Page 21 - March 25, 2019
P. 21
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 20 MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR MONDAY MARCH 25, 2019 PAGE 21
T he Weekly ANCHOR
Farm and Fieldarm and Field
F
News and Views
News and Views
Cold weather aftermath and cattle
Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist at Yaremcio says that bringing the cows back into extra two, three or four pounds of grain a day
the Alberta Ag-Info Centre, offers feed condition will take a little more attention to over above what is fed in warmer conditions is a PASSPORT PHOTOS & MORE
suggestions for animals that have lost condition details. “Get some extra help working through starting point. The extra grain will help increase
or dropped weight due to the cold weather. current rations. Or, use the CowBytes program weight gains by about one-half to three-quarters Professional Digital Passport System photos
“Animals that are kept outside – be they cattle, and readjust them as soon as possible to allow of a pound a day. That is over and above fetal
bison or horses – they all increase the amount of the largest amount of time to regain condition and placenta growth for cows in late pregnancy ready in minutes while you wait...
feed they consume during the cold weather,” before the breeding season begins. Feeding an and some weight gain for lactating cows.”
explains Yaremcio. “This is to increase the
amount of heat that is generated during the
digestion process to stay warm. Using beef cattle
as an example, if temperatures drop below -20 C,
feed intake can increase by 5 to 30 % compared
to a warmer day.”
Because of the cold, Yaremcio says that some
producers are noticing that their haystacks or
silage pits are emptying a lot faster than what
was expected. However, he says that producers
have some options even on limited feed supply.
“Cows in late pregnancy can be fed a certain
amount of straw per day, which is no different
than before the cold weather. “However, the
straw cannot be the total increase in feed
supplied because it is low in protein, high in fibre
which reduces digestibility and rumen efficiency.
Good quality hay and additional grain is needed
as part of the additional feed supplied. Adding 2
lb. of grain per head per day at -30 C and 4 lb. of Animals that are kept outside – be they cattle, bison or horses – they all increase the amount of
additional grain at -40 C is a good starting feed they consume during the cold weather.
point.”
DROP IN AND SEE!ROP IN AND SEE!
“Managing the protein content, calcium and D
phosphorus, magnesium, trace minerals and Check your winter burns
vitamins are all important to provide a balanced
5040 3rd Avenue, Edson040 3rd Avenue, Edson
ration. If hay or silage supplies are very short, With wildfire season underway and snow still on the ground, now is 5
feeding roughly 10 lb. of straw per day to a a good time to ensure your winter burns are completely extinguished
lactating cow with the remainder being silage or
780-723-578780-723-5787
hay along with at 10 to 15 lb. – or more – of 7
grain per head per day may be necessary. Grain “We typically see we will have a few fires b u r n a r e a s m o r e consideration is the
feeding rates will depend on the quality of the landowners burning as pop up unexpectedly on effectively, including location of the debris
other feeds and forages.” they try to clear woody land owners, start e n c o u r a g i n g p i l e . D o n ’t b u r n
T
Yaremcio says that after calving when debris off their land and g r a s s f i r e s , a n d landowners to use brush windrows on organic The Weekly Anchorhe Weekly Anchor
including straw in the diet, it is critical to include turn it to agricultural sometimes go into the r a k e s o n t h e i r soils. Debris needs to be
sufficient amounts of protein. The ration should purposes. We see t r e e s . I t i s v e r y machinery. “They moved to high clay-
contain a minimum of 11 % protein on a dry windrows and machine important to be diligent significantly reduce the type soils to prevent the
matter basis. Adding faba beans, peas, distillers piled brush piles that a f t e r y o u h a v e amount of dirt that is burn getting into the
grains or 32 % with Rumensin are all are burned in the conducted winter g o i n g i n t o t h e peat.”
