Don't Let Cattle Out On Pasture, Just Yet

Apr 18, 2017

Pasture land in Manitoba is slowly coming along, which is normal for this time of year.

That from Dave Koslowsky, chair of the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association.

He says the plants that are emerging are in good shape, noting there's plenty of moisture out there.

However, farmers shouldn't get too anxious to let their cattle out just yet, as Koslowsky notes that could have consequences later on.

"They would definitely stunt the growth," he said. "If the grass gets chewed down too early, and especially if it's a dry year, the grass won't recover and grow strong. If we get lots of rain like we did last year, then it's less of an issue."

He says it'll probably be mid-May to early-June before pasture grazing is in full effect.

Source : Portageonline

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.