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This video features cattle producers Ed Lang (Walter Farms) and Craig Cameron (Peony Farms) who use feed testing on their operations to meet their production goals. Producers can develop rations on their own using Cowbytes (cowbytes.ca) or outsource ration development to a third party (extension specialist, feed/mineral supplier, consulting ruminant nutritionist). A recent survey of western Canadian producers (n=333) found that 59% have tested at least one feed for quality in the last three years (2020-2023). Over 70% (141/192) of survey respondents who shared that they feed test said they rely on third parties to develop rations from the feed test results. Cowbytes can be ordered online at: https://www.beefresearch.ca/cowbytes/ This video was produced with funding from the Beef Cattle Research Council’s Knowledge and Tech Transfer funding stream and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture Development Fund.

This video features Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist Rikki Wilson, Consulting Ruminant Nutritionist Lynne Girardin (BeefSmart) and Alberta producer Ed Lang (Walter Farms) talking about how to feed test and use the results to develop rations as well as the importance of complementary practices (testing water, body condition scoring). Use a forage probe to collect samples – 00:29 Representative sample from taking multiple samples from each feed – 00:34 Producer Ed Lang sharing why he feed tests – 00:59 Water testing and body condition scoring also matter – 1:30 Cowbytes for ration development – 1:55 Feed testing cost – 2:24 Single feed evaluation tool – 2:49 Cowbytes can be ordered online at: https://www.beefresearch.ca/cowbytes/ Single feed evaluation tool: https://www.beefresearch.ca/feedtest This video was produced with funding from the Beef Cattle Research Council’s Knowledge and Tech Transfer funding stream and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture Development Fund.

University of Saskatchewan Extension Economist Kathy Larson explains the simplicity of the Single Feed Evaluation Tool available on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website at: https://www.beefresearch.ca/feedtest This calculator can be used to quickly evaluate a single feed’s ability to meet basic nutritional requirements for different classes of cattle using seven values from a producer’s feed test results. The tool can identify potential issues with individual feeds, but it is not a replacement for ration balancing. Ration balancing can be done with CowBytes (cowbytes.ca). This video was produced with funding from the Beef Cattle Research Council’s Knowledge and Tech Transfer funding stream and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture Development Fund.

University of Saskatchewan Extension Economist Kathy Larson shares how CowBytes can be ordered online for $60 (includes taxes and shipping) from the Beef Cattle Research Council at cowbytes.ca. CowBytes comes pre-populated with nutritional values for common feedstuffs. Producers can enter their feed test results and parameters for the class of cattle of cattle they are feeding to generate balanced rations. Cowbytes can be ordered online at: https://www.beefresearch.ca/cowbytes/ CowBytes video tutorials are available at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU6lNl6H8OCDepDKklJHFx9cFcKY6xd0M&si=HFqjL66qW8gZcf9s This video was produced with funding from the Beef Cattle Research Council’s Knowledge and Tech Transfer funding stream and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture Development Fund.

This video provides a brief overview of two forage yield measurement methods: (1) quadrat clipping and (2) using the rising plate meter.

Short video describing two techniques used to determine the botanical composition of a pasture.

This research video features Dr. Bart Lardner and his graduate student, Jacqueline Toews, sharing 2-year results on a study that compared annual polycrop mixtures and barley swath grazing for extended winter grazing.

This research video features Dr. Bart Lardner and his graduate student, Brittany Ross, sharing 3-year results on a study that compared the use of two varieties of triticale as silage compared to barley silage when fed to backgrounding beef steers.

In this research video, Dr. Bart Lardner, his student, Courtney O'Keefe, and Kathy Larson discuss 2-year results from a study conducted at the Termuende Research Ranch. This research was a field-scale study to validate Rosser et al (2013) who found delaying cutting of annuals that were to be used for swathgrazing, maximized the yield of effectively degradable dry matter. The study compared oats, barley and triticale swathed at two different stages of maturity. One was the current industry recommendation, which is based off silage recommendations (cut at soft dough, late milk for oats) and the other was hard dough. The treatments were compared on the basis of yield, forage quality, animal performance and system costs.