Tag Archives: Alfalfa

Canadian Forage: A Reliable Supply Option for European Livestock Producers

Europe’s 2026 summer has been a difficult one for agriculture. Persistent heat and a lack of rainfall across large parts of Western and Central Europe have affected crops, grasslands and forage availability.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre reports that grassland productivity and pasture availability have declined significantly in several regions, raising concerns about fodder supply. The areas most affected include France, southern Germany, northern and central Italy, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and western Romania.

The impact is already being felt by livestock producers. In the Czech Republic, for example, drought has significantly reduced feed crop production, with some farmers reporting substantial shortages of haylage and other feed crops.

Situations like this highlight the importance of having access to additional sources of forage and animal feed.

Looking Beyond Local Forage Supply

Local production will always be at the centre of livestock agriculture. However, when weather conditions affect yields or when additional volumes are needed, international suppliers can provide another option.

Canada is one of the world’s major agricultural-producing countries, with a large land base, established agricultural infrastructure and experience supplying forage products to international markets.

At Barr-Ag, we produce and export a broad range of Canadian forage and animal feed products, including hay, straw, dehydrated silage and pellets.

Our products include:

Alfalfa Hay
Timothy Hay
Mixed Hay
Wheat and Barley Straw
Dehydrated Corn Silage
Dehydrated Barley Silage
Alfalfa Pellets
Timothy Pellets

Different products serve different feeding requirements, giving customers the flexibility to source the type of forage that best fits their operation.

Alfalfa Hay

Alfalfa hay is an important forage for many dairy and livestock operations. It is valued for its nutritional content and is widely used in feeding programs around the world.

Canadian alfalfa is produced in a range of qualities and can be supplied in different bale formats depending on market and customer requirements.

Timothy Hay

Timothy hay is a widely used grass forage known for its fibre content and palatability.

It is used across a variety of livestock and animal feeding applications and is an established Canadian export product for international markets.

Mixed Hay

Mixed hay provides a versatile forage option consisting of a combination of grasses and legumes.

The exact composition can vary depending on the crop, growing conditions and production requirements, making mixed hay suitable for a variety of feeding programs.

Straw

Wheat and barley straw are used in both animal feeding and livestock bedding.

As a fibre source, straw can form part of a livestock ration, while its physical characteristics also make it a widely used bedding material for cattle, horses and other animals.

Dehydrated Corn Silage

Dehydrated corn silage is a different approach to supplying corn forage internationally.

Traditional corn silage is a high-moisture product and is generally produced and consumed relatively close to where it is grown. Its moisture content makes long-distance transportation and storage more challenging.

Through dehydration, we are able to produce a stable, low-moisture corn silage product that is suitable for storage and international transportation.

Our dehydrated corn silage typically contains approximately 8–10% moisture, with approximately 7–9% crude protein and 25–30% starch, although analysis can vary by crop and production year.

One of the biggest advantages of the dehydrated product is its year-round availability.

Rather than being limited to the traditional harvest and feeding season, dehydrated corn silage can be produced, stored and supplied throughout the year. This provides customers with a consistent product and a more predictable supply option.

Dehydrated Barley Silage

Dehydrated barley silage offers another forage option in a stable, low-moisture format.

Like dehydrated corn silage, it can be produced and supplied throughout the year, allowing customers to access a consistent product outside the traditional growing and harvest season.

The ability to store and transport dehydrated barley silage makes it particularly suitable for international markets where traditional fresh or high-moisture silage is difficult to move over long distances.

Alfalfa and Timothy Pellets

Pellets provide forage in a compact and easy-to-handle format.

Alfalfa pellets offer a convenient form of alfalfa forage for a variety of animal feeding applications, while timothy pellets provide a similar option for customers looking for a grass-based forage product.

Compared with traditional baled forage, pellets can offer advantages in handling, storage and transportation, depending on the customer’s feeding system and requirements.

Why Year-Round Availability Matters

The growing season naturally creates a degree of uncertainty for agricultural production.

When forage production is lower than expected, livestock producers and feed companies may need to source additional feed outside their usual market or earlier than planned.

This is one area where dehydrated forage products can offer an advantage.

Because dehydrated corn silage and dehydrated barley silage can be produced and stored for supply throughout the year, they are not dependent on immediate local harvest availability at the time a customer needs the product.

For international buyers, this also means having access to a forage product that is specifically suited to storage and containerized transportation.

From Canada to International Markets

International forage supply is about more than the product itself. Transportation and freight are an important part of the overall equation.

