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The Results Are In--Good Beef Starts with Good Forage

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) funds a variety of research projects on animal health and welfare, environmental sustainability, forage and grasslands, feed efficiency, food safety, beef quality and more. This post is part of an  ongoing series  highlighting recent research results. Find the BCRC’s entire catalog of  research summaries  under “For Producers” in the navigation. 

What is the forage potential of hybrid fall rye?

Hybrid rye seed is more expensive than other forage cereals such as barley, triticale and wheat, but consistently higher yields and earlier harvest time made it comparable in terms of cost of feed produced.

Learn more about project FRG.08.19.

fall rye in the hand of a producer

Which alfalfa varieties are best suited to pasture rejuvenation

alfalfa pasture in bloom

Soil microbial profiles in older vs. newer pasture stands are noticeably different. These soil microbes can influence the performance of alfalfa, meaning some varieties are better suited to pasture rejuvenation than others.

Learn more about project POC.17.21.

Do pen design, feedbunk space and stocking density affect digestive health? 

Increasing bunk space or reducing pen density did not benefit growth performance or animal welfare. Increasing bunk space improved carcass grade but increased the incidence of liver abscesses.

Learn more about project ANH.23.19.

mixed feedlot cattle at feed bunk

What genetic factors contribute to saline tolerance in intermediate wheatgrass

Current intermediate wheatgrass varieties showed large variation in their ability to tolerate saline soils, indicating that it should be possible to breed for increased saline tolerance.

Learn more about project FRG.14.20.

western wheatgrass

Which forage barley varieties can be adapted for yield stability across Western Canada?

barley field

Three new forage barley varieties have been developed through this project with both improved forage yield and seed production (AB Maximizer, AB Standswell and FB22816) compared to the check varieties. FB22816 will be commercially available in 2027, while AB Maximizer and AB Standswell will be available for the 2025 cropping year.

Learn more about project FRG.01.20.

What are the capabilities of non-invasive beef tenderness tests?

Non-destructive REIMS technology can accurately identify very tender and tough steaks but will need additional refinement before it can be used in a commercial packing facility.

Learn more about project BQU.03.19.

tender beef steak on cutting board

Can we improve the nitrogen efficiency of meadow bromegrass and orchardgrass?

cicer meadow brome mixture cattle seeding

Researchers found that the genes known to control plant height and tillering in rice play similar roles in meadow bromegrass, orchardgrass and related forage species. Understanding this interaction may help forage breeders develop higher-yielding and potentially more drought-resistant grasses.

Learn more about project POC.21.21.

How can we improve beef cattle health surveillance in Western Canada?

Producer funding spurred the development of the Western Canadian Animal Health Network similar to surveillance networks already existing in Quebec and Ontario. It was key to attracting sustainable funding to contribute to better disease management, risk mitigation and industry sustainability.

Learn more about project SURV.01.20.

mixed beef cattle herd with mountains in the background

Can we use calcium oxide to improve the quality of indigestible feeds?

cattle feedlot aerial view

Replacing limestone with calcium oxide decreased performance in high-forage diets and did not improve finishing performance. However, results suggest that barley straw may be able to replace corn silage in a high-grain diet.

Learn more about project FDE.01.21.

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