2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Production Survey Aggregate Results ... · Oral calf scours vaccine 25% 16...

2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Production Survey

Aggregate Results

May 2018

Maritime Beef Council

2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 2

Table of Contents Page

Section 1: Basic Production Statistics 5

Section 2: Important Dates and Statistics Related to 2017 Calf Crop 7

Section 3: Statistics About 2017 Calving Season 8

Section 4: Culling and Death Loss 12

Section 5: Reproductive Management Practices 13

Section 6: Calf Preconditioning 15

Section 7: Grazing, Feeding and Water Management 17

Section 8: Animal Health Management Practices 19

Section 9: Economics of Production 21

Section 10: Sources of Information 22

List of Tables and Figures

Table 1: Farm operator statistics 5

Table 2: Farm operation statistics 6

Table 3: Technologies and management during the breeding season 7

Table 4: Calving management statistics 8

Table 5: Calving management for birth weights and health treatments 10

Table 6: Calf weaning weight data and collection 10

Table 7: Calf marketing strategies 11

Table 8: Breeding bull sources 13

Table 9: Pregnancy detection method for cows and heifers 14

Table 10: Calf dehorning management 15

Table 11: Castration management practises 16

Table 12: Weaning method typically used 16

Table 13: Frequency of pasture rejuvenation 17

Table 14: Cattle housing and sorting during winter months 18

Table 15: On-farm parasite management practises 19

Table 16: Mineral management on-farm 20

Table 17: Technologies and record keeping methods used on-farm 21

Table 18: Methods of information sharing and content preferred by producers 22


Figure 1: Number of on-farm workers seasonally and full time 6

Figure 2: Calf deaths more than 24 hours after birth from heifers and cows. 9

Figure 3: Breeding female culling decisions in the fall 2016 and spring 2017 12

Figure 4: Bull culling decisions in 2017 12

Figure 5: Breeding technologies implemented on-farm 13

Figure 6: The top three selection criteria when choosing a herd sire. 14

Figure 7: Percentage of calves born polled 16

Figure 8: Grazing management practises for cows with calves 17

Figure 9: Average days on feed according to feed type 18

Figure 10: Typical injection site for health treatments 19

Appendix A: Summary of Performance and Management Measures 23


This is the first time the Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey was administered in Atlantic Canada. The

purpose of this survey was to create an overall picture of current production practises on

beef operations in the region. With the implementation of the programs outlined in the

Maritime Beef Sector Development and Expansion Strategy, this survey will be repeated on a bi-annual basis as a means to measure the impact of the strategy on the local beef industry.

The questions from this survey were modified from the Ontario Cow-Calf 2017 Production

Survey. Both the Ontario and Atlantic surveys have origins from the Western Canada Cow-

Calf Survey. This way, producers across the country can use the results from each of these

surveys as a benchmark on their operation. This survey was voluntary and 98% were completed online.

In total, there were 65 fully completed surveys which answered all 79 questions. In Atlantic

Canada, there are approximately 1,680 producers reporting a cow-calf operation1. This

survey represents approximately 4% of Atlantic producers with beef cows.

Interpretation

To interpret this survey, the number of responses for each question will be in the right-hand

column. The results for each question will be the average answer for each question unless

otherwise stated. In the example below, 21% of respondents were under 35 years old, 13% were between 35 and 45, and 66% were over 45 years old.

Replies Number of Responses

Age of Respondent

% Under 35 years 21% 36

% Over 35 years 13% 51

% Over 45 years 66% 110

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all of the respondents that took the time to complete this survey. To the New

Brunswick Cattle Producers, Nova Scotia Cattle Producers and Prince Edward Island

Producers for your support to disseminate the survey to producers. To the Western Beef

Development Center and Beef Farmers of Ontario for use of the question set. Finally, sincere

appreciation to the staff at Perennia who contributed to the development of the survey and

data collection.

1 http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a47


Section 1: Basic Production Statistics

Respondents were asked to provide the age, gender, Province and number of years in

production for the primary decision maker of the operation. The majority of the primary

decision makers were males over 45 years of age (Table 1). According to the 2016 Statistics

Canada report, Atlantic producers were typically over 55 years of age2.