At Barr-Ag, our main international business is port-to-port container shipping. We work with freight providers and customers to arrange transportation from Canada to ports around the world.

Depending on the destination, we can also look at additional delivery options.

For selected destinations, we are able to offer delivery beyond the port and, in some cases, directly to the customer’s door. The availability and cost of these options depend on the destination, local transportation infrastructure and shipment requirements.

This allows us to look at different logistics solutions where appropriate, while our primary international business remains containerized port-to-port shipments.

A Broad Range of Canadian Forage Products

The current conditions in Europe are a reminder of how closely animal feed availability is connected to agricultural production and weather.

For livestock producers and feed companies, having relationships with suppliers in different agricultural regions can provide additional flexibility when circumstances change.

Canada offers significant agricultural production capacity and established export infrastructure, making it possible to supply a broad range of forage products to international markets.

At Barr-Ag, we combine several different product categories under one operation — from traditional baled forage and straw to pellets and dehydrated silage.

For customers looking for alfalfa hay, timothy hay, mixed hay, straw, pellets or dehydrated corn and barley silage, Canadian supply can provide another option when planning forage requirements.

Our dehydrated corn and barley silage add another dimension to that offering, with year-round production, consistent product format and suitability for international storage and transportation.

As European livestock producers and feed businesses navigate changing growing conditions, having access to reliable international forage sources can be an important part of planning ahead.

Barr-Ag supplies Canadian forage and animal feed products to international markets and works with customers to develop practical product and logistics solutions based on their destination and requirements.

Interested in learning more? Contact Barr-Ag to discuss our products, current availability and shipping options for your destination.

How to Match Forage Products to Your Livestock Goals for the Year Ahead

A new year is the perfect time to reassess and plan your feed strategy to support the health and performance of your livestock. Selecting the right forage, whether for dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, goats, or horses, can make a significant difference in weight gain, milk production, reproduction, and overall animal wellbeing. At Barr-Ag Ltd., we offer a range of high-quality Canadian grown forage products, including Alfalfa, Timothy, Mixed Hay, Corn and Barley Silage, and Straw, suitable for farms both locally and around the world.

1. Understand Your Livestock Goals

Before choosing forage, identify the primary goals for each type of animal. Dairy producers may focus on maximizing milk yield and maintaining cow health during lactation, while beef operations prioritize steady weight gain and feed efficiency. Sheep and goats often require forage that supports growth and reproductive performance. Horses may have varying needs, from maintenance feeding to higher energy and protein requirements. Knowing these priorities will guide the selection of forage types, cuts, and blends.

2. Choose the Right Forage Type

Alfalfa: Rich in protein and energy, ideal for dairy cows, growing beef, and lactating goats. It is also commonly used for horses that require higher energy and protein levels, including performance horses, growing horses, lactating mares, and hard keepers. When fed appropriately, alfalfa supports milk production, muscle development, and overall growth.
Timothy: A high-fiber, lower-protein option, well suited for horses and adult ruminants needing maintenance feed without excessive energy intake.
Mixed Hay: Combines the benefits of legumes and grasses, making it a versatile option for operations with diverse livestock and balanced nutritional needs.
Corn and Barley Silage: High-energy forage used to support weight gain in beef cattle or to supplement dairy rations during peak production periods.
Straw: Primarily used for bedding or as a roughage filler. While low in nutritional value, it can play a role in ration balance when managed correctly.

3. Consider Cuts, Grades, and Blends

The nutritional value of forage varies with harvest timing, cutting method, and leaf-to-stem ratio. Early cut alfalfa typically offers higher protein and digestibility, while later cuts are more fibrous and better suited for maintenance rations. Mixed hay blends provide flexibility for farms managing multiple livestock types, and silage quality is influenced by moisture levels and proper storage practices. Evaluating your animals’ needs helps ensure the right match of cuts and blends.

4. Optimize for Animal Performance

The right forage program supports consistent performance throughout the year. Monitoring body condition, milk production, growth rates, and reproductive success allows you to fine-tune forage choices as conditions and livestock needs change. Thoughtful selection combined with good feed management helps ensure long-term herd health and productivity.

Start the Year Strong with a Custom Forage Plan

With Barr-Ag Ltd.’s premium Canadian-grown forage products, you can provide your livestock with the nutrition needed for optimal growth, production, and long-term health.

If you need an assessment of your forage requirements, connect with our team. We will work with you to select the right products for your specific livestock goals, feeding program, and budget. Whether you manage dairy, beef, horses, or mixed operations, we are here to help you get the most from your forage program.

