Beef and Forage Roundup

MBFI Inc.

Hi and Welcome to the podcast! My name is Chantel McRae and I will be your host. I started working for MBFI in January of 2022 as an Extension Specialist with the goal of increasing awareness and information regarding the projects and important research happening at MBFI. One of the ways we have decided to do that is through a podcast that shares information on the research projects that are being conducted here, as well as extension events and on farm practices and technologies. MBFI is a not for profit organization developed through partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association with direction from stakeholders collaborating for the advancement of the industry. MBFI’s mission is to advance the Manitoba beef and forage industry by engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public and the environment. In short we Engage, Evaluate and Extend. MBFI’s Goal is to promote excellence, efficiency, and sustainability of practice in the agricultural industry in Manitoba for the dual benefit of the public and the environment by conducting on-farm research and field testing of practices related to beef cattle and forage production and disseminating the results to farmers and the public, as well as through providing hands-on learning opportunities and work placements for the development of professionals entering beef cattle and forage production. We will be sharing information through interviews with General Manager, Mary Jane Orr, project leads for various projects, MBFI team members, speakers from our extension events, industry leaders and industry suppliers. This podcast will dig deep into on-farm research and field testing practices related to beef cattle and forage production and efficiency and sustainability of practice in the agricultural industry in Manitoba. We will be sharing information on upcoming training and workshops, field and farm demonstration tours, education materials and events at MBFI, as well as producer profiles from around the province and information on their own trials, challenges, innovation and results.

  1. 1d ago

    The Bright Future of Ag with MBFI's 2026 Summer Students

    Join us as we introduce MBFI’s 2026 summer students! Meredith Evren grew up North of Minnedosa on a small grain and beef cattle farm with her parents and one younger sister. She was a member of the Minnedosa and Erickson 4-H clubs throughout her childhood where she learned how to show cattle and first got excited about working with livestock. Right after high school Meredith went to Vancouver and studied for a Bachelor of Science in Applied Animal Biology for two years at UBC. In just a few weeks Meredith will be starting her first year at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. Hannah Karpan was born and raised in The Pas and has been living in Brandon for almost 4 years. She is entering her second year of a Bachelor of Nursing through Brandon University. Hannah grew up spending time ice fishing and taking the quads down the trails. She does not come from agriculture in any way, but started her journey in ag over the past couple of years at a family friend’s horse ranch in Minitonas. Since then, she has had the opportunity to work with some very knowledgeable people in the horse and cattle world. Ag has been such a wonderful place to be a part of, and Hannah is so grateful to be able to get her toes wet in the cattle industry through MBFI. Monelle Bryant grew up on a mixed cattle and grain farm with her parents, two younger siblings and 3 border collies. Her family calves out approximately 300 head, and she has always enjoyed helping and learning from her dad on the farm, during any free time she had. Monelle grew up playing many sports throughout her childhood. In high school, she continued playing hockey, softball, and volleyball and she has been able to join rec teams during her time in university. Monelle continues to play softball with the Hamiota ladies’ team, when home for the summer. Monelle spent the last 3 years working towards a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and recently got accepted into the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. She will begin my DVM journey this fall, which she is very excited about. Hailey Browning grew up in Winnipeg and is currently studying at the University of Manitoba. Growing up in the city and now working in the agriculture industry for the past five years has been a big step in her career. She wouldn’t wish to be a part of any other industry! Hailey is working towards my Bachelor Degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science. She has been a part of many clubs within the university, such as Stockman’s club, 4-H Future Leaders, and FASO (Faculty of Agriculture Student Organization) where she helps organize farm tours, presentations, fundraisers and socials for the students in the faculty of Agriculture. Hailey is looking into a masters degree and is very passionate about large animal research. She appreciates a live band, especially if they have a fiddle! Hailey also enjoys fishing and camping in her free time. If you are interested in being a summer student at MBFI for future years, or know a student who might be interested, please watch for the annual advertisement for available positions. As an MBFI Summer Student, you are sure to gain hands-on experience in both the cattle and crop industries. The ability to hire these summer students has been made possible through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage Twitter: @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca

  2. Aug 5

    Wild Pig Monitoring with Devon Baete

    Devon Baete has a diploma in Natural Resources Management and 20 years field experience working one on one with landowners on agricultural issues. Devon got involved with wild pigs back in 2018 volunteering to apply for grants and distribute traps to local landowners affected in the Cypress River area. The Manitoba Pork Council was concerned about wild pigs posing a disease risk to operations even at that time and provided funding support to his work for many years to add traps. In 2021 the Manitoba Pork Council received a grant through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership to establish Squeal on Pigs Manitoba for landowners to report sightings. With sightings reported now province wide Devon was working evenings and weekends to expand trapping. In 2023 the Manitoba Pork Council received a 5 year funding agreement from the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Grant and Devon was hired on full time as the Manager of field Operations. Over the years the program has expanded greatly with wild pig surveillance and removal, but also in research and National collaboration. Devon has been involved with the removal of over 750 wild pigs in Manitoba to date. In this episode, we are chatting about wild pigs! In Manitoba, wild pigs have come from farmed wild boar or tame pigs that have been released or escaped and become feral. These pigs create many threats to the environment, including the damage they do through rooting for food, as well as threats caused by disease transfer to Manitoba’s pig population and exports, as well as other livestock species. Devon shares information about the “hot spots” for pigs in Manitoba, the “Squeal on Pigs” program and their efforts to trap and eradicate wild pigs in Manitoba, and so much more. Join us to learn more about these wild pigs and what you can do about them if you see pig sign on your land. Websites mentioned in the episode: 2025 Squeal on Pigs Annual Report https://squealonpigsmb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Squeal-on-Pigs-Annual-Report-2025.pdf www.squealonpigsmb.org Facebook: @Squeal on Pigs Manitoba The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

    Wild Pig Monitoring with Devon Baete

  3. Jul 15

    Bird and Waterfowl Conservation with Ian Cook (Birds Canada)

    As the Grassland Conservation Manager for Birds Canada, Ian’s work largely focuses on finding solutions for conserving birds that rely on the Canadian Prairies. Along with his colleagues at Birds Canada, he works on finding systemic solutions to conserve birds, while sustaining the livelihoods of the people on the land. He received his BSc in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 2013, and is a Professional Agrologist. In today’s episode, Ian shares his agricultural background and information about his current position with Birds Canada. We talk about the benefits wetland protection and conservation offer, as well as how Birds Canada monitors waterfowl numbers. We discuss some of the many species of waterfowl and other birds that are endangered in Manitoba. We also chat about the challenges to conservation of wetlands and grasslands, both with agriculture and outside of the ag industry. Finally, we discuss ways producers can work with nature and the environment to reduce their impact on wetlands and grasslands. Ian’s email address: icook@birdscanada.org Birds Canada Facebook: @Birds Canada Birds Canada Instagram: @Birds.Canada Main Website: birdscanada.org Prairie Focused Information: birdscanaca.org/grasslands Birds Canada Incentives Guide: https://www.birdscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Birds-Canada-Grassland-Conservation-Incentives-Guide-2.pdf Bird Friendliness Index: https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/bird-friendliness-index Marsh Watch Webinar Series: https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/marshwatch The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

    Bird and Waterfowl Conservation with Ian Cook (Birds Canada)

  4. Jul 1

    Canadian Grassland Conservation with Adrienne Hanson (CFGA) - Wildlife & Habitat Mini Series

    Adrienne Hanson is the National Grazing Coordinator with the Canadian Forage & Grassland Association, where she works directly with producers, provincial partners, and national collaborators to advance practical, profitable grazing management across Canada. Her work focuses on producer-led learning, mentorship, and building strong networks that support resilient forage systems and prairie conservation. Adrienne brings more than a decade of hands-on grazing experience to her national role. Since 2010, she and her husband Joey have co-owned and operated a custom grazing enterprise at Worley Hanson Ranch near Langbank, Saskatchewan. Their operation includes managing day-to-day herd care, grazing planning, water systems, record-keeping, and fence line management, as well as working with patrons and delivering high-quality custom grazing services. Her environmental background is equally strong. Adrienne has co-owned Hanson Environmental & Rentals Ltd. since 2008, providing vegetation and soil assessments, Phase 1 site assessments, environmental monitoring, and reclamation support across private and Crown land. Including rental services and custom fencing for oilfield and conservation outreach. Deeply rooted in Saskatchewan’s ranching community, Adrienne serves on the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association board and has long supported youth through 4-H, local community organizations, and agricultural events. Her leadership style is grounded in practical experience, producer-to-producer learning, and a commitment to keeping prairie landscapes healthy, productive, and resilient. In this episode, Adrienne shares information about the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, including their goals and how they are working towards grassland conservation here in Canada. On the CFGA website (https://www.canadianfga.ca/en/) it is shared that, “In 2020 alone 1.8 million acres of grassland were lost across North America’s Great Plains, more than 2 football fields per minute.” Adrienne discusses some of the challenges to conserving grasslands, and why this conversion is occurring at such a high rate. We also discuss the impact tilling grasslands to convert to crop acres has on carbon storage, carbon offset credits, and other projects and incentives that are available for producers to help with grassland conservation. To contact Adrienne, please email her at: adrienne@canadianfga.ca You can find out more at CFGA’s website: www.canadianfga.ca Or find CFGA on X: @CFGA_ACPF Instagram: @CFGA_ACPF Facebook: @CFGA-Saskatchewan-OFCAF The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