possibilities. winter,” says Mike burning,” says Tucker. windrows and piles. F o r m o r e
“Changing and adjusting the feeding program Tu c k e r, w i l d f i r e A fire caused by a Really dirty piles have a information on winter
when including lower quality straw is critical. It prevention officer with winter burn could result tendency to smoulder, burns, call toll-free
is possible that calcium and magnesium levels Alberta Agriculture and in charges, court not burn cleanly, and 310-0000 to contact
will be low, creating a concern with downer Forestry. appearances, and fines. hold on for months after your local Alberta
cows or milk fevers.” Anyone who has Tucker offers some the fact.” A g r i c u l t u r e a n d
He adds to keep eye on the animal’s body conducted winter suggestions to set up “ T h e o t h e r Forestry office
condition score. “When a cow loses body burning outside of
condition score prior to calving, the energy wildfire season needs to
availability the cow to produce milk after calving closely examine any Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta
Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta
is reduced because there is less fat to mobilize extinguished winter
Yellowhead Chapter
off her back in addition to the feed that is burn piles. “You need to Yellowhead Chapter
providing them with energy.” physically inspect the
“If the cow can’t mobilize the extra fat to get pile and check for heat,”
Will be hosting our
energy to produce milk, peak milk production is explains Tucker. “Take Will be hosting our
14th Annual Conservation Banquet
going to go down. If you lose two pounds of a metal rod or a stick, 14th Annual Conservation Banquet
milk production off the peak at eight weeks after put it into the ash pile,
at the Edson Legion
calving, your loss of milk production over the pull it out, and feel for at the Edson Legion
entire length of that lactation period is going to heat. If there is any heat, April 13, 2019
April 13, 2019
be down that two pounds. It is not just the peak the pile is likely still
that is lost, but the two pounds all the way burning. That pile will
Social: 5 pm - 6 pm
through.” then need to be spread Social: 5 pm - 6 pm
“If cows are losing weight between calving and or dug up to ensure it is Dinner: 6 pm - 7 pm
Dinner: 6 pm - 7 pm
when the bulls are turned out, it takes longer for out.”
Auction and Social: 7 pm - 12 am
the cows to start cycling and first service Those winter burn Auction and Social: 7 pm - 12 am
conception rates go down,” explains Yaremcio. piles also need to be
“Therefore, you are either going to have a bunch checked on a regular For tickets to the Banquet please call Luke Vandergust
of calves born later in the calving season next basis even if it seems to at 780-728-8403. Limited tickets remaining
year, or that cow might be open and gets culled.” be out. “Every spring
PAGE 20 MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR MONDAY MARCH 25, 2019 PAGE 21
T he Weekly ANCHOR
Farm and Fieldarm and Field
F
News and Views
News and Views
Cold weather aftermath and cattle
Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist at Yaremcio says that bringing the cows back into extra two, three or four pounds of grain a day
the Alberta Ag-Info Centre, offers feed condition will take a little more attention to over above what is fed in warmer conditions is a PASSPORT PHOTOS & MORE
suggestions for animals that have lost condition details. “Get some extra help working through starting point. The extra grain will help increase
or dropped weight due to the cold weather. current rations. Or, use the CowBytes program weight gains by about one-half to three-quarters Professional Digital Passport System photos
“Animals that are kept outside – be they cattle, and readjust them as soon as possible to allow of a pound a day. That is over and above fetal
bison or horses – they all increase the amount of the largest amount of time to regain condition and placenta growth for cows in late pregnancy ready in minutes while you wait...
feed they consume during the cold weather,” before the breeding season begins. Feeding an and some weight gain for lactating cows.”
explains Yaremcio. “This is to increase the
amount of heat that is generated during the
digestion process to stay warm. Using beef cattle
as an example, if temperatures drop below -20 C,
feed intake can increase by 5 to 30 % compared
to a warmer day.”
Because of the cold, Yaremcio says that some
producers are noticing that their haystacks or
silage pits are emptying a lot faster than what
was expected. However, he says that producers
have some options even on limited feed supply.
“Cows in late pregnancy can be fed a certain
amount of straw per day, which is no different
than before the cold weather. “However, the
straw cannot be the total increase in feed
supplied because it is low in protein, high in fibre
which reduces digestibility and rumen efficiency.
Good quality hay and additional grain is needed
as part of the additional feed supplied. Adding 2
lb. of grain per head per day at -30 C and 4 lb. of Animals that are kept outside – be they cattle, bison or horses – they all increase the amount of
additional grain at -40 C is a good starting feed they consume during the cold weather.
point.”
DROP IN AND SEE!ROP IN AND SEE!
