Canadian Beef Cattle Podcast

Nitrates can pose a serious risk in beef cattle diets when consumed at high levels. Understanding how nitrates work, when they become a concern, and how to manage them effectively is key to protecting both your herd and your bottom line. In this episode, we break down the science, the risks, and the practical management strategies you need to know.

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Feed Testing: A Tool for Better Returns (article)

Don't Roll The ...

High-grain feedlot diets improve feed efficiency and marbling, but they must be managed carefully to protect cattle health and welfare. Forage, often silage, provides the fiber needed to support rumen function—but not all fibers are created equal. The real challenge is striking the right forage-to-concentrate balance, and finding the right type and level of fiber. This episode explores research around this topic and more. 

Releva...

Water is the most critical nutrient for beef cattle, with shortages having immediate and severe impacts — especially in heat or drought. This episode highlights the importance of well-designed water systems for cattle health, productivity, and pasture use, and introduces the BCRC’s updated Water Systems Calculator to help producers weigh costs, benefits, and payback.

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Tap Into Savings: Comparing Water Systems for ...

Transport regulations have renewed attention on the role of rest stops for weaned calves. While the idea is that breaks during long-haul transport might reduce stress and improve animal welfare, research from 2018–2020 tells a different story. Across all trials, rest stops showed no consistent benefits—and calves that rested actually carried more BRD-related bacteria than those hauled straight through. Tune in to learn why rest sto...

Over the past 25 years, research has helped producers who background and finish beef cattle gain a deeper understanding of how nutrition supports animal health and meets consumer needs. In this episode, we review the key changes over the years and how the industry has adapted to better align with evolving demand.

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Evolution in Cattle Feeding, Management and Consumer Demand (article)

Nutrition in Beef Cattle (webpag...

Forage quality plays a critical role in cattle nutrition, yet it’s not always prioritized when management decisions are made. By focusing on quality, producers can often reduce costs—getting more from the forage they already have and cutting back on expensive concentrates and feed additives. In this episode, we explore key factors to consider for making the most of forage quality.

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Looking to Make the Most of Fora...

Now that cattle feed has been—or is being—harvested, it’s a good time to start thinking about testing it. While a visual check can help you spot the difference between good and poor-quality feed, it won’t tell you much about energy or protein levels. Only a feed test can give you that information. In this episode, we’ll talk about why feed testing matters, how to do it properly, and how to make sense of the lab results.

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Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is a serious disease that can lead to abortion, infertility, immune suppression, and calf losses. If the virus crosses the placenta in the first four months of gestation, calves may be born persistently infected and shed high levels of the virus throughout their lives—posing a major risk to unvaccinated cattle. In this episode, we explore why it’s critical to keep BVD out of your herd and how different v...

Biosecurity hazards on beef operations are sometimes overlooked, but the risk of introducing disease to your farm is real—and more common than many realize. This risk increases in the fall, when cattle return from community pastures, grazing leases, or pastures bordering neighbouring livestock. In this episode, we cover five practical strategies to help prevent sickness before it starts this fall.

Until the Cows Come Home: Five S...

Experiencing Drought? Five Things You Can Do to Help Manage Your Herd, Pastures, and Health (art...

Grazing cattle on neighbouring farmland can benefit both cattle producers and crop farmers when done correctly. In this episode, we explore the advantages of bringing cattle and crops together, featuring experiences from producers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario who have successfully grazed cattle on neighbouring cropland.

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The Benefits of Bringing Cattle and Crops Together (article)

Grazing Crops (article)

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Getting the Dirt on Cleaning Versus Disinfecting (article) 

Preventing a Biosecurity Breach ...

Cattle producers and veterinarians recognize the need for remote drug delivery devices (RDDDs) when animals can’t be safely caught, handling poses significant risk, or when timely treatment is critical for a positive outcome. In this episode, we explore when RDDD use is appropriate, the pros and cons of these tools, and resources available to help guide decision-making. Learn how to use RDDDs effectively while staying within beef q...

Producing Dairy-Beef: Starting off on the Right Hood (article)

Dairy-Beef: Shifting From the Parlour to the Feedlot (article)

Artificial Insemination ...

Every living thing contains carbon, and everything – including cattle and grasslands – plays a role in the carbon cycle. In this episode, we explore how the carbon cycle works, the role beef production plays in it, and how carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions affect beef producers on their farms.

Beef Cattle and the Carbon Cycle (article)

Carbon Cycle and Beef Cattle (webpage)

Environmental Footprint of Beef Producti...

Forage variety matters. A locally developed variety might not be the best choice for your situation and sometimes a variety developed elsewhere might be your best option. Drs. Bill Biligetu (University of Saskatchewan) and Annie Claessens (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) recently evaluated how different forage varieties performed under different growing conditions across Canada.

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Choosing Forage Varieties Withou...