feedlot cattle. These included several multi-year studies conducted in Canadian feedlots with treatment records on between 10,000 to over 1,000,000 cattle. Important hard-to-find details can appear when researchers have data sets that large.
What They Learned
Footrot is the most common cause of infectious foot-related lameness in feedlots. It can occur at any point in the feeding period (as well as in cow-calf operations). Footrot causes swelling between the claws of the hoof (often on the hind limb) that may extend into the lower leg. If the front of the foot is clean, a footrot lesion often looks
dark and is surrounded by jagged edges with sloughing skin. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing a worse infection. Footrot typically responds to any long-acting antibiotic, so if the initial treatment doesn’t work, it’s probably not footrot. Several different bacteria appear to be involved, which may be why available footrot vaccines aren’t effective. Footrot is most common in poor pen conditions; good drainage and a good bedding mound help reduce the risk.
Digital dermatitis (also known as DD, strawberry foot rot, hairy heel wart) is generally much less common than footrot in feedlot cattle. Digital dermatitis is more commonly associated with dairy cattle. DD is rarely diagnosed in cow-calf operations but is becoming increasingly common in feedlot cattle. It doesn’t usually appear until cattle have been on feed for three months or more and can occur in combination with footrot. Affected cattle may not be lame and the affected foot may not be swollen, so these cattle may be harder to find in the pen (and may help
A cross-section of the hoof demonstrates separation between the hoof wall and the white line in an animal affected by toe tip necrosis. (Photo: Murray Jelinski).
explain why it isn’t often seen or diagnosed on cow-calf operations). Digital dermatitis starts as a circular or oval strawberry-red lesion where the skin and the heel bulbs meet at the back of the foot. In more advanced or chronic lesions, the infected skin can become rough, scaly and develop long hair-like projections. DD generally responds to topical antibiotics such as tetracycline. Copper sulfate footbaths are less effective for treatment, particularly once they’re contaminated by dirty hooves. Properly disposing of used copper sulfate is also a problem. Digital dermatitis is caused by multiple bacteria, but different bacteria than footrot. There is no vaccine. Clean, welldrained, well-bedded pen conditions help reduce the risk. Digital dermatitis bacteria can survive in the soil to infect new cattle, so once a feedlot is contaminated it probably becomes a fact of life.
Toe tip necrosis nearly always occurs in the first days to weeks after cattle arrive at the feedlot. It always occurs in one or both hindlimbs. There is no swelling, which distinguishes it from footrot and trauma. It’s believed to happen when the sole of a hind foot has been scraped thin on rough concrete floors in the auction barn or handling area. The worn sole may then develop a tiny crack where the sole meets the toe of the hoof. This allows debris and bacteria to enter (sort of like a sliver under your fingernail) and set up an infection. It’s more common in excitable cattle, and in groups that are handled aggressively. Early in the disease the affected cattle tend to be slightly lame and take very short steps. However, if left untreated these animals may become three-legged lame.
Diagnosis and treatment involve nipping the tip of the toe to confirm the diagnosis, allowing it to drain like an abscess, and giving a long-acting antibiotic. Avoiding the temptation to buy wild cattle at a bargain price, having appropriately (not aggressively) grooved floors in handling areas, and low stress cattle handling are the best preventions.
Bottom Line
Slower is faster. Low-stress cattle handling improves transport outcomes, animal health, welfare and production Not all lameness is caused by an infection, so not all lame cattle need antibiotics. Not all lameness is footrot, so there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. It’s a lot easier to
make an appropriate treatment decision if you can get a good look at the foot before treating it so that you can be more confident about why it’s lame and how to treat it appropriately.
So what does this mean… to you?
Low-stress cattle handling and keeping pens as clean and dry as possible aren’t always easy or cheap, but neither is lameness.
The Beef Cattle Research Council is a not-for-profit industry organization funded by the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off. The BCRC partners with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial beef industry groups and governments to advance research and technology transfer supporting the Canadian beef industry’s vision to be recognized as a preferred supplier of healthy, high-quality beef, cattle, and genetics. Learn more about the BCRC at www.beefresearch.ca.
This article written by Dr. Reynold Bergen, BCRC Science Director, originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Canadian Cattlemen magazine and is reprinted in Raising the Steaks with permission of the publisher.
IMPROVEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GROWTH IN THE MARITIMES:
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), in collaboration with Canfax Research Services and regional representatives, has conducted its inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey (CCCS). This survey offers valuable insights into production practices and performance metrics of cowcalf operations across Canada, allowing a comparison of the Maritimes’ data with national averages and the 2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Production Survey.
Key Findings for the Maritimes
The CCCS gathered data from 36 respondents from the Maritimes. Sixty-seven per cent of these respondents reported herds under 50 cows, with an average herd size of 48 cows. The main report combined the Maritimes and Quebec due to the small sample in the region; caution should be used when interpreting the Maritime data alone.
Some performance measures and adoption rates of beneficial management practices (BMPs) in the Maritimes fall below the national figures, given the unique environment and production systems in the region. When compared to the 2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Production Survey (which had 65 fully completed surveys), there is a clear trend of improvement in several key areas with opportunities for further enhancement.
Below are highlights of the CCCS results for the Maritimes in some key areas.
INSIGHTS FROM THE CANADIAN COW-CALF SURVEY
Breeding Season Length: Gradual Progress
The average length of the breeding season for cows in the Maritimes is 128 days. This is longer than the national average of 96 days, which could be associated with more flexible marketing time frame in the region. This figure represents a slight reduction from the 136 days reported in the 2017 survey.
Open Rate: A Positive Indicator
The average cow open rate in the Maritimes was 4.4%, significantly lower than the national average of 7.4%. This is likely related to the region’s extended breeding season, allowing more time for cows to conceive.
Body Condition Scoring (BCS): High Hands-On Adoption
Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is a technique to help producers determine the condition of their animals and assess whether cattle need to be fed a different ration or managed differently. In the Maritimes, 86% of the 36 respondents reported using BCS, with 25% performing hands-on assessments and 61% relying on visual appraisal.
Notably, the proportion of Maritime producers using hands-on BCS (25%) is the highest across all provinces, exceeding the national average of 14%.
The adoption of hands-on BCS adoption has also increased compared to the 2017 survey, where 17% of producers utilized this method, reflecting a growing commitment to more precise herd management.
Feed Test: Room for Growth
Forty-seven per cent of respondents lab-tested their feed for quality. This remains below the national rate of 69%. However, this is a marked improvement from the 26% reported in the 2017 survey.
Of those who do not feed test, the most cited reasons include the perception that their cattle appeared healthy, thus no need
for testing, and the lack of confidence in making or implementing plans based on feed test results.
Pregnancy-checking: Steady for Cows, Growth for Heifers In the past three years, 50% of the 36 respondents always or almost always pregnancy-checked most of their cows, lower than the national rate of 64%. For heifers, 58% of respondents performed pregnancy -check, below the national rate of 68%.
The adoption of pregnancy checking for cows (50%) has remained steady compared to the 2017 result of 49%, while the adoption rate pregnancy checking for heifers (58%) has improved from 47%.
The most common reasons cited for not performing pregnancy check include the ability to identify open females, the strategy of selling open cows after calving when cull prices are higher, and the lack of facilities.
Weaning Method: Traditional Separation
Still Dominates
Fifty-three per cent of Maritime respondents used traditional separation for weaning, slightly higher than the national figure of 51%. This represents a small decline from the 59% reported in 2017, suggesting that some producers may be exploring alternative methods.
Vaccination: Improved Herd Health Practices
Vaccination rates in the Maritimes were high, with 94.4% of 36 respondents reporting they had vaccinated their herd in the past year, closely aligned with the national rate
of 94%. This represents a significant improvement from the 2017 survey, where only 73% of respondents typically vaccinated their cattle.
Pain Mitigation during Castration: A Shift towards Greater Use
Of the 36 respondents, 53% used pain mitigation during castration with 19% use it all the time and 33% depending on age and method. The overall adoption rate of pain mitigation during castration is higher than then national level of 47%. The proportion of using it all the time (19%) is lower than the national rate of 26%, while the proportion of using it depending on age and method (33%) is higher than the national rate of 20%.
In the 2017 survey, 90% of the time pain control is not used during castration, indicating a shift towards increased use of pain mitigation in recent years.
Bottom Line: The inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey has provided a valuable snapshot of the progress made by Maritime cow-calf operations since the 2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Production Survey. Over the past eight years, there has been clear improvement in areas such as body condition scoring, vaccination, and pain mitigation. By building on these successes and addressing areas with room for growth, Maritime producers have the potential to further enhance the productivity and sustainability of their operations moving forward.