Table 1: Farm operator statistics


Age of Respondent

% Under 35 years 21% 36

% Over 35 years 13% 51

% Over 45 years 66% 110

Gender

% Male 86% 144

% Female 13% 21

Other 2% 3

Province Farmer is Located

% New Brunswick 43% 72

% Nova Scotia 31% 52

% Prince Edward Island 26% 43

% Newfoundland and Labrador <1% 1

Number of Years the Primary Decision Maker has been Farming

0-9 17% 28

10 to 19 19% 32

20 to 29 16% 27

30 to 39 17% 28

40 to 49 20% 33

50 to 59 6% 10

60 to 69 4% 7

2 http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a47

http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a47


Over 50% of respondents reported working off farm at least part time (Table 2). On-farm

sales included mainly beef production, followed by “other,” which may include blueberry,

woodlot, and other crop production. Operations rely largely on the work of family members

on farm (Figure 1). Use of seasonal non-family members may include extra help for the cropping season.

Table 2: Farm operation statistics

Figure 1: Number of on-farm workers seasonally and full time


The Primary Decision Maker Works off the Farm

Full time 44% 74

Part time 18% 31

Not at all 26% 43

Other 22% 37

Livestock Production Activities On-Farm

Commercial 66% 148

Purebred 29% 89

Other 3% 12

On-Farm Sales

Beef 76% 167

Grain 3% 39

Forage 5% 52

Other 14% 66

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 1 2 3 4 5 >6

% R

esp

on

ses

Number of Workers

Family Non-Family (seasonal) Non-Family (non-seasonal)


Section 2: Important Dates and Statistics Related to 2017 Calf Crop

For the most part, females were exposed to natural service. The average number of breeding

females in the herd was 44 females (cows and heifers). The average length of breeding season was 136 and 112 days for the cows and heifers respectively.

Table 3: Technologies and management during the breeding season

Cows Heifers Responses

Breeding Technologies

Number of females exposed to natural service 36 8 111

Number of females bred using artificial insemination (AI)

13 4 106

Number of total females exposed to any breeding 35 6 41

Number of total females exposed to embryo transfer 6 2 92

Herd Total 37 7 7

Number of Bulls On-Farm

1 57% 73% 111

2 22% 11% 111

3 11% 7% 111

>4 11% 9% 111

Breeding Season Management

Average length of breeding season (days) 136 112 115

Number of open females sold 5 4 43

Number of open replacements 10 6 35

Number of bred females sold 3 3 17

Number of bred females purchased 4 2 21


Section 3: Statistics About 2017 Calving Season

Due to the wet conditions often faced on Atlantic beef operations, 61% of respondents claim

to calve indoors, followed by calving on large pastures. The average calving period was 121

days for cows and 49 days for heifers. For both groups, over half of the calves were born in

the first 60 days of calving. Despite calving indoors, there was a low instance of calving interventions.

Table 4: Calving management statistics

Responses

Barns or covered sheds 61% 44

Dry lot pens or corals 4% 3

Small grass paddocks (i.e. less than 5 acres) 8% 6

Large pastures 18% 13

Other 8% 6

Calving Period Cows Heifers Responses

Average length calving period (days) 121 49 66

Number of females that calved from Day 1 - 21 13 4 45



Number of females that calved from Day 64+ 5 3 20

Calving Statistics

Number of females that calved 33 5 65

Number of sets of twins 2 1 27

Number of calves bought prior to weaning 6 2 2

Number of cow-calf pairs bought 10 2 4

Number of calves sold prior to weaning 12 1 5

Number of cow-calf pairs sold 1 3 5

Number of cows that aborted 2 2 21

Number of bred cows sold 4 0 4

Number of bred heifers sold 0 4 1

Number of calves born dead or died within 24 hours 2 2 35

Number of calves died from Day 1-weaning 4 2 26


Calving Interventions

Average number of unassisted calving 30 5 60

Average number of assisted calving 3 2 30

Average number of caesarean delivery 1 1 1

Calves which died more than 24 hours after birth are shown in Figure 2. Nearly 35% of respondents claimed to give cows and heifers a scour vaccine prior to calving.

On average, cows lost their calves due to scours and/or respiratory diseases, such as

pneumonia, as well as difficult calving. Heifers on the other hand, largely lost their calves due

to weather, scours and mis-mothering.

Figure 2: Calf deaths more than 24 hours after birth from heifers and cows.

