Selenium is an essential nutrient for cattle. Selenium deficiency has been associated with a number of problems in cattle, including white muscle disease, increased susceptibility to infectious disease, reproductive problems, mastitis, and lower-than-expected rates of gain. To determine when and how to supplement this important nutrient, however, you first should […]
Gary Sliworsky – Agricultural Report
The last three months before calving is a critical time for cows and heifers. Nutrition needs are high with a rapidly-growing calf, milk production coming on stream, and cold weather to overcome. Energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals are important. Cows on an adequate diet will produce a vigorous calf with […]
Birth date verification, or age verification of beef cattle–what is it? Age verification is the association of animal birth date data with an Animal Identification Number (single tag or tag group). There is an ever-increasing demand for accurate age determination in Canadian cattle. As such, there is a system in […]
As a result of higher cattle prices, the Beef Farmers of Ontario membership expressed concerns about the compensation fund of the Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program and its ability to protect farmers in a default payment situation. The purpose of the program, established in 1984, is to reduce the risk […]
The Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association offers free biosecurity workshops for producers. The Biosecurity workshops are a good place to start addressing your on-farm biosecurity program. The workshops have been developed as commodity-specific workshops, in addition to a generic livestock biosecurity workshop. Currently, there are beef, goat and sheep […]
In Ontario, “Growing Forward 2” (GF2) offers resources, tools, and cost-share funding assistance to eligible producers to grow profits, expand markets, and manage shared risks. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) administers GF2 to producers across Ontario on behalf of the ministry. Producers are encouraged to take advantage of free workshops and […]
Have you ever had trouble making sense of your farm property tax bill? Paying property tax is something we do each year. Understanding your tax bill may be another matter—and can bring about many different questions. Knowing there are three distinct parts to the property tax system can help in […]
Do you know how much your cows are eating? Feed supply for the cows when it gets this cold can be an issue. After all, feed represents the largest single cost (60 percent of total) in a cow-calf enterprise. Science tells us a 1,300-pound dry, pregnant cow in good condition […]
The Chrysler Foundation has teamed up with 4-H Canada to sponsor 100 scholarships valued at $1,000 each for 4-H members across Canada. 4-H scholarships provide opportunities for Canadian youth to further their education and expand their knowledge in support of the agriculture industry. Members also have opportunities to travel nationally […]
The goal is to have every cow calve consistently at the same time period every year, raise that calf to weaning, and then go on feed to finish at an optimum size for the consumer—and do all of this efficiently and profitably. A healthy herd is critical to achieve this […]
Nominations are now open for the 2014 Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program (OOYF). Nominees may be individuals, partners, or couples who derive a minimum of two-thirds of their gross revenue from farming and are under the age of 40 as of Jan. 1 in the year of competition. Nomination forms […]
Farmers tend to put succession planning off until “tomorrow.” Maybe it’s the fear of dealing with the unknown or the fear of being “put out to pasture.” Or perhaps the fear of facing the loss of a business they created. Two options exist for every farm business owner—either the succession […]