NSCP UPDATE
We weathered a warmer fall again this year, hopefully delivering a plentiful forage season to all. Throughout this past season, the NSCP has been busy planning upcoming events and working on current projects.
The NSCP December 2024 newsletter will soon be arriving in mailboxes and will contain the NSCP 2025 Grower License Application Form. A friendly reminder to please complete this annual reporting form and send it back to the NSCP office by January 15th, 2025.
As a part of our work on the Nova Scotia Cattle and
Sheep Sector Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, we partnered with Perennia Food and Agriculture and the Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia on a series of well-attended pasture walks the last few months across the province. Additionally, Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator, Geoff Larkin, participated in multiple Interactive Biodiversity Workshops with Trevor Davison, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and Shane Wood, Perennia Food and Agriculture, where various biodiversity tools and management considerations were discussed.
The Maritime Beef Council (MBC) hosted the Maritime Beef Conference November 8th-9th at the Delta Beausejour in Moncton, NB, which many NSCP Board representatives attended. This well attended event saw great producer support, focussing on the Healthy Cattle, Healthy Grass, Healthy Profit theme. Stay tuned to the MBC website and social media channels for information on upcoming events, such as the Atlantic Beef School modules occurring this winter. The NSCP, Prince Edward Island Cattle Producers and New Brunswick Cattle Producers
Larry Weatherby, NSCP Chair
continue to work closely with MBC on industry projects. All three provincial cattle associations share the combined interests of providing producer education, enhancing production systems, continuing additional implementation of Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) and executing farm data management systems.
Through the Nova Scotia Beef Initiative, a new Nova Scotia Beef Herd Renewal Improvement Program has been developed. This program closes February 15th, 2025, and offers funding for such categories as heifer retention, seed stock development, herd health, preconditioning services, VBP + audits, and surveillance systems in addition to the Elite Sire Program launched earlier in 2024. Through this initiative, funding has been approved for all these activities through the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Additionally, the NSCP have our two other funding programs open for the year: the Nova Scotia Genetic Improvement Program and the Nova Scotia Soil, Pasture & Forage Management Program. The Nova Scotia Soil, Pasture & Forage Management Program application deadline is November 30th. The Nova Scotia Genetic Improvement Program again this year has extra funding available, with a maximum funding amount of up to $1,400 per bull, if applicable, with an application deadline of February 15th, 2025. Applications can be found at: www.nscattle.ca/ members/programs/.
We would like to invite all producers to our upcoming Zone Meetings occurring across the province January 6th-10th, 2025, to give the Board feedback on policy and programming for the coming year. The full Zone Meeting schedule is available on our website, with additional information provided in the December 2024 newsletter. Schedule changes to Zone Meetings will be announced one week in advance on the NSCP website and social media.
A reminder that we continue to offer on-farm preconditioning services to cattle producers in good standing. Producers can book any combination of available onfarm services through the NSCP office, such as handling equipment and help, tagging, age verification, vaccination administration, castration, dehorning and weighing. information can be found on our website.
We are still in the process of establishing Livestock Price Insurance in Nova Scotia but are optimistic to hopefully launch this service shortly!
In closing, please save the date for the NSCP Annual General Meeting occurring March 1st, 2025 – more information, such as time and location, will soon follow in future NSCP communications.
Please ensure you regularly check the website and social media for upcoming meetings and workshops. For any questions, comments or concerns, please contact the NSCP office at 902-893-7455 or office@nscattle.ca.
MARITIME CATTLE & CROPS
ARTICLE PROVIDED BY FARM MANAGEMENT CANADA
2023 and 2024 have been years of challenge and opportunity in the Maritime cattle and crop sectors. For Canadian crop and livestock producers, prices are based on global, but mostly US, supply and demand forces. As long as trade in meat and livestock and crops is free and open, Canadian pricing is going to be determined through US markets. If Canadian prices get too out of line with US markets, supplies will either move into or out of Canada, rapidly. This process is called arbitrage. Maritime feeder and fed cattle arbitrage to Ontario since there is significant feedlot and processing capacity in Ontario. Maritime crop prices arbitrage to Ontario since there is significant acreage and handling capacity.
US total meat production has been at record levels year after year. The US cow herd bottomed in 2014, peaked again in 2018 and is now in fifth year of slight contraction. Roughly 65% of cattle and hay areas are in drought. The USDA is expecting beef supplies to stay tight and cattle prices remain at or above current levels through 2025. Several years of low returns in cash crops should also start to push prices slightly higher through 2025.
The Canadian cow herd has declined 36% since BSE. The Maritime herd has fallen about 45% since BSE and has been flat since 2021. In 2023, the Maritimes produced an estimated 49,000 head of cattle in 2023 that were slaughtered in plants across the Maritimes and other parts of Canada. It is estimated that roughly 39,000 head of this total were slaughtered within the Maritimes – producing roughly 14.7 million kg of bone-in beef with 2024 year to date slaughter up 2%. It is also estimated that roughly 13% of slaughter within the Maritimes is at provincial plants. The Maritimes imports roughly 70% of beef consumption from international and interprovincial sources. This creates an ongoing opportunity for local cattle producers to displace imports.
Nova Scotia weekly feeder steers have averaged about $19 per cwt lower Ontario prices since start of 2009. Year to date in 2024 has averaged almost $30 lower, signaling more cattle in the Maritimes. Nova Scotia monthly corn prices have averaged $40 per tonne higher than Ontario since 2000. The 2023 crop year (Oct 2023 to Sept 2024) averaged $5 per tonne higher than Ontario, signaling higher corn inventories in the Mari-
times. Canada’s crop and cattle sector is part of a highly integrated North American market. Higher feeder cattle numbers and increase cost inventories is also a signal for potential improvements in fed cattle feeding margins in the Maritimes through 2025.
One benefit of being a small price taker in this North American market is that it enables clear linkages for price determination and discovery. The CME futures prices provides Maritime farmers with a solid tool to help plan and manage price expectations. Coupled with local market info from the GFO, BFO or OMAFA, over time producers can help see for themselves where their crops and cattle fit into this broader market picture. Doing so provides each producer with the best possible chance for pricing success
CALP UPDATE
Hello everyone, my name is Geoff Larkin, and I would like to introduce myself as the new Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator for the Nova Scotia beef and sheep sectors. My background is in cow calf production, and I have degree in Environmental Science from the former Nova Scotia Agricultural College. I’ve sat on local and national boards related to cattle and agricultural, and I am excited to help producers adapt to our changing climate here in Nova Scotia.
What a summer we just experienced. Warm weather, timely rains and pastures continuing to be productive. We sometimes forget when we’re living in a moment just how much the trends have changed. Corn is being chopped 2 weeks earlier then last year, killing frosts are not a threat in early September and the livestock are still grazing
well into October. These are some of the benefits of a changing climate in our area, and we need to be ready to capitalize. Using the Climate Change SWOT Analysis tool created by the Nova Scotia Cattle Producers and Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia can help identify your businesses Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats from climate change. You can then begin to actively play to your strengths and use opportunities that you’ve highlighted using this tool. An example of an opportunity? How about an extended grazing season due to more growing degree days. Be ready to capitalize on these as we move forward. Cross reference with the Climate Adaptation BMP’s monthly checklist that is circulated each month in the e-newsletter to help with these.
On the flip side we need to be ready to reduce weaknesses and counter threats that we identify with this tool. Warmer muggier days comes with an increase in water demand. Making sure livestock have access to clean, readily available water in these warm periods is a necessity. Extreme weather events are happening more suddenly and frequently, and we need to be ready for the unexpected. Its not uncommon to have a sudden windstorm with gusts over 100 km/h, and rain events that bring 50 mm in the span of a few hours. Being prepared for these events is a challenge, but one we should all be thinking about. Perennia has a great resource that can allow you to prepare for the unexpected (www.www.perennia.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Expect-the-Unexpected-Web-Version.pdf).
As we get into the fall and winter, producers start to think about what to keep as replacements in the herd and what to cull. Certain traits have bigger impacts on profitability. A 5% improvement in feed efficiency can have an impact economically four times greater than a 5% improvement in average daily gain. Not only is it a trait that benefits producers, but it also benefits the environment. Selecting for feed efficiency has a positive impact on reducing methane emissions. The Maritime Beef Test Station can perform RFI tests for beef and sheep with its Vytelle system. If you want to learn more about testing for feed efficiency or purchasing feed efficient stock, please reach out to them at maritimebeef@eastlink.ca.
Please check out your respective commodity’s website for new information and tools as they become available. www.nssheep.ca/climate-change-adaptation/ and www. nscattle.ca/climate/. Not all change is bad, and we must be ready to adapt as we move forward.
