A three-year burn interval has been effective in areas with good moisture.

Patch-burning pastures can also benefit cattle

Prescribed burns come in all shapes and sizes

Wildfires have two faces: the nemesis of mankind since settlement, and Mother Nature’s way of renewing aging, infested grasslands and forests. The unintended consequence of widespread suppression of wildfires coupled with the trend toward grazing systems that promote uniformity has been the loss of plant and animal diversity within native grassland ecosystems, according to rangeland […] Read more



CCA Report: The pressing issues of beef and forage research, traceability

CCA Report: The pressing issues of beef and forage research, traceability

From the May 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Research plays an integral role in achieving a competitive Canadian beef sector. In addition to investment in research and research infrastructure, other key factors include fully funding programs that help producers manage risk, investing in infrastructure, securing access to high value and growing markets, Canada’s regulatory operating environment, and ensuring access to sufficient labour. The […] Read more

History: Alberta’s Horn Penalty and Fund

Abridged from the January 1950 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Alberta’s Horn Penalty and Fund By Kenneth Coppock Alberta has given some good leads and some bad ones to the other western provinces. In the matter of the horn penalty we are convinced that the lead given was definitely bad. A brief historical review should be of interest. Over a long period Canadian packers pointed […] Read more


cattle grazing

Grazing management: The essence of ranching

Cattle are unique: they came to us as creatures capable of grazing; as ruminants with the ability to convert roughage to energy; and, ultimately, energy to protein. Grazing is how ranches create value. Grazing management is maintaining the balance between soil health, plant growth, sunlight, and moisture on rangeland. The amount of effective moisture — […] Read more

The Manitoba Hereford Association has named the Dueck family of Firdale Polled Herefords from Austin as its commercial breeder of the year for 2015. The award was presented by Steven Manns, president of the MHA.

Manitoba Hereford Association names Dueck family as commercial breeder of the year

Purely Purebred: News about you from the February 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Note: THE HERD LETTER FOR 2016 IS ‘D’ Since our last instalment of Purely Purebred, the Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) board has presented its Jim Lewthwaite Memorial Award to Brian Rossnagel and its Chris Sutter Award posