Cows Are A Tool

As you increase production on a set land base without increasing the costs you are more likely to be profitable in the short term and sustainable in the long term In Holistic Management we tend to see our cows as a tool. There are two primary functions that this tool must perform. One is to […] Read more

Packers Seek Private And Public Money

A North American view of the meat industry. Steve Kay is publisher and editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly Cow killers want the federal government to cough up $26M ($31.70 per cow) annually to cover added costs of removing and disposing of SRMs (specified risk materials) One of the least-understood facts about the beef processing industry […] Read more


CCA Reports – for Dec. 7, 2009

Brad Wildeman is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association In my past few articles, I’ve been talking a lot about Canada’s beef and cattle industry competitiveness and the number of challenges we face that ultimately lower our competitive advantage. Left unchecked, feedlots and packing plants will diminish, greater numbers of cattle will be fed and […] Read more

PURELY PUREBRED – for Dec. 7, 2009

Suggestions are always welcome. My phone number is 403-325-1695 E-mail: Can any of you tell me who the two individuals in this picture are? It was taken at a cattle field day over 30 years ago. I see one of these individuals quite often and the other I happened to run into last week! The […] Read more


Ad Index – for Dec. 7, 2009

AG Growth Industries 29 AGCO 19 Alberta Cattle Feeders 43 Beefbooster 6 a-h Boehringer Ingelheim 21 Canadian Agri-Blend 18 Canadian Angus Assoc. IBC Canadian Bull Congress 51 Canadian Cattle Identification Agency 13 Canadian Charolais Assoc. OBC Canadian Galloway Assoc. 47 Canadian Gelbvieh Assoc. 39 Canadian Hereford Assoc. 30, 31 Canadian Limousin Assoc. 50 Canadian Red […] Read more

Succeeding At Succession

For those of us fortunate enough to have sons or daughters who want to ranch, succession is a major event. Done properly the results can draw the family closer together, give each generation what they desire and be a positive event. When done poorly the results can be devastating. Families can be torn apart. My […] Read more


CCA REPORTS – for Nov. 9, 2009

Brad Wildeman is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association In my last column, I talked about increasing the competitiveness of our beef and cattle industry to be, at minimum, on par with the United States (U.S.). Early in October, we welcomed the Government of Canada’s announced intention to request that the World Trade Organization (WTO) […] Read more

Create A “New” Industry

A North American view of the meat industry. Steve Kay is publisher and editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly My suggestion is for Canada to stop sending generic beef to the U.S. and develop a “Proudly Produced in Canada” program I got a disturbing phone call recently from a cow-calf operator near Edmonton, taking issue with […] Read more


Verified Beef Production Hits A Wall

Plenty of producer interest, but too many provinces are giving VBP the cold shoulder In his column this month meat industry observer, Steve Kay argues that the best way to beat country-of-origin labelling in the U.S. is to generate our own Proudly Produced in Canada beef products. This is not a new idea. Value chains […] Read more

Cow Nutrient Requirements

David P. Price is a consulting nutritionist specializing in feedlot and range cattle www.cattleandwildlifenutrition.com Whenever drought is an issue, it is good to review cow nutrient requirements. While this may seem remedial, the consequences of an oversight can be devastating. As taught in Ruminant Nutrition 101, there are five classes of nutrients to be concerned […] Read more