FEEDLOT RUMINATIONS
FEEDLOT MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Dr. Les Halliday, PEI Beef Development Officer
Whenever producers ask about finishing cattle I ask them to review a number of critical areas before purchasing feeder calves. Top of mind is to know your market(s) specifications, specifically discounts related to weight, grade and lean yield. If you are targeting grass fed, is your clientele looking for grass fed and grass finished or is grain finishing allowed. For brand programs are you targeting breed specific such as Angus or the Certified Island brand which does not allow hormone implants or the use of antibiotics in the last 100 days before harvest. Finishing operations aim for consistency and market premiums but not all feeder calves make the cut as not all calves are created equal. At the end of the day consumers have indicated that they want a consistent product that is flavourful, tender and juicy and an increasing number prefer locally raised but want to know how their beef is being produced. Assuming that they know is not good enough and positive advocacy helps marketing efforts.
On the cow-calf side of the equation I ask producers to create the best calf possible (phenotype) which is the result of genetics and interaction with environmental conditions. Cattle genetics have improved tremendously, mainly as a result of performance testing and the use of genomics to improve accuracy of selection criteria. The use of performance tested sires helps to increase phenotypic consistency but the largely unknown factor is the genetic make-up of the dams. Environmental conditions, however, vary considerably not only between farms but also within a farm. Those factors could be related to nutrition availability, heat/cold stress and pathogen challenge. Nutrition of the dam has a significant effect on calf phenotype and resulting carcass conformation quality. Muscling in the unborn calf begins in the 2nd trimester. Muscle size is a combination of the number and size of muscle fibres. Dam nutrition is critical to allow the calf to reach its
genetic potential. Any stressor that affects her nutritional needs with impact calf development. Good quality protein will allow the developing fetus to build muscle therefore, low protein nutrition of the dam will affect calf conformation. Protein nutrition in the 3rd trimester will affect colostrum quantity and quality and calf vigour. Providing conditions to allow the dam to produce a good quality/ quantity colostrum is key to giving the calf the best start possible. Some producers measure colostrum quality but few if any measure quantity. With the amount of diversity in genetics and environmental factors it is not surprising that not all feeder calves are created equal.
Receiving new feeder calves for finishing has many challenges. On arrival calves are stressed and thirsty but likely only consume about 60% of the feed energy they need to create an immune response if challenged by a pathogen. Good quality forage is key. They are also likely deficient in electrolytes such as Na, K, Ca, Cl. The net result is often respiratory disease which if severe will result in lower daily gains, carcass weight, grade and beef tenderness. Work with your veterinarian to develop workable health protocols. There are “helper” options such as yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, B-vitamins and seaweeds which help to improve intake, gain and immune response.
I am often asked about ways to increase marbling. Certainly, genetics play a major role but the rumen fermentation is key to improving marbling scores. Feeds are digested to create a range of end products and under energy products the volatile fatty acids are key. Fermentation of fibre produces acetate which is used for fat synthesis but for seam and back fat. Propionate is produced when starch/sugars are fermented and it is used to create glucose in the liver which is then used to fuel production of marbling fat. Gradual increase in grains (finishing diet) produces more marbling fat, high daily gain and greater carcass weight. PEI beef is noted for the very fine, evenly distributed marbling commonly referred to as “spider-
web” marbling which consumers find appealing. Feeding good quality forage will allow for lower grain feeding and a healthier rumen which appears to promote higher marbling scores. When poor quality forages are fed, extra grain/proteins are required to create marbling but often increases the risk of acidosis and bloat. In many finisher operations, sub-acute acidosis is a problem where cattle are not clinically sick but are metabolically stressed leading to reduced gains and poor carcass quality. In terms of forage quality I usually stress the importance of using mixtures of grasses and legumes and to cut at the correct stage of growth and packed with nutrients. Pay attention to soil health, for minerals, if it is not in the soil it will not be in your forage. The next important step is to ensure a good fermentation to allow the silage to produce lactic acid to reduce the pH and stabilize any further deterioration. Use of silage inoculants should be considered as they work to produce a more stable silage and conserve nutrients which will require lower supplementation with purchased feeds. Feed testing is a necessary step to efficiently feed cattle. With a nutritional profile of home grow feeds, correct supplementation can be fine-tuned by a nutritionist to allow cattle to perform to their genetic potential.