Calving management is listed in Table 5. Just under half of all respondents are collecting birth

weights on calves. The average birth weight for those collecting the information was

approximately 88 lbs. The majority of respondents were administering selenium and vitamin

E shots at birth. Nearly half of respondents were also giving vitamin A and D, castrating bull

calves and recording the weight and sex of calves. Reasons for not castrating at birth included purebred calves, which may become herd sires.

Weaning weights are shown in Table 6. The average weaning weight for all calves was 593

lbs. Nearly half of the weaning weights provided were estimates.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Scours/diarrhea

Pneumonia/respiratory disease

Lameness/injury

Predator death (e.g. coyote,…

Weather

Difficult calving

Mismothered

Unknown

Other

Average Number of Calves Lost

Heifers Cows


Table 5: Calving management for birth weights and health treatments

Responses

Birth Weight Collection

YES, using a scale 17% 12

YES, using a weigh tape 10% 7

YES, using an estimate (eyeballing) 19% 13

NO 54% 38

Average Birth Weight (lbs) 88 30

Interventions

Intranasal respiratory vaccine 14% 9

Oral calf scours vaccine 25% 16

Selenium and Vitamin E 86% 56

Vitamin A, D 43% 28

Iodine naval dip 34% 22

Colostrum supplementation 26% 17

Castration of bull calves 40% 26

Tattoo (purebred) 3% 2

Weight and sex, record information in calving records 46% 30

Other 17% 11

Table 6: Calf weaning weight data and collection

Number of Calves Weaned

Average Weaning Weight (lbs)

Responses

Cow-born Steers/Bulls 17 659 46

Cow-born Heifers 14 596 45

Heifer-born Steers/Bulls 4 585 28

Heifer-born Heifers 4 531 25

Weaning Weights Collected by Responses

Actual scale weights 35% 18

Estimates 49% 25

Sale weights 16% 8


Calf marketing strategies are listed in Table 7. In the Atlantic region, many calves from New

Brunswick and Nova Scotia are marketed to feedlots on Prince Edward Island. Calves from

this region may also be sold through markets in Ontario and Quebec. In 2015, approximately

9,200 calves were marketed outside the Atlantic provinces. In most cases, calves were sold at weaning and a large number of calves were sold following 30-60 days of pre-conditioning.

Several feeders and heifers were sold as yearlings or fed cattle. Other marketing strategies

included testing at the Maritime Beef Test Station, being sold as breeding bulls and heifers,

as well as entry into steer shows and sales. Direct marketing beef sales were noted as another

strategy. Eighty percent of calves were sold in a live auction off-site, through an order buyer

or directly to a feedlot. This survey did not ask the respondents for the feeding capacity of

the operations.

Table 7: Calf marketing strategies

Heifers Steers Responses

Priced and sold calves at weaning 60% 84% 20

Locked in price before weaning and sold at weaning 6% 0% 1

Locked in price before weaning then sold after 30-60 days preconditioning

4% 22% 1

Pre-conditioned calves 30-60 days then priced at time of sale

60% 84% 20

Retain ownership and sell as yearlings 49% 71% 14

Retain ownership and sell as fed cattle 46% 65% 7

Retained for replacement (heifer or bull) 33% 10% 34

Sold as replacements (open) 27% 0% 5

Sold as replacements (bred) 2% 0% 3

Other 8% 50% 1


Section 4: Culling and Death Loss

Females were culled in the fall for reproduction, physical soundness and calf performance.

During the spring, a larger number of females were culled due to prices. Bulls were culled

based on a change in genetics, physical soundness and age. Only 13% of respondents

euthanized an animal on farm in 2017.

Figure 3: Breeding female culling decisions in the fall 2016 and spring 2017

Figure 4: Bull culling decisions in 2017

Reproduction (e.g. failed semen test,broken penis)

Physical soundness (e.g. lame,conformation)

Progeny performance

Temperament

Age

Economics (e.g. drought, prices)

Change in genetics

Other

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Reproduction (e.g. open, late calving, aborted,…

Physical soundness (e.g. lame, bad udder, cancer…

Calf performance

Temperament

Age

Economics (e.g. drought, prices)

Other

Fall 2016 Spring 2017


Section 5: Reproductive Management Practices

Breeding season management can be one of the most effective ways to make improvements

on farm. As mentioned in Section 2, a large portion of respondents are using natural service

only. Breeding technologies that have been implemented on farm are shown in Figure 5.

