The livestock research unit is the newest of the five livestock Student-Managed Farm powered by New Holland. The research unit has been working with heifers to improve hybrid vigour. The team manages all aspects of the herd including herd health, marketing and finances. They also make recommendations for the next year's team. All the livestock teams made their final presentations April 13, 2017 in Vermilion's Alumni Hall Theatre.

1. Lakeland College
Livestock Research Unit
Final Presentation
April 13, 2017

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. HERD STATUS

6. Current Herd
• 41 bred heifers purchased last year
• 50 replacement heifer calves purchased February 2017

7. Herd Inventory
April 2016 April 2017
Heifers 50 91
Bulls 2 2
Herd Worth $117,000 $178,420

8. 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% -

9. Calving
• Currently calving in red barn pens
• Long term goal to calve on pasture
• Birth weights and genomic data collected

10. Herd Expansion
• Approved to purchase more heifers
• Improve statistical significance of herd
• Tender released to producers, bidding closed in January

11. 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

12. Breeding Strategy
• Ideal cow = 80% Angus + 20% Hereford
• Maintain hybrid vigour
• Two breeding groups
Bulls Group 1 Group 2
Angus 68
Hereford 23

13. 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

14. RESEARCH TRIALS

15. Feed Efficiency Trial
• 2nd year of Alberta Ag trial
• Measures RFI using GrowSafe bunks
• Started trial March 8th

17. 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

18. FINANCE

19. Cull Heifer Sales
$13,575
Bull Rental Income
$1,350
Fee For Service
$5,120
Income
Total: $20,045

20. 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

21. $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

22. $-
$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

23. 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

24. NUTRITION

25. Feeding Timeline
Dry Lot
81 days
Corn Grazing
37 days
Dry Lot
16 days
Pasture
179 days
RFI Trial
87 days

26. Silage 226.2
Hay 1.7
Barley 6.8 Soy Bean Meal 1.0
Supplement 1.6
Total Tonnage

27. $-
$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 Cost
December 2016 - March 2017
Bred Heifers Replacements

28. RANGE & FORAGE

29. Pasture Grazing Costs
Pasture Corn Grazing
Total days 179 37
Total cost $4,049.28 $1,375.92
$/hd/day $0.49 $0.56

30. Summer Grazing Plan
• Using a deferred rotational grazing strategy
• Fertilize pasture in the fall for better growth

31. 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

32. HERD HEALTH

33. $790.16
$364.35
$78.35
$583.17
VACCINATIONS SICK TREATMENTS PARASITE CONTROL PREG/SEMEN TESTS
BRED HEIFERS
Cost $

34. $17.43
$32.64
VACCINATIONS SICK TREATMENTS PARASITE CONTROL PREG/SEMEN TESTS
NEW HEIFERS
Cost $

35. 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

36. Health Recommendations
• Have meetings twice annually with vet
• Follow vaccination protocol

37. SUSTAINABILITY & STEWARDSHIP

38. Sustainability & Stewardship
• Determined manure use
• Implemented boot washes
• Updated Environmental Farm Plan

39. 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

40. PUBLIC RELATIONS

41. Beef Day, March 24th
• Showcase heifers from Cattleman magazine article
• Contest to guess breed composition
• Promoted new DNA test program from Livestock Gentec

42. 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

43. Networking

44. Research Facility Improvements
• Better water and pen drainage
• Permanent animal alley way
• Permanent loading area

45. SUMMARY

46. 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

47. Recommendations
• Continue with Producer Advisory Committee plan
• Calve on pasture
• Source current and future trials and projects

48. SPECIAL THANK YOU
Judy Sweet
-
Border Beef

49. THANK YOU
Farm staff
Denise Martin
Geoff Brown
Faculty of Ag Sciences
Dr. Susan Markus
Diane Harms
Dr. Kent Weir
Rusty Stalwick
New Holland
WBDC
JBS Brooks
Brost Land & Cattle
Jess & Tanya Parsonage
Colin & Mary Balan
Kinsella Research Ranch