Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
This research is looking at the mineral content of cattle pasture throughout Alberta for the duration of the grazing season. Researchers will be sampling three times in a year — late May/early June when cattle first go out to pasture, early August, and early October when cattle typically come off pasture.
There are seven regions of the province with three producers in each region and three fields per producer for a total of 63 pastures throughout the province of Alberta. Grass samples are being dried and shipped to third-party labs for nutrient analysis.
Data will be compiled and recommendations can be made for supplementation of each mineral for different regions of the province, and for the early, mid, and late grazing season. It is hypothesized that macro mineral (Ca, P, K, Mg) content of grass will exceed cattle requirements in the spring/early summer when grass is in a vegetative stage, but will decline with maturity to below requirement.
It is expected that mineral deficiencies will be greater in black, grey-black, and gray wooded soils found in central and northern Alberta. As well, it is expected that trace mineral (Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn) content will not meet cattle requirements through any stage of pasture growth, however deficiencies will increase as grass matures. Molybdenum is expected to be highly variable between regions and greater in areas with dark brown soil profiles.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
By supplementing to meet the requirements of cattle on pasture, health issues can be mitigated, resulting in economic benefit for producers through reduced veterinary costs, medication, time spent caring for unhealthy animals, and loss of profit due to animal death.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
Results will be shared with producers through meetings and webinars. Fact sheets will also be published on Blue Rock Animal Nutrition's website. Partners such as the Alberta Forage and Industry Network, Lakeland Agricultural Research Association, Foothills Forage and Grazing Association, Grey Wooded Forage Association and West Central Forage Association will be hosting producer meetings, field days, and publishing articles and fact sheets.