Artificial insemination is a technology that has existed since the 1950’s, however, there is

generally a low uptake of the technology in the beef sector. Of the 49 respondents, 53% are

using artificial insemination, followed by estrus synchronization and embryo transfer.

Figure 5: Breeding technologies implemented on-farm

The Maritime region is fortunate to have access to bull testing facilities at the Maritime Beef

Test Station (MBTS), which auctions 60+ bulls in their annual spring sale. From the 65

respondents that answered the breeding bull sources question, 68% purchased bulls directly

from another producer. This was followed by purchase at MBTS and purchase from another

province.

Table 8: Breeding bull sources

Responses

Auction – Maritime Beef Test Station 26% 17

Auction – Other province 22% 14

Auction – Outside of Canada 2% 1

Bought from sale barn (Truro or Sussex) 3% 2

Bought from local association/breeder sale 8% 5

AI only (no bulls) 9% 6

Directly from another producer 68% 44

Other 14% 9

Artificial insemination Estrus synchronization Embryo transfer

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

Breeding Technology

Up

tak

e

Yes No


In 2014, the test station introduced semen testing to its performance protocol. The semen

evaluation is a standard procedure that must be included in a complete Breeding Soundness

Evaluation (BSE)3. The semen evaluation is one method used by MBTS to ensure that the

bulls sold will be of the highest quality. Completing the BSE on farm can be a challenge due

to the required equipment and expertise. Locally, a BSE may be completed at the Atlantic

Veterinary College for bulls that are sold privately. From the respondents, 93% of the bulls purchased did not have a BSE completed.

Respondents were asked to rank their criteria when selecting a herd sire. The top three

selection criteria when choosing herd sires are listed in Figure 6.

Figure 6: The top three selection criteria when choosing a herd sire.

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and polled status rounded out the top 5 selection

criteria.

Pregnancy detection (preg-checks) can be a useful tool to evaluate herd reproductive health

and bull fertility4. It can also be useful to determine calving dates to sort bred females into

management groups. From the 66 responses, 49% are preg-checking their cows and 47%

are checking heifers. Of those completing pregnancy checks, 68% are using rectal palpation

and 32% are using ultrasound scans. Preg-checks, on average, were completed 112 days after breeding.

Table 9: Pregnancy detection method for cows and heifers

3 Bull Breeding Soundness Manual (2013) Barth, A. 4 http://www.beefresearch.ca/research/pregnancy-detection.cfm

Responses

Ultrasound 32% 12

Rectal palpation 68% 26

Blood test 0% 0

Number of Days 112 33

1. Breed

2. Conformation

3. Pedigree


Section 6: Calf Preconditioning

Pre-conditioning is a term used to describe the preparation of feeder calves prior to entry

into a backgrounding or feedlot operation. Dehorning, castration, weaning and creep feeding

are just a few methods that are beneficial when preconditioning calves. According to the

responses, 60% of respondents have 100% polled calves (Figure 7). Dehorning management

is listed in Table 10. Horns may be removed by a Barnes dehorner or horn development

prevention may be used via polled genetics. In terms of pain control when dehorning, the result was 50/50 whether or not it would be used.

Table 10: Calf dehorning management

Responses

Dehorning Methods

Disbud by electrocautery (“burn”, propane, butane) 12% 3

Dehorning paste 12% 3

Spoons, cut, gouge (Barnes dehorner) 36% 9

Polled genetics 32% 8

Keystone 0% 0

Wire 8% 2

Saw 0% 0

Other 0% 0

Pain Control at Dehorning

YES, all the time 27% 6

YES, depending on age and method used 23% 5

NO 50% 11

Local only 62% 8

Local plus pain killer (i.e. meloxicam) 23% 3

Pain killer only 0% 0

Other 23% 3

According to the Code of Practise for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle, it is recommended

that bull calves are castrated as early as possible, ideally in the first week of life5. According

to the replies of 65 respondents, 69% are castrating shortly after birth and 61% are using a

rubber band. These respondents also indicated that 90% of the time pain control is not used

during castration. Sixty five percent did not creep feed calves on pasture and 59% use

traditional separation at weaning. When asked about implants in calves, 100% of

respondents did not use implants.

