Low Cost, Sustainable Cow Wintering in Alberta, Canada.

Cost of production and greenhouse gas emission are issues that affect beef production in Canada. By association and in fact forage use is implicated as the cow herd utilizes forage-feedstuffs almost exclusively. The cow herd as opposed to feedlot emits greenhouse gases in 80% vs. 20 % proportions and the beef industry is responsible for 90% of all enteric methane emission in Canada. Winter grazing and feeding management may reduce cost and the carbon footprint for beef cows. In Western Canada the winter feeding period ranges from 150 to 220 days. Cost of winter feed ranges from 30 to 50% and yardage or feeding (non-feed) costs at least 30% of total costs of calf production. Winter swath-grazing replaces winter feeding by as much 80 to 150 days and reduces hours of labor by 65%, farm fuel use by 72% and value of farm equipment used by 62%. Swath grazing has reduced the daily total cost of feed production by 50% and the yardage cost by 70%. Various methods of winter grazing reduce yardage and feed cost in different proportions and amounts. Pasture days, carrying capacity, declining forage quality and increasing nutrient requirement during cow-pregnancy interact and impact cost and carbon footprint of the cow herd. Life cycle analyses have been used to compare winter swath grazing options with traditional winter feeding systems on the basis of global warming potential per cow-day of feeding. Cow vs. crop-related greenhouse gas emissions represented 80 % vs. 20% proportions. Methane (enteric and manure), nitrous oxide (cropping and manure) and energy related (cropping and feeding) emissions represented 67, 25 and 8%, respectively of total greenhouse gas emissions. Overall energy use was reduced by 50% and less greenhouse gas was emitted per kg of feed dry matter produced by swath grazing compared to traditional feeding methods.