“Managing the protein content, calcium and D
phosphorus, magnesium, trace minerals and Check your winter burns
vitamins are all important to provide a balanced
5040 3rd Avenue, Edson040 3rd Avenue, Edson
ration. If hay or silage supplies are very short, With wildfire season underway and snow still on the ground, now is 5
feeding roughly 10 lb. of straw per day to a a good time to ensure your winter burns are completely extinguished
lactating cow with the remainder being silage or
780-723-578780-723-5787
hay along with at 10 to 15 lb. – or more – of 7
grain per head per day may be necessary. Grain “We typically see we will have a few fires b u r n a r e a s m o r e consideration is the
feeding rates will depend on the quality of the landowners burning as pop up unexpectedly on effectively, including location of the debris
other feeds and forages.” they try to clear woody land owners, start e n c o u r a g i n g p i l e . D o n ’t b u r n
T
Yaremcio says that after calving when debris off their land and g r a s s f i r e s , a n d landowners to use brush windrows on organic The Weekly Anchorhe Weekly Anchor
including straw in the diet, it is critical to include turn it to agricultural sometimes go into the r a k e s o n t h e i r soils. Debris needs to be
sufficient amounts of protein. The ration should purposes. We see t r e e s . I t i s v e r y machinery. “They moved to high clay-
contain a minimum of 11 % protein on a dry windrows and machine important to be diligent significantly reduce the type soils to prevent the
matter basis. Adding faba beans, peas, distillers piled brush piles that a f t e r y o u h a v e amount of dirt that is burn getting into the
grains or 32 % with Rumensin are all are burned in the conducted winter g o i n g i n t o t h e peat.”
possibilities. winter,” says Mike burning,” says Tucker. windrows and piles. F o r m o r e
“Changing and adjusting the feeding program Tu c k e r, w i l d f i r e A fire caused by a Really dirty piles have a information on winter
when including lower quality straw is critical. It prevention officer with winter burn could result tendency to smoulder, burns, call toll-free
is possible that calcium and magnesium levels Alberta Agriculture and in charges, court not burn cleanly, and 310-0000 to contact
will be low, creating a concern with downer Forestry. appearances, and fines. hold on for months after your local Alberta
cows or milk fevers.” Anyone who has Tucker offers some the fact.” A g r i c u l t u r e a n d
He adds to keep eye on the animal’s body conducted winter suggestions to set up “ T h e o t h e r Forestry office
condition score. “When a cow loses body burning outside of
condition score prior to calving, the energy wildfire season needs to
availability the cow to produce milk after calving closely examine any Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta
Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta
is reduced because there is less fat to mobilize extinguished winter
Yellowhead Chapter
off her back in addition to the feed that is burn piles. “You need to Yellowhead Chapter
providing them with energy.” physically inspect the
“If the cow can’t mobilize the extra fat to get pile and check for heat,”
Will be hosting our
energy to produce milk, peak milk production is explains Tucker. “Take Will be hosting our
14th Annual Conservation Banquet
going to go down. If you lose two pounds of a metal rod or a stick, 14th Annual Conservation Banquet
milk production off the peak at eight weeks after put it into the ash pile,
at the Edson Legion
calving, your loss of milk production over the pull it out, and feel for at the Edson Legion
entire length of that lactation period is going to heat. If there is any heat, April 13, 2019
April 13, 2019
be down that two pounds. It is not just the peak the pile is likely still
that is lost, but the two pounds all the way burning. That pile will
Social: 5 pm - 6 pm
through.” then need to be spread Social: 5 pm - 6 pm
“If cows are losing weight between calving and or dug up to ensure it is Dinner: 6 pm - 7 pm
Dinner: 6 pm - 7 pm
when the bulls are turned out, it takes longer for out.”
Auction and Social: 7 pm - 12 am
the cows to start cycling and first service Those winter burn Auction and Social: 7 pm - 12 am
conception rates go down,” explains Yaremcio. piles also need to be
“Therefore, you are either going to have a bunch checked on a regular For tickets to the Banquet please call Luke Vandergust
of calves born later in the calving season next basis even if it seems to at 780-728-8403. Limited tickets remaining
year, or that cow might be open and gets culled.” be out. “Every spring
