The Western Producer: Beef farmers may be missing out on better forage genetics

If beef producers are in a rush to buy the latest and greatest forage varieties, Doug Cattani isn’t seeing it.

“What I’m hearing from other breeders is that, if you’re a beef producer, you’re probably replanting your hay or your pasture only when there’s a big loss of materials,” said the forage breeder and associate professor with the University of Manitoba.

In other words, producers replant when they are forced to through winter kill, flood or drought killing their existing stand, rather than a routine replacement without catastrophe spurring it.

This may create a tendency for beef producers to be more conservative in their forage choices, says Cattani.

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