 Forage and Livestock eNews
Updates and information from across
the industry
January
8, 2010 - Vol 2, Issue
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| Dear Leanne |
 Welcome to a new year of the Forage and
Livestock eNews! Often the beginning of
a new year brings reflection on the year
passed (yikes - not many good memories for those in the
livestock business) and hope for the year ahead (ah hope
- the crucial reason we are still in this
business). So here's hoping for a better
year for the forage and livestock industry in
2010! In this issue of the Forage
and Livestock eNews, you will find information
on an upcoming winter grazing field day,
the economics of developing off-site watering
systems and information on the Saskatchewan Beef
and Forage Symposium and the approaching early bird
registration deadline.
As always, feel free to share this publication with
anyone you think may be interested, or encourage them to
join our mailing list.
Please contact us if you have comments or questions
about our e-newsletter. Also, let us know if
you have ideas for upcoming issues. We
welcome your
input! | | |
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| Winter
Grazing Field Day
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The Saskatchewan Forage Council, in cooperation with the
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, and the Herschel and
Biggar Grazing Clubs, is hosting a Winter Grazing Field
Day in the Biggar area on Wednesday, January 13,
2010.
This field day will begin in Biggar at 1:00PM where
producers will hear about the Agricultural Demonstration
of Practices and Technology (ADOPT) projects that the
Saskatchewan Forage Council is currently cooperating on.
Following this brief presentation, the field tour will begin
at one of the ADOPT sites near Biggar.
This project includes two winter grazing options;
one with cattle grazing stockpiled standing perennial forage
and one with calves grazing stockpiled swathed perennial
forage.
 This
field day will allow producers to see winter grazing in
action and provide the opportunity to discuss the pros and
cons of this practice with cattle producers that are currently
using winter grazing as a feeding option. The tour
will also include a look at a winter watering site.
The day will conclude with coffee, snacks and discussion
back in Biggar.
There is no registration fee for this tour.
Funding for this ADOPT project is provided under the
Canada-Saskatchewan Growing Forward agreement.
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| Off-Site Watering - Does it
Make $ense?
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By Jeremy Brown, PAg
Range Agrologist,
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
If we assume that all producers are in
agreement on the animal health and water quality benefits to
providing water in a trough, what are some other
considerations?
Keep in mind that it is
not always necessary to fence the water source off
completely. This means that livestock can still go to
the source (creek, dugout, slough, lake, etc.) in the event
that the trough goes dry. In most cases, they will
choose clean water with solid footing (at the trough) over
tromping in the mud (at the source).
So, what are
the economics of pumping water? Can we recover the costs
associated with this practice? How can available funding
grants help?
Research has shown that cattle
getting clean water in a trough can gain anywhere from 3%-20%
better than those drinking directly from the source.
This seems to be due to the fact that the clean water is more
palatable, so the animals drink more (and interestingly, drink
faster). The result of higher water intakes is more time
spent grazing and higher weight gains.
Let's look
at an example and consider the cash costs and benefits of
providing water in a trough:
 Assumptions:
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A 100 head cow-calf operation, summer grazing five months (150
days) a
year.
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When provided water in a trough, calves gain 5% (0.10 lb/day)
extra.
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Remote solar watering system (including battery, trough)
costing
$2,500.
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Weaned calves selling for $1.00/lb.
In this
example, it takes less than three months to pay for the
capital cost of the system. After the first grazing
season, the economic benefit from the extra calf gains alone
equals $1500 per year. Now add in the animal health and
environmental benefits...does off-site watering make sense in
your situation?
Photo Credit: Jeremy
Brown
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Early Registration Deadline for Sask Beef
Conference Approaching
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The Saskatchewan Beef and Forage Symposium is being held
in Saskatoon on January 20, 2010 as part of the inaugural
Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference. You may register
for the Beef and Forage Symposium only, or chose to attend the
entire conference. The early bird registration deadline
is January 11, 2010.
Representatives from the entire Saskatchewan beef
industry will converge in Saskatoon in January 2010 and,
collectively, look closely at its future.  Officially called the Saskatchewan Beef Industry
Conference (SBIC), this conference is a historic
collaboration of the province's four main beef producer groups
- Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association, Saskatchewan
Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Stock Growers
Association and the Saskatchewan Livestock Association.
Convening under the theme ' Securing Beef
Beyond 2020: A Collective Approach', the Conference
presents a compelling combination of visionary and experienced
speakers and panelists. SBIC is a pivotal event
encompassing fours days of more than 20 meetings, including
the Saskatchewan Beef and Forage Symposium. Whatever your
interest in beef, SBIC is the event to attend. Visit the
conference website for registration information and
agenda details at
Top of
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Leanne Thompson - Editor
Forage and
Livestock eNews
Forage and Livestock eNews is
published by the Saskatchewan Forage Council (SFC).
Opinions
and information are provided by the authors and
publication does not imply endorsement by the
SFC. |
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The
Saskatchewan Forage Council recognizes the support of
our Annual Sponsors:
 
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Financial support for this project has
been provided by:
the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan through the
Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food
Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) program. Funding for the
ACAAFS program is provided by Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada
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