Alfalfa Grading 101: Choosing the Right Quality for Your Herd

Alfalfa is one of the most valuable forages in livestock nutrition, known for its high protein, digestibility, and energy content. Whether you’re managing a high-producing dairy herd, raising young livestock, or feeding performance horses, the grade of alfalfa you choose has a direct impact on animal performance, health, and operational efficiency.

At Barr-Ag, we grow and supply premium non-GMO alfalfa from Alberta, using sustainable farming practices. Our alfalfa is tested regularly through internationally recognized laboratories. This gives our customers confidence in the consistency, safety, and nutritional value of every bale.

What Are Alfalfa Grades?

Alfalfa is graded based on nutritional content and physical quality, with a focus on the factors that affect livestock intake and digestion. The most common grading system used in North America is based on the Relative Feed Value (RFV), which estimates the intake potential and digestibility of the forage.

RFV Formula Used by Labs

RFV = [120 / (NDF %DM)] × [88.9 – (0.779 x ADF %DM)]

Where:

ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber) affects digestibility

NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) affects intake

Alfalfa Grade Classifications

RFV is used to classify alfalfa into quality grades. These help buyers determine the right product for their livestock’s needs.

Grade	RFV Range	Typical Use
Supreme	> 180	High-producing dairy cows
Premium	151–180	Dairy, performance horses
Good	125–150	Dairy heifers, beef stock
Fair	100–124	Beef cows, maintenance feeding
Utility	< 100	Dry cows, low nutrient requirements

Factors That Influence Alfalfa Quality

Several factors can affect the final grade of alfalfa:

Maturity at Harvest
Earlier cuts have higher protein and lower fiber. As alfalfa matures, fiber increases and digestibility decreases.

Leaf-to-Stem Ratio
Leaves contain most of the nutrients. A higher leaf content indicates better quality.

Moisture Content
Ideal baling moisture is 12 to 15 percent. Hay that is too wet can mold and generate heat. If too dry, leaf shatter becomes a concern.

Color and Aroma
Bright green, clean-smelling alfalfa indicates freshness. Discoloration or musty odors signal quality loss.

Foreign Material
Weeds, dust, and debris reduce feeding value and safety.

Why Alfalfa Grade Matters

Choosing the right grade of alfalfa ensures:

Optimal animal health and productivity

Reduced need for supplemental feed

Lower veterinary and feed costs

Less waste and improved feed efficiency

Feeding high-quality forage supports better weight gain and milk production in cattle, while providing the energy and performance benefits needed for horses. Across all livestock, quality forage contributes to long-term health and productivity.

Barr-Ag’s Commitment to Forage Quality

At Barr-Ag, we don’t just grow alfalfa. We carefully grade, test, and package every lot to meet the needs of diverse livestock operations across North America and around the world. We follow a meticulous quality control process from field to shipment.

Whether you’re raising cattle, caring for horses, or supplying feed, you can count on us for clean, consistent, and nutritionally reliable forage.

Choose Premium Alfalfa with Confidence

If you’re ready to elevate your feed program, Barr-Ag is here to help. Our team can assist in finding the ideal alfalfa grade for your animal’s nutritional needs. For specific dietary requirements, we recommend consulting your veterinarian.

Contact us today to learn more.

Canadian Alfalfa Hay and Its Many Benefits

Canadian Alfalfa Hay

Over the past four decades, the Canadian Alfalfa processing industry has experienced tremendous growth. Today, it ranks as one of the top five largest exporters of Alfalfa in the world. Alberta-grown Alfalfa hay offers many benefits and advantages when compared to hay grown in other parts of the world. Canadian Alfalfa hay provides farmers with a consistently higher quality product, while also offering a more rapid harvesting time than many other types of hay.

Because of its high protein content, farmers across Canada and the United States use dehydrated Alfalfa hay as food for their livestock. The soil on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies is rich in calcium and magnesium, which helps to produce a more robust, nutrient rich hay.

The clean air, long warm days, and cool nights in Canada ensure a vigorous production during the shorter growing season. Dry land alfalfa hay may be harvested up to twice per season, while irrigated alfalfa hay can be harvested up to three times each season. Because of it has a deep perennial root system, Alfalfa hay is a high water use forage crop. Although it optimally requires 540 to 680 mm of water per growing season in Alberta, the crop is relatively drought tolerant.

The long Canadian winters allow farmers to grow Alfalfa hay using more natural methods. This significantly reduces the need for pesticides and herbicides, as the cold temperatures effectively discourage pests and most weeds. The shorter growing season allows the land a greater resting period to recuperate. This recovery time helps eliminate the need for artificial fertilizers to coax more production, as is commonly necessary in areas with warmer climates.

