Episode 91
MBFI's Mineral Case Study with Dr. Mary-Jane Orr
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 Mineral Case Study. With the drought in 2022, MBFI’s cattle herd experienced higher than usual open-rates, which was widespread throughout the area. After testing the animals in their herd, MBFI found that many were deficient in micronutrients, with copper being a common deficiency.
Mary-Jane shares some of the symptoms and clinical signs they noticed in their cattle during this time, and the immediate and lingering impacts this has had. There are many factors that probably contributed to this, Mary-Jane and the team have been working to look deeper into each to determine where they can make changes in their program.
We discuss what the pregnancy rates looked like in 2022, 2023 and in their 2024 testing, and which ages and groups of cattle had the highest fall out of the program.
We also discuss the use of Multi-Min and why MBFI chose to use this product in their herd, and the economics of adding this direct cost to their program.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Manitoba Ag Pasture Tour Information: https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/beef/pubs/pasture-tour.pdf
Shoal Lake MB Grazing School:
https://holisticmanagement.ca/courses/july-5-6-shoal-lake-mb-grazing-school/
MB Beef Producers - Producer Workshop on Unconventional Succession Planning:
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