In summary, utilize good genetics and give the calf the best start possible in-utero and before weaning. Work with your veterinarian to develop health protocols. Measure and strive for high intake and pack your forage with nutrients and optimize silage fermentation.
WELFARE CONSIDERATIONS FOR OUTWINTERING CATTLE
by: Katie Trottier Perennia Beef/Sheep Specialist
Wintering beef herds outdoors is not the norm in the Maritimes but with careful management there are several reasons you may consider it. On our conventional farms, overwintering livestock accounts for 60-80% of the cost of production; feeding stored forage is a major component of that. Extending the grazing season can help to decrease those associated costs and may also improve animal health from better air quality. Outwintering cattle also frees up barn space for alternative uses and allows for an increase of your cow herd without increasing capital investments. While it’s often claimed that our climate is too damp to keep cows comfortable outdoors during winter-- there are several local producers successfully outwintering their herds who challenge that assumption. It is critical that producers can ensure that their animals’ needs are being met throughout the season in this case.
Extended grazing presents a real opportunity to reduce feeding costs, yardage costs and labour. Pasturing livestock will always be the cheapest way to feed when animals are harvesting their own feed and spreading their own manure. Extended grazing opportunities could include any or all combinations of bale grazing, cover crop grazing, corn grazing and grazing stockpiled pasture (the Maritime Pasture Manual has more technical information on these practices). Bales can also be moved and fed on frozen ground or in a wintering yard, which differs from bale grazing where bales are placed in the field in advance of winter.
Temperature and windchill will impact feeding. When it’s colder than -25C outside, a properly conditioned cow with a good haircoat will ramp up her metabolism to stay warm, increasing her nutritional demands. Thinner cows will start this process around -17C. She can get extra energy two ways: she can simply eat more (to a degree—she can only physically eat so much), or she can be fed something higher quality to increase the energy in her diet. An important note about winter feeding: “wasted” feed makes excellent bedding that helps keep cows clean and dry, and adds fertility and organic matter to your soils. When considering the suitability of your herd, you’ll want to consider their genetic background, the timing of your calving season/stage of production and animal age. Mature animals will fare better than heifers who are still growing. Cows should be in good body condition going into winter and allowed to acclimate to the weather conditions to allow a proper haircoat to grow. This haircoat is essential to keeping cows well-insulated from the cold. Just like snow on a rooftop is a sign of a well-insulated attic, snow on a cow’s back is indicates that her body heat is being retained by her haircoat. Mud on the coat will hugely reduce the insulating ability, so the wintering site should be somewhere well suited where it won’t be prone to mud.
The chosen site should also provide some form of shelter. These can be manmade windbreaks or natural areas like
woods/woodlots. Windbreaks should be porous enough to slow down windspeed without toppling over, and they protect an area 8-10x greater than their height. Stacked bales can also be used as windbreaks if they are fenced to prevent cattle from accessing them. Younger animals should have access to a roofed area—not necessarily a barn, but certainly a shelter they can retreat to. If any animals are showing signs of not coping well with the weather conditions (such as shivering), they’ll need to be promptly tended to. Having to intervene quickly means there should be some consideration of how you’ll handle and move animals, likely in poor weather, far in advance.
Water access is another consideration. Because of our freeze/thaw cycles in Atlantic Canada and increasingly warmer winters, snow is unreliable a main water source. Snow crusting makes it too difficult to meet a cow’s physiological water needs and can also affect grazing as well. Ponds can also be dangerous and should be fenced off in case of thin ice; it is a good practice to fence them off, anyways, for environmental and animal health reasons. Energy-free winter watering systems are commonly used to water in the winter.
There are challenges to outwintering herds in the Maritimes, but there are also opportunities for reducing costs and improving returns. Slowly extending your grazing season over time will improve your knowledge of these practices while minimizing setbacks that could affect cow comfort, and will allow you to develop a system that best matches your unique operation.
RFI AND U
The Maritime Beef Testing Society has been running individual feed efficiency testing for over a decade. The units previously known as “Growsafe” are now run by Vytelle. This is an excerpt from a column published by Vytelle:
Cattle producers often turn to average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion, or reproduction when targeting im-
“If we choose the wrong heifer, we’re paying the consequences for years. Choose right and reap the rewards for years,” Dr. Jason Osterstock, Vytelle Chief Science Officer
proved efficiency,” says Dr. Jason Osterstock, Vytelle Chief Science Officer. Dr Osterstock is an internationally recognized leader in animal genetics and has worked at the intersection of animal health, genomic technologies, and animal production for two decades. He has been at the forefront of the development and commercialization of the leading genomic tools in the cattle industry.