    Canadian Grassland Conservation with Adrienne Hanson (CFGA) - Wildlife & Habitat Mini Series

  5. Jun 17

    The Canadian Beef Research and Knowledge Mobilization Strategy with Reynold Bergen (BCRC)

    During his career in ag, Reynold Bergen has held roles within technology transfer, extension and research management with both government and private industry. He is now the Science Director for the Beef Cattle Research Council, a role he has held since 2010. In this position, Reynold is involved in identifying industry research priorities, coordinating research funding among industry and government funding agencies, and contributes regular producer-level technology transfer articles to industry publications. As he puts it, he explains research to cattle producers and explains cattle producers to researchers. In today’s episode, Reynold shares information on what the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is, and what the Canadian Beef Research and Knowledge Mobilization Strategy is and what it focuses on. We discuss how this strategy is developed, how it works and what it covers, as far as core principles. We also discuss the importance of coordinating research and how this benefits the Canadian Cattle Industry. Focusing on industry, we also chat about potential opportunities Reynold sees coming in the future as a result of research, as well as potential threats or challenges facing the Canadian Beef Industry research landscape. The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

    The Canadian Beef Research and Knowledge Mobilization Strategy with Reynold Bergen (BCRC)

  6. Jun 3

    Studying Feed Efficiency at Old College with Sean Thompson (Olds) - Cow Efficiency Mini Series

    Sean Thompson is the Research Chair of the Olds College Centre for Innovation. In his current role, Sean oversees applied research activities at Olds College, focused on livestock production, smart ag technology, environmental stewardship and crop production. Sean has a personal and professional background in beef cattle management, nutrition, and genetics. Further, he has extensive experience managing research projects at post-secondary institutions. Sean holds an MSc in Beef Cattle Nutrition from the University of Manitoba. Prior to joining Olds College, Sean served as Feed Industry Liaison at the University of Saskatchewan, managing feed processing and livestock feeding research projects. He also has previous extension experience, providing information and guidance to beef producers as a Livestock Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Away from his day job, Sean operates a purebred Shorthorn operation on his farm north of Cochrane, AB. Today we are talking about feed efficiency in cattle, and in particular, some of the research that is happening at Olds College. To start off on this topic, Sean shares his definition of feed efficiency in relation to cattle. We talk about the age and class of cattle targeted for evaluating feed efficiency. Sean also discusses how improved feed efficiency optimize beef production in Canada, and why, knowing this, the uptake on testing cattle for feed efficiency remains low. He also explains how heritable feed efficiency traits are, what genetics can tell us about feed efficiency and how feed efficient replacement heifers are compared to when they are mature cows. Sean discusses RFI, FCR and RIG and what these values mean to the efficiency of cattle. We also chat briefly about some of the other projects Olds College is doing in relation to the beef sector and sheep industry. There are lots of great research projects happening and hopefully we can check back in on some of these in later episodes. To find out more about what is happening at Olds College, visit www.oldscollege.ca or follow Olds on: Facebook: @OldsCollegeofAgricultureandTechnology Instagram: @oldscollege The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

    Studying Feed Efficiency at Old College with Sean Thompson (Olds) - Cow Efficiency Mini Series

  7. May 20

    The Forage Efficient Cow Project with Dr. Mika Asai-Coakwell & Nyah Hopkins - Cow Efficiency Mini Series

