Lakeland CollegeLivestock Research Unit

Final PresentationApril 13, 2017

Who We Are

• 1st year of the Livestock Research Unit

• Created to increase research capability of the college

• Focused on laying foundation to build on

• Manage the herd and research program

Accomplishments

• Herd expansion

• Continuing second year of RFI trial

• First calves on the ground

• Planned long term herd goals

• Publications in Cattleman, Alberta Farmer, Western Producer

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

- Good communication- Up-to-date technology- Detailed knowledge of our herd

- Short time frame- Communication with all SMF units

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

- Grants- Networking- Collaboration with industry- Increased resources for statistical

significance

- Land availability- Market threats- Funding trials/projects

SWOT Analysis

HERD STATUS

Current Herd

• 41 bred heifers purchased last year

• 50 replacement heifer calves purchased February 2017

Herd Inventory

April 2016 April 2017

Heifers 50 91

Bulls 2 2

Herd Worth $117,000 $178,420

Key Performance Indicators

KPI Target Actual 2016

Open Rate 10% 16%

Length of Breeding Season 63 days 72 days

Grazing Days YTD 365 216

Death Rate 4% -

Calving

• Currently calving in red barn pens

• Long term goal to calve on pasture

• Birth weights and genomic data collected

Herd Expansion

• Approved to purchase more heifers

• Improve statistical significance of herd

• Tender released to producers, bidding closed in January

Heifer Selection

• Visited top two choices and discussed the pros and cons

• Purchased 50 heifers from CMB Angus in St. Paul

Heifers were selected for:• Calving ease• Moderate frame• Reproductive traits

Breeding Strategy

• Ideal cow = 80% Angus + 20% Hereford

• Maintain hybrid vigour

• Two breeding groups

Bulls Group 1 Group 2

Angus 68

Hereford 23

Bulls

• Currently have 2 black Angus bulls

• Renting another Angus bull from Purebred Unit

• Looking into renting Hereford bull from a producer

• Bulls will be put out August 1 – October 2

RESEARCH TRIALS

Feed Efficiency Trial

• 2nd year of Alberta Ag trial

• Measures RFI using GrowSafe bunks

• Started trial March 8th

Current Trials

• Retained heterosis project with Livestock Gentec

• BCRC Rotational Grazing study

• Milk replacer/Jersey milk lamb trial

• Ewe pregnancy diagnosis test with Dr. Susan Markus

FINANCE

Cull Heifer Sales $13,575

Bull Rental Income$1,350

Fee For Service $5,120

IncomeTotal: $20,045

Cost of Production

Returns Calves Produced

$ to produce lb of calf $1.82

Return/lb of calf $2.47

Profit/loss per lb of calf $0.65

Profit/loss per cow $284.93

Profit/loss for herd $14,246.33

$24,152

$1,816

$5,540

$1,385

$935

$2,126

$4,518

$711

$1,127 $3,040

Production Expenses

Feed Expenses

Vet/Medications

Labour

Utilities

Breeding Fees

Corral Cleaning

Equipment Rental

Miscellaneous Expense

Backfat Ultrasound

Genotyping

Total: $45,350

$-

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

Budget vs. Expenses

YTD 2016/17 Budget

Total: $127,850

Finance Recommendations

• Detailed Partial Budgets from all team manager positions

• Establish finance production calendar at beginning of school year

• Complete up to date cost of production within first month of operation

NUTRITION

Feeding Timeline

Dry Lot81 days

Corn Grazing37 days

Dry Lot16 days

Pasture179 days

RFI Trial87 days

Silage 226.2

Hay 1.7

Barley 6.8 Soy Bean Meal 1.0

Supplement 1.6

Total Tonnage

$-

$500.00

$1,000.00

$1,500.00

$2,000.00

$2,500.00

$3,000.00

$3,500.00

$4,000.00

$4,500.00

December January February March

Total Feed CostDecember 2016 - March 2017

Bred Heifers Replacements

RANGE & FORAGE

Pasture Grazing Costs

Pasture Corn Grazing

Total days 179 37

Total cost $4,049.28 $1,375.92

$/hd/day $0.49 $0.56

Summer Grazing Plan

• Using a deferred rotational grazing strategy

• Fertilize pasture in the fall for better growth

Range & Forage Recommendations

• Create a plan to calve on pasture

• Maintain a record of grass health and productivity

• Soil samples to determine mineral concentration of the ground

• Fertilize or re-seed pastures to improve growth and overall production

HERD HEALTH

$790.16

$364.35

$78.35

$583.17

VACCINATIONS SICK TREATMENTS PARASITE CONTROL PREG/SEMEN TESTS

BRED HEIFERSCost $

$17.43

$32.64

VACCINATIONS SICK TREATMENTS PARASITE CONTROL PREG/SEMEN TESTS

NEW HEIFERSCost $

Calving

• First calf arrived April 2nd

• Two sets of twins, lost one from each set

• Research Unit responsible for calving until end of term

Total Cows Calved Total Live Calves Death Loss

18 18 2

Health Recommendations

• Have meetings twice annually with vet

• Follow vaccination protocol

SUSTAINABILITY & STEWARDSHIP

Sustainability & Stewardship

• Determined manure use

• Implemented boot washes

• Updated Environmental Farm Plan

Recommendations

• Have biosecurity presentation to first year students early in fall

• Continue looking into long term crop and pasture rotations

• Research new ideas to keep the SMF sustainable

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Beef Day, March 24th

• Showcase heifers from Cattleman magazine article

• Contest to guess breed composition

• Promoted new DNA test program from Livestock Gentec

Producer Advisory Committee

• Gain producers perspective on projects that would benefit the industry

Objectives

Generate and prioritize ideas for how to best use our resources in

order to benefit the industry

Increase network connections by creating relationships with

producers to gain real world perspectives and industry support

Networking

Research Facility Improvements

• Better water and pen drainage

• Permanent animal alley way

• Permanent loading area

SUMMARY

Goals

Establish a business proposal to expand herd

Make contacts with the industry and producers

Listen to producers

Set a strict cull protocol

Set a solid foundation for the SMF Research Team

Recommendations

• Continue with Producer Advisory Committee plan

• Calve on pasture

• Source current and future trials and projects

SPECIAL THANK YOU

Judy Sweet-

Border Beef

THANK YOU

Farm staffDenise MartinGeoff BrownFaculty of Ag SciencesDr. Susan Markus

Diane HarmsDr. Kent WeirRusty StalwickNew Holland

WBDC

JBS BrooksBrost Land & Cattle

Jess & Tanya ParsonageColin & Mary Balan

Kinsella Research Ranch