“While they all have a place, focusing on feed efficiency traits is critical as it zeroes in on both the cost of feed and the value of gain. This pursuit can truly help an operation’s bottom line,” states Osterstock.
Osterstock explains when a producer selects a replacement heifer as part of a rebuild, they effectively commit to that heifer for 10 years. Depending on calf prices, she must wean 5 calves before all costs are recovered and she begins contributing to the herd’s bottom line.
“If we choose the wrong heifer, we’re paying the consequences for years. Choose right and reap the rewards for years,” he says.
Keys to the right choices
“Cattle owners understand feed is the biggest check they’ll write,” Osterstock says. “Anything they can do to help manage these costs or make better use of feed results in more dollars in pockets. Multiplying these savings across an entire calf crop becomes significant.”
Residual feed intake (RFI) measures feed efficiency by subtracting the expected maintenance and growth
requirements from an animal’s actual intake. Low or negative numbers indicate the most efficient, while higher, positive numbers point to lower efficiency levels.
Selecting for negative, or superior RFI, results in cattle needing fewer inputs while achieving the same or better growth, production, and body composition.
“We don’t risk simply building bigger cows like using a feed-to-gain ratio since bigger isn’t always better,” Osterstock says. “That’s the advantage of RFI. Of course, we still need growth as well as traits related to carcass quality and calving ease as part of our genetic selection. RFI is only one, albeit a very important one, part of the equation.”
Impacting the bottom line
By focusing on feed efficiency, we can see benefits for the seedstock breeder, cow-calf producer, and feedlot sector, as well as the industry overall. This approach can lead to better productivity and lower costs.
Seedstock Breeder
Seedstock breeders drive these benefits as they create the next generation of sires. For example, if Bull A has a 0.5 lb. better RFI score than Bull B, Bull A’s calves will eat 1/2 lb. less than Bull B’s to achieve the same gain. Assuming each bull sires 25 calves per year, and considering total dry matter intake and ration cost with a 3.5 lb. ADG over 150 days, the return difference tops $6,500.
Cow-Calf Producer
If we accept females with lower RFI scores are 10% more efficient than the average, a herd will consume roughly 10% less hay or forage to maintain a desired condition. If the average 1200-pound cow eats 24 lbs. daily, a 10% or 2.4 lbs./day savings is realized. Across a 50-cow herd over 100 days, the savings would be 120 lbs./day equaling 12,000 lbs. Beyond feed costs, pasture stocking rates could also be adjusted to optimize grass.
ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE BEEF PRODUCTION WITH LIVING LAB NB
Beef producers today face pressures from climate change, rising production costs, and increasing scrutiny regarding livestock’s impact on the environment. Living Lab New Brunswick is here to help. This collaborative project brings together producers, researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Provincial Government, local non-profits, and industry to co-develop and test Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) on farms across New Brunswick. Living Lab NB’s mission is to develop innovative practices and provide locally-tested, actionable data that demonstrates how BMPs can be valuable tools for producers. These BMPs not only support environmental stewardship but also show that beef production can coexist with—and even enhance—New Brunswick’s ecosystems. By exploring practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, advanced nutrient management, legume integration with soil pH correction, and biodiversity conservation, Living Lab NB is building a knowledge base to empower producers with choices that benefit their farms, the environment, and their bottom line.
A Producer-Led Collaboration
Now entering its third season of a five-year project, Living Lab NB brings producers and partners together to co-develop and test BMPs in practical, real-world trials on New Brunswick farms. These trials also compare traditional methods with new BMPs to help producers evaluate what works best for them. Each BMP trial is grounded in data collected on active working farms. By tracking indicators like soil health, soil carbon content, forage yield, pollinator and biodiversity measures, greenhouse gas emissions, and production costs, Living Lab NB provides “brass tacks” numbers that illustrate BMPs’ real impact on a producer’s operation.
We know that many producers are familiar with BMPs but may hesitate to adopt new practices without seeing solid proof of their benefits. Living Lab NB’s goal is to show the value of practices like rotational grazing, legume integration, and lime applications by working with and sharing evidence from local farms. This data can also help producers apply for grants or support their value chains by
demonstrating that their operations align with sustainable practices.