5 http://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/beef_code_of_practice.pdf


Figure 7: Percentage of calves born polled

Table 11: Castration management practises

Table 12: Weaning method typically used

Responses

Castration Typically Occurs

Shortly after birth 69% 45

At weaning 12% 8

Spring processing 11% 7

Fall/Spring processing 3% 2

Other 4% 3

Typical Method used to Castrate Bull Calves

Rubber band when < 3 months old 61% 40

Rubber band when > 3 months old 20% 13

Surgical: blade, scalpel 9% 6

Clamp, burdizzo 4% 3

Other 6% 4

Responses

Traditional separation 59% 39

Natural (e.g. Leave on cow) 1% 1

Nose paddle/two-stage 20% 13

Fence-line separation 17% 11

Other 3% 2

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

% Polled Calves

% o

f R

esp

on

ses

Responses


Section 7: Grazing, Feeding and Water Management

One of the key strengths of beef production in the Atlantic region is the capacity to grow

forage. The typical grazing management practises on pasture are shown in Figure 8. Prior to

weaning, 95% of respondents are using rotational grazing. At weaning, there is a shift

towards continuous grazing, however, only 13 respondents answered this question in comparison to the 60 which answered prior to weaning.

Figure 8: Grazing management practises for cows with calves

Feed testing is one tool accessible to farm operators to determine the nutritional value of

their forages. Of the 64 respondents, 75% did not test their feed quality and only 10%

claimed to test feed on a regular basis. From the 26% total that did test their feed in 2016, 72% used the results to balance a ration.

Pasture rejuvenation is any treatment imposed on pasture areas to increase dry matter

productivity of that land or cause a shift towards higher yielding and more nutritious

forage species6. Just 22% of respondents were rejuvenating pastures every 1-5 years.

Table 13: Frequency of pasture rejuvenation

6 http://www1.foragebeef.ca/$foragebeef/frgebeef.nsf/all/frg48/$FILE/rejuvtameforages.pdf

Responses

Every 1 - 5 years 22% 14

Every 6 - 10 years 27% 17

Less frequently than every 10 years 34% 22

Never 17% 11

Continuous Rotational Intensive

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

120.00%

Grazing Method

% o

f R

esp

on

de

nts

Prior to weaning

At weaning

http://www1.foragebeef.ca/$foragebeef/frgebeef.nsf/all/frg48/$FILE/rejuvtameforages.pdf


Figure 9: Average days on feed according to feed type

Days on feed is shown in Figure 9. On average, the respondents achieved 92 days on

permanent pasture, 83 days on silage, 74 days on baled hay, 66 days on stock piled pasture,

52 days on crop residues and 33 days on grazing annuals.

During the winter months, cattle were managed in a combination of indoors and outdoors

housing (Table 14) and typically sorted according to the stage of calving or by age. The

reported average cow weight was estimated at 1450 lbs. Eighty percent did not use a scale to measure average cow weight.

Table 14: Cattle housing and sorting during winter months

Responses

Housing During Winter Months

Indoors 14% 9

Outdoors 14% 9

Combination of indoors and outdoors 70% 45

Other (Windbreak on pasture etc.) 2% 1

Breeding Females are sorted for Winter Feeding

Yes 35% 23

No 65% 42

Female Sorting

By age (e.g. 1st calvers, mature cows) 46% 11

By stage (e.g. due to calve, calved) 58% 14

By condition (e.g. main herd, thin cows) 33% 8

Other 0% 0

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Crop residue

Permanent pasture

Baled hay

Grazing annuals (Rye grass)

Grain supplement

Silage

Bale grazing

Stockpiles pasture

Standing corn

Other

Number of Days


Section 8: Animal Health Management Practices

Parasite management practises are listed in Table 15. The most commonly treated parasites

included lice (84%) and internal worms (70%). Of the respondents, 73% typically vaccinate

cattle and 45% vaccinate females pre-breeding. Injection sites are shown in Figure 10, 83%

claimed to inject in the neck region.

