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The Beef is ON
The Beef is ON brings practical beef industry insights and updates from your hosts, James Byrne and Chad Mader - Beef Cattle Specialists at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. Join us for discussions on management, nutrition, production practices and the latest trends across Ontario's beef sector.
Reach out with questions or suggestions for future episodes at thebeefison@ontario.ca
Episodes
13 episodes
Bonus Episode - Recording 3 from Beef Symposium 2026
Welcome to another bonus episode! This episode includes another recording from our recent Beef Symposium - a joint venture between OMAFA, Beef Farmers of Ontario and the University of Guelph. This episode includes the presenta...
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37:35
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Understanding Acidosis
In this episode, James and Chad provide an overview of what acidosis is, what causes it, and the challenges associated with managing subclinical acidosis in cattle on high grain diets. See links below for additional resources
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34:04
Bonus Episode - Recording 2 from Beef Symposium 2026
Welcome to another bonus episode! This episode includes the recordings of two presentations from our recent Beef Symposium - a joint venture between OMAFA, Beef Farmers of Ontario and the University of Guelph. Video recordings can b...
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34:49
Herd Sire Value - Considerations when shopping for a bull
As bull sale season is ramping up in Ontario, James and Chad talk about what to consider when buying a bull - primarily around how much you can afford to pay. An excellent calculator tool that is referred to in the podcast can be found he...
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30:39
Preparing for Calving
Today, James and Chad review considerations in preparation for calving season. Listen for some reminders and maybe some new ideas to keep in mind as you approach calving season - or for whenever your next calving season starts! ...
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37:28
Bonus Episode - Recording from Beef Symposium 2026
Welcome to our first bonus episode! This episode includes the recordings of two presentations from our recent Beef Symposium - a joint venture between OMAFA, Beef Farmers of Ontario and the University of Guelph. Video recordings can...
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27:21
Selecting Replacement Heifers
James and Chad discuss what to look for in replacement heifer candidates and considerations for purchasing heifers vs raising your own. Regardless of the type of heifer you’re looking for, there are some basic criteria that can help maxim...
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32:16
Managing Cattle in Cold Weather
James and Chad review considerations for maintaining your cattle in cold weather. This includes nutrition, water sources, and shelter options. Look here for information on windbreaks:o
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33:34
Importance of Body Condition
Join James and Chad as they discuss the importance of maintaining appropriate body condition in your cow herd, and how you can use Body Condition Scoring to monitor the condition of your cows.
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34:23
Marketing your calves
Join James and Chad as they discuss what producers can do to increase the value of the calves they market.
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36:06
Weaning Considerations
In this episode, James and Chad discuss the value of low-stress weaning, and the pros and cons of various weaning options.
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37:13