BMPs for Improved Forage and Soil Health
Rotational grazing is a cornerstone of Living Lab NB’s work. By resting pastures between grazing cycles, producers can promote deeper root growth and higher-quality forage, reduce weeds, and increase grazing efficiency. Environmentally, rotational grazing enhances soil carbon capture, strengthens soil structure, retains moisture, and reduces greenhouse gases, which creates healthier soils and lowers feed costs.
Forage enhancement with legumes like clover and alfalfa also shows promising results. These legumes naturally fix nitrogen, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, lowering costs, and providing high-quality, protein-rich forage that supports herd health and weight gain. Legume integration improves soil fertility, boosts yield, and provides pollinator habitat, increasing biodiversity benefits.
Lime application is particularly effective for New Brunswick’s acidic soils. By balancing soil pH, lime unlocks essential nutrients, helping both grasses and legumes thrive. Lime-treated soils can offer higher-quality forage and potentially greater animal gains per acre while requiring fewer soil amendments. Living Lab NB is studying
Living Lab staff demonstrating a grazing cage, intended to keep cattle out of an area to provide a sample of forage biomass and species accumulation in each treatment plot.
not only the benefit of lime alone but also its combined effect with other BMPs like rotational grazing and legume integration. The synergy of these practices allows pastures to flourish, contributing to overall productivity and sustainability.
Supporting Biozdiversity and Wildlife Habitat
Sustainable beef production extends beyond soil and forage; it also includes local ecosystems. Living Lab NB include collaborators from the Canadian Wildlife Service, AAFC, and watershed groups to study biodiversity indicators, including habitats for Bobolinks, pollinators, and aquatic species in and around pastures. By monitoring these habitats, we show how BMPs like rotational grazing and legume integration contribute to ecosystem health, benefiting wildlife and biodiversity. This work reinforces that beef production can support—not harm—New Brunswick’s natural ecosystems.
Building Resilience for Today and Tomorrow
Living Lab NB is committed to collaborating with New Brunswick producers to develop practical, locally-tested BMPs that make adopting them worthwhile. Each BMP contributes to a larger vision of climate-resilient, economically viable beef production. Through producer-led onfarm trials, expert guidance, and partnerships, Living Lab NB is creating pathways for producers to co-develop, test and ultimately adopt sustainable and innovative practices that align with their economic and environmental goals. Together, we’re building a more resilient, sustainable future for New Brunswick agriculture.
For more details on these practices or to get involved, reach out to Living Lab NB at www.lvnbll.ca or connect with us on social media. Join us in advancing sustainable agriculture that strengthens both our communities and landscapes.
“Bringing together farmers, researchers, government, and other stakeholders to develop, and promote adoption of sustainable, environmentally friendly on-farm practices and technologies to tackle climate change and strengthen our Province’s food resilency”
The site layout of an enhanced pasture beneficial management practice, studied in the Living Lab project, includes rotational grazing, lime treatment, clover planting, and a combined lime + clover treatment, alongside a control paddock. Each area is assessed for soil health, forage type and biomass, biodiversity indicators, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon sequestration. With you. For you.
www.lvnbll.ca
FACTS
CONSUMPTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS
HARDWARE DISEASE
When cattle accidentally consume foreign material, such as sharp pieces of metal, hardware disease can occur. These objects can settle into the reticulum of the animal, irritating the lining of this chamber.
Signs of hardware disease include:
• A depressed state
• Going off feed
• Sedentary behaviour General signs of discomfort
Hardware can be painful to the animal and can inhibit performance. As well, hardware poses a food safety concern for animals entering the supply chain without producer knowledge of whether hardware is present.
COMMON HAZARDS
Common sources of foreign objects that lead to hardware disease include the following:
• Metal cables on fences or feed bunks
• Fragments from feed processing equipment deposited in feed
• Scrap material left on the ground
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Producers can help minimize the risk of animals developing hardware disease by implementing preventive measures. Ideally, practices will target prevention of foreign objects becoming accessible for consumption. This includes:
• Using magnets/scalpers (example pictured bottom left) to remove scrap metal from feed
• Where possible, avoiding the use of materials that could produce foreign objects available for consumption (ex. metal fence cables)
• Regular equipment and facility maintenance
• Regular inspection of feeding areas for foreign material
Producers should regularly inspect cattle and facilities to monitor incidence and potential new hazards.
