For generations, Saskatchewan’s Touchwood Hills have been cattle country, a place where rolling grasslands, sheltering aspen bluffs and dependable water shaped ranching livelihoods and rural communities.

From lush spring growth to dormant winter range, the nutrient value of what a cow grazes can swing dramatically. Yet, the cow’s requirements don’t swing nearly as wildly. That mismatch is where performance is either captured … or lost.

It is no secret that technological improvements are critical to the continued success of agricultural producers. Row crop farmers operating machines with varying levels of sensors have enjoyed watching their progress through the field for decades now, while poultry, swine and dairy producers have access to the capability of numerous robotic systems designed in some cases to automate barn management decisions and lower onsite labor requirements.

Feeding hay is often just part of the cattle business, and it's almost an afterthought to some. Habit and routine can sometimes overshadow a piece of your cattle business that deserves further evaluation.

Whether up north in last summer’s ash or down south in the dust, winter feeding is nearing its end, and the need for a grazing plan is mounting. Year over year, producer efforts to balance grazing and growth will hopefully result in profitable calf crops as well as healthy grasslands.

Rib‑Arrow Dairy uses a fully connected system – vision monitoring, activity collars, cow‑locating tools and automated footbaths – to spot changes early and respond fast.