Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations and organizations are working to minimize the impacts of the postal service disruption.
Les ministères, les sociétés d’État et les organismes du gouvernement de la Saskatchewan travaillent à réduire au minimum les répercussions de l’interruption des services postaux.
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December 2025
Winter feeding is often the greatest expense for a livestock operation. Between buying or putting up feed, hauling bales and keeping animals in good condition, expenses can increase quickly. Careful planning and resource management can stretch your feed supply, save time and protect your pastures for the future.
Start by figuring out how much feed your herd will need, where you will be wintering and how many head will be on the site. Compare this to what you’ve done previously. What worked well last year and what could be improved this year? Is there space available to move feeding and bedding sites regularly? How far away is your site to where your feed is stored? Is there a water course that runs through the site? These are important considerations when determining your winter-feeding plan and how to best minimize risk and negative impacts on the environment.
Bale grazing, swath grazing, corn grazing or shredding bales are all potential winter-feeding options. By using extensive winter-feeding practices, feed residues provide additional nutrients and organic matter to the soil, reducing the amount of commercial fertilizer required for the subsequent crop. While it may seem like you’re wasting feed, it can greatly improve your soil health and improve production in subsequent years.
Feeding cattle every day burns fuel and hours. Think about whether you can haul and set bales before winter weather arrives or feed larger amounts less often. Grouping bales in rows, investing in a bale processor or setting up sites closer to feed storage areas can all help to reduce labour and equipment wear. These little changes can add to a positive benefit over a long winter.
Winter feeding sites are also nutrient sites and can be at risk for nutrient loading and soil compaction. It’s important to rotate where you feed to reduce these risks. Wintering sites are a good management tool to reduce the amount of manure hauled following the winter versus a traditional corral setting, but it’s essential to move feeding areas and shelter each year. The slope of the site is an important consideration when determining appropriate areas to feed. Avoiding low-lying spots or areas near waterbodies to prevent runoff in the spring is recommended.
Following the winter-feeding period, a good option to manage manure is to heavy harrow the site.
Animal welfare is an important consideration, regardless of season. Ensuring nutritional requirements are being met, livestock have access to water and shelter is provided are critical elements of animal welfare.
Budgeting for winter feeding isn’t just about feed – it’s about using your resources, such as time, labour and land, effectively and efficiently. With some planning and a few changes to manage waste and labour, you can keep costs in check, maintain cattle condition, improve the land and set yourself up for a better spring.
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