Table 15: On-farm parasite management practises

Responses

Parasite Treatments

Lice 84% 54

Flies 44% 28

Internal worms (yearly vaccination or based on egg count) 70% 45

Ticks 17% 11

Liver fluke 5% 3

Other (please specify) 9% 6

% Typically Vaccinate Cattle 73% 48

% Vaccinate Females Pre-Breeding 45% 29

Figure 10: Typical injection site for health treatments

82.81%

7.81% 9.38% 7.81%

0.00%

Neck Shoulder Top hip (rump) Hind quarter Other

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

Injection Site

% R

esp

on

ses


Supplementing mineral to cattle is key to achieving optimal growth and reproduction. From

the 64 respondents, 97% are providing mineral to cattle. The most common method of

mineral supplementation is free choice mineral. Mineral was provided at pasture turn out

and at calving at 29% and 21% respectively.

Table 16: Mineral management on-farm

Body condition scoring is a hands-on method to determine the condition or fat cover of an

animal. The body condition of breeding females has been shown to affect the value of a

weaned calf 7. From the 66 responses, 83% of producers do not use body condition scoring.

7 http://www.beefresearch.ca/research/body-condition-scoring.cfm

Responses

% Provide mineral to cows 97% 64

Mineral Feeding

Free choice (ad libitum) 91% 58

Included in feed (measured) 5% 3

Bolus 0% 0

Injectable 2% 1

Other 3% 2

Period Minerals Were Provided

% Pasture Turn out 29% 14

% Breeding season 13% 6

% Post breeding 0% 0

% Fall 8% 4

% Winter feeding 15% 7

% Pre-calving 15% 7

% Calving 21% 10


Section 9: Economics of Production

From the 62 respondents, 89% are using a chute and alley way or tub system on farm. Weigh

scales were used by 40% and age verification by 39% of respondents. Again, very low use of growth promotants were reported.

For record keeping, 89% of respondents use paper records. Participation in the Verified Beef

Production program in general was 22%. The most common age to tag cattle was found to be at birth (76%).

Table 17: Technologies and record keeping methods used on-farm

Responses

On-Farm Technologies

Weigh scales 40% 25

Chute and alley way or tub 89% 55

RFID tag reader 16% 10

Age verification 39% 24

Total mixed ration 10% 6

DNA technology (genomic testing) 11% 7

Implants or growth promotants 2% 1

Other 3% 2

Record Keeping

Paper records 89% 58

Electronic cattle management software 2% 1

None 2% 1

Other 8% 5

% Participate in the Verified Beef Production Program 22% 14

Animal Age at Tagging

Birth 76% 50

Weaning 12% 8

Market 8% 5

Other 5% 3


Section 10: Sources of Information

Who producers routinely turn to for animal health decisions:

1. Veterinarians

2. Fellow Producers

3. Internet

4. Printed Materials 5. Extension Services

Who producers routinely turn to for animal nutrition decisions:

1. Veterinarians

2. Fellow Producers

3. Nutritionists

4. Printed Materials

5. Extension Services

Table 18: Methods of information sharing and content preferred by producers.

Responses

Preferred Method of Information Sharing

Email 91% 58

Newsletters 56% 36

Magazines, publications 67% 43

Television 5% 3

Radio 3% 2

Social media 25% 16

Topics of Interest

Updates from provincial cattle producer associations 80% 51

Updates from national cattle associations 50% 32

New technologies 73% 47

Government programs 77% 49

Nutrition 72% 46

Health 75% 48

Events 61% 39

Other 3% 2


Appendix A: Summary of Performance and Management Measures

Average number of breeding females on farm 44

Average length of breeding season (cows) 136 days

Average length of calving period 121 days

Average birth weight 88 lbs

Average weaning weight (all calves) 593 lbs

Bull purchase sources 1. Directly from another producer 2. MBTS 3. Outside province

Bull purchase decisions based on 1. Breed 2. Conformation 3. Pedigree

Preg-checks completed 112 days after breeding

Most common dehorning method Spoons, cut, Barnes dehorner

Most common castration method < 3 months of age, rubber band

Most common weaning method Traditional separation

Average number of days on permanent pasture 92 days

Housing during winter months Combination indoors and outdoors

Common parasite treatments Lice, internal worms

Typical injection site Neck

Mineral feeding Free choice

On-farm technology Chute and alley way or tub

On-farm record keeping Paper records

Who producers routinely turn to for animal health decisions

1. Veterinarians 2. Fellow Producers 3. Internet 4. Printed Materials 5. Extension Services

Who producers routinely turn to for animal nutrition decisions

1. Veterinarians 2. Fellow Producers 3. Nutritionists 4. Printed Materials 5. Extension Services

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