This non-GMO crop also offers more stringent quality control guidelines. Instead of being graded by observation and smell the way Timothy hay is, Alfalfa hay is tested and graded by independent labs. Canadian Alfalfa hay promises a more consistent product, year after year.

Barr-Ag is a family-owned operation with a farm-to-farm business model. This allows them the unique ability to maintain much tighter control over the product they export. Barr-Ag’s farms and producers are strategically positioned near the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains where they are fortunate to have clean air, long warm days with cool nights, soil rich in calcium and magnesium and a pristine environment in which to grow their non-GMO alfalfa hay.

Growing 60% of all exported hay ensures that they can set high standards in place at each stage of their product, from planting to packaging. The remaining 40% of their stock is purchased from local growers with the same dedication to quality. Barr-Ag’s quality standards allow them to guarantee mold-free hay with less than 12% moisture content.

Contact Barr Ag to get more information on any or our crops including Alfalfa, Timothy, Mixed Hay, Canadian Grains and Pulse corps.

High Quality Forage Benefits Dairy Cows

There are many benefits of high quality forage, as the saying goes: you get what you pay for. You can reverse that statement by saying you don’t get what you don’t pay for. Or even that you could pay for it later! Studies have shown that when dairy producers invest in high quality forage they will see a valuable return on that investment.

Choosing High Quality Forage

Optimal animal performance can improve with high quality forage. It is essential for weight gain, producing higher levels of milk, increasing reproduction success, and farm’s profits. It’s important to give your dairy cows the appropriate type and amount of feed according to their specific nutritional needs. Factors that could help define these needs include: sex, age, species, and production status.

When choosing your high quality forage for either beef or dairy cows it’s also important to think about the follow factors: whether the cows will eat the feed, how much of the feed they will actually eat measured against how much energy is required for their specific activity (milk production, breeding, beef production, etc.), digestibility, nutrient content, and any negative factors the forage might have on a specific cattle group.

High quality forage performs at its best when it is harvested young. As crops like alfalfa mature the fiber content increases, lowering the quality. Forage that is too high in fiber slows digestion. With slower digestion the animal will not take in as much and might not consume enough energy to meet their activity requirements.

High Quality Forage Boosts Milk Production in Dairy Cows

Milk production has high nutrient demands on dairy cows! Dairy cows have to consume large quantities of food to consume enough energy to keep producing milk. In some cases a dairy cow cannot physically eat enough feed to meet the requirements of milk production; and the cow’s body fat could start depleting in an attempt to meet those energy requirements. This is a problem.

High quality forage like Alfalfa hay can greatly benefit dairy cows and milk production. Alfalfa hay contains less neutral detergent fiber and is more digestible. Also, high quality forage like early harvest alfalfa is lower in fermentable fibre and passes through the digestive system faster, allowing the cow to consume more. That means dairy cows that consume high quality forage are able to increase both their energy intake and total milk produced. Talk about getting your cake (alfalfa hay) and eating it too!

Milk that is produced with a higher fat concentration is can usually be sold for a premium. Since high quality forage is high in the right type of fiber it also supports milk fat production, which in turn affects the producer’s bottom line.

A study came out of the University of Wisconsin that was able to conclude that the milk response of dairy cows fed different levels of alfalfa forage quality was improved when fed more high quality forage. They were able to prove that high quality forage contains more energy and also allows dairy cows to eat more!

The study also tested adding a concentrate like grain to lower quality forage to try to offset reduced milk production resulting from low quality feed. High producing dairy cows are sometimes fed concentrates to help boost the energy content of their feed. Even adding this concentrate could not improve the results of the feed. Here are their examples:

Early bloom alfalfa with 54% concentrate produced almost as much milk as pre-bloom alfalfa with 20% concentrate, but no amount of concentrate would produced over 70 lb of fat corrected milk from mid or full bloom alfalfa. Further, the 71%-concentrate formulations are not sustainable, due to animal health problems associated with low fiber.

They also found that the actual fat concentration of the milk produced fell as the added concentrate increased. With milk with high fat concentration going for top dollar, adding too much concentrate to the feed could affect a dairy producer’s profit.

View their study results and further research on high quality forage.

Sources: http://www.extension.org/pages/26278/in-vivo-digestibility-of-forages, http://extension.umass.edu/cdle/fact-sheets/harvest-management-high-quality-alfalfa-hay

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