    Dr. Mika Asai-Coakwell is an assistant professor in bovine genetics at the University of Saskatchewan. Raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, she completed her BSc and MSc at the University of Saskatchewan and earned her doctoral degree at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). Following her postdoctoral research in ocular genetics at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, she returned to the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources. Her research program focuses on identifying genes and genetic pathways associated with beef cattle production traits, including cow productivity and efficiency, reproductive traits such as gestational length, and carcass characteristics. By advancing understanding of the genomic basis of these economically important traits, her research supports the application of genomic technologies to improve efficiency, profitability, and sustainability in beef cattle production. Nyah Hopkins is a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan and is currently completing her Master's degree in Animal Science. She grew up in Outlook, Saskatchewan, and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Bioscience at the University of Saskatchewan. During her undergraduate program, Nyah gained an interest in livestock genetics and completed a research thesis with Dr. Asai-Coakwell looking at genes involved in fat deposition in beef cattle. Through this experience, she became passionate about understanding the genetic mechanisms behind traits and how this can be applied to livestock production. Her master’s program seeks to understand the genetic mechanisms behind efficiency in the cow-calf sector, and she hopes her research will aid producers in identifying and selecting more efficient cattle. In today’s episode, we chat with Mika and her graduate student, Nyah, about their work on the Forage Efficient Cow Project. This project has been in the works for quite some time, spearheaded by Dr. Greg Penner. To start out today, we chat about the conventional definition of feed efficiency in beef cattle, as well as the definition they are using for this project, and why these differ. We also talk about phenotypic factors, genotypes and genetic markers and how they are assessed in this project. We also discuss how the microbiome and physical features and characteristics like rumen volume play a role in the efficiency of cattle. Being able to select and breed forage efficient cattle, may have many benefits not only to producers, but also to the environment and ag industry in general. The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

    The Forage Efficient Cow Project with Dr. Mika Asai-Coakwell & Nyah Hopkins - Cow Efficiency Mini Series

  8. May 6

    MBFI Herd Project Update with Mary-Jane Orr - Cow Efficiency Mini Series

    Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-Jane holds a PhD from Purdue University in soil microbial ecology in agricultural systems, is a Professional Agrologist, and Certified Crop Advisor. Her experience in ecology and field agronomy gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing agriculture today. In this episode, we are talking about MBFI’s Case study in Strategic Herd Development. We had chatted with Mary-Jane for Episode #91 about micronutrient deficiencies in MBFI’s herd, as a result of the previous drought year. Mary-Jane gives us a bit of background on this and changes they have made since then with the MBFI herd. We talk about the pregnancy testing results of the herd in 2025, as well as the results of the blood draws that were taken on the MBFI herd to look into micronutrient deficiencies. Mary-Jane also shares the changes they saw in those blood draw results since using Multi-Min. Mary-Jane also shares the goals of the MBFI herd, along with how the herd is being included in a project with Mika Asai-Coakwell and a student of Mika’s, Nyah Hopkins, for their Forage Efficient Cow Study. As we wrap up, we discuss different tools Mary-Jane and the staff are using for herd selection and monitoring, record keeping software and some other new and exciting technologies that are being used with the cattle herd. The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more! Instagram: @MBBeefandForage Facebook: @MBBeefandForage X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage Website: www.mbfi.ca Email address: information@mbfi.ca Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

    MBFI Herd Project Update with Mary-Jane Orr - Cow Efficiency Mini Series
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Trailer

About

Hi and Welcome to the podcast! My name is Chantel McRae and I will be your host. I started working for MBFI in January of 2022 as an Extension Specialist with the goal of increasing awareness and information regarding the projects and important research happening at MBFI. One of the ways we have decided to do that is through a podcast that shares information on the research projects that are being conducted here, as well as extension events and on farm practices and technologies. MBFI is a not for profit organization developed through partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association with direction from stakeholders collaborating for the advancement of the industry. MBFI’s mission is to advance the Manitoba beef and forage industry by engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public and the environment. In short we Engage, Evaluate and Extend. MBFI’s Goal is to promote excellence, efficiency, and sustainability of practice in the agricultural industry in Manitoba for the dual benefit of the public and the environment by conducting on-farm research and field testing of practices related to beef cattle and forage production and disseminating the results to farmers and the public, as well as through providing hands-on learning opportunities and work placements for the development of professionals entering beef cattle and forage production. We will be sharing information through interviews with General Manager, Mary Jane Orr, project leads for various projects, MBFI team members, speakers from our extension events, industry leaders and industry suppliers. This podcast will dig deep into on-farm research and field testing practices related to beef cattle and forage production and efficiency and sustainability of practice in the agricultural industry in Manitoba. We will be sharing information on upcoming training and workshops, field and farm demonstration tours, education materials and events at MBFI, as well as producer profiles from around the province and information on their own trials, challenges, innovation and results.

Information

  • Creator
    MBFI Inc.
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 MBFI Inc.
  • Show Website
    Beef and Forage Roundup

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