Weather patterns have been difficult to nail down with any degree of accuracy this year. In Saskatchewan, late snowfall has delayed thawing and therefore grass growth and typical seeding plans.

Something new is afoot underfoot, something we can grow to combat, something we can’t see that is becoming resistant to all the medicines we can drench and inject.

As these drugs become more available and affordable, this usage trend will likely increase. That increase indicates fewer meals are being consumed, smaller portions are being consumed, and more restaurant meals are shared by diners as opposed to boxed up for leftovers. This trend could be habit-changing for domestic food consumers and obviously carry over to the producers and supply side of the food consumption equation.

As environmental pressures and market dynamics shift, producers are taking a closer look at how early weaning, paired with precise nutrition and management practices, can unlock both short-term flexibility and long-term gains.

When it comes to growing calves, the crude protein system doesn’t work well for cattle feeders. That’s the message Dr. Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) professor and beef systems extension specialist, hopes beef producers understand.

In recent years, a growing number of ranchers across the West have begun asking a similar question: Why, when salt is offered in multiple forms, do cattle suddenly stop consuming their mineral supplement?

When we talk about producing protein, we often think of the percentage shown on the milk paycheque and the kilograms of protein delivered. In practice, however, improving milk protein starts much earlier and in a more concrete place: the rumen.

It is finally that time of year when many producers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing winter is almost behind them. As green grass begins to emerge, it is tempting to assume that winter challenges are over and that cattle will quickly rebound once they are turned out to pasture.

Protein is one of the most expensive nutrients in a dairy ration on a per-unit basis, and it is also one of the easiest places to lose money when diets are not balanced precisely.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2025-30 make a direct push for whole, nutrient-dense foods, specifically protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits and whole grains, while reducing highly processed refined carbs, added sugars and sodium. Recommendations for daily protein intake were doubled from the previous 2020-25 version.