Summary

The Canadian Feedlot Benchmark Study will create a national benchmark database of backgrounding and finishing practices used in beef operations across Canada. The benchmark will allow producers to compare their practices to other operations in Canada. This data and the information generated will guide future extensions and research activities, and be used as a baseline for future Canadian beef industry Life Cycle Assessments.

Backgrounding and Finishing Operations Survey

The study includes a survey for operation managers to complete, focusing on operation practices, feed management, feed milling, feed additives, diet composition, and growth implant programs. This will provide an indepth view of the Canadian beef industry and will allow for the creation of a national benchmark database. From this, producers will be able to compare their practices to that of backgrounding and finishing operations across Canada.

By creating a benchmark, we will be able to identify best management practices that increase both efficiency and sustainability of Canadian beef cattle operations. This will help inform the best practices/management that can improve the efficiency and profitability of your operation.

As an incentive to participate, each participant will receive a personalized confidential report of how their operation's practices compare to the Canadian benchmark.

You can access the survey here! https://ca1se.voxco.com/SE/90/Feedlot/

NIRS Fecal Sampling Trial

The second phase of the study includes feed, fecal, and manure sampling in selected feedlots across Canada and developing fecal Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) calibrations. With appropriate calibrations, NIRS has the ability to predict diet digestibility, dry matter intake, and performance of cattle by rapid scans of fecal samples. This allows for us to generate fast and accurate data to improve feed processing, diet formulation, and cattle performance.

Feed, fecal, and manure samples will be collected every other month over the course of two years. Samples will be dried and scanned with NIRS to test the accuracy of scans with varying feed management practices, cattle performance, and feed sources, especially byproducts. Improved calibrations will allow for more accurate testing of fecal samples to predict cattle growth performance. This will improve precision feeding, increase feedstuff flexibility, and improve cattle efficiency and productivity.

If your feedlot is interested in participating in the sampling trial, please contact us!