Laio Silva Sobrinho’s passion for soil has led him to a career in agricultural research.

Olds College researchers trial new technologies to support grazing and soil health

Satellite technology, soil biologicals and rising plate metres are all on the research docket at Olds College

Laio Silva Sobrinho’s passion is soil. He initially got his undergrad in forestry in Brazil, but when he came to Canada to do his master’s, he knew it would be in soil science. “Even during my undergrad, I worked with soil remediation in relation to heavy metals. So, it wasn’t too much of a change […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes

For the week ending August 31, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Finishing feedlots are exuding a cautious sentiment. While order buyers had a full deck, there were upside limits. Pen-sized strings of quality yearlings traded at a premium to average values. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle […] Read more






Cattle genes behind the scenes

Cattle genes behind the scenes

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

The cattle you raise and the beef they produce result from two factors — their genetic potential, and the environment they’re raised in (climate, feed, health management, handling practices and everything else you do). The beef industry adopts genetics more slowly than poultry, swine or dairy. Several things make genetic advancement trickier in beef cattle. […] Read more


Photo: russokm1105/iStock/Getty Images

Oil and cattle: When major industries collide

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

There are currently just under 500,000 gas and oil wells in Alberta. Although difficult to find exact numbers, it appears nearly 5,000 new oil and gas wells are drilled across Western Canada every year. Capital investment for the Canadian oil and gas sector could reach $40.6 billion in 2024.  It’s big business and much of it […] Read more

Frequently asked questions about becoming CRSB certified

Frequently asked questions about becoming CRSB certified

As the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef closes the book on its first decade, we dive into the incentives available, recent changes to the CRSB Certified program and how producers can sign up

It’s been 10 years since the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) was founded, and great strides have been made in measuring and recognizing Canada’s leadership in sustainability. The Certified Sustainable Beef Framework, known as “CRSB Certified,” was created in 2017 to recognize the sustainable practices on the ground and to provide credible assurances for consumers […] Read more


One of the bulls at Pharo Cattle Company. Pharo focuses on sound, moderate-sized, easy-fleshing cattle.

Production and profitability on cow-calf operations

Shifting focus from production per cow to production per acre adds up to a more profitable cow-calf operation, says Kit Pharo

Shifting focus from production per cow to production per acre adds up to a more profitable cow-calf operation, says Kit Pharo


Which is more important, increasing profits or production? This is the question rancher and seedstock producer Kit Pharo posed at a recent holistic management gathering in Valleyview, Alta. Pharo has strong opinions, speaks his mind and says he doesn’t care what other people think. “I may not always be right, but I am never in […] Read more

Canadian Limousin Association members at the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium in Knoxville, Tennessee. L to R: Laura Ecklund (general manager), Erin Kishkan (past president), Dave Lawrence (board member), Michael Machan (treasurer), Chad Homer (vice-president), Ashton Hewson (president).

Canadian Limousin Association news

Purely Purebred, news from the August 2024 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Canadian Limousin Association members, board and staff took part in the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium in Knoxville, Tennessee. Three days were spent at the University of Tennessee listening to speakers and having conversations about “building a better cow.” On the final day, members toured beef operations and a progressive dairy operation.  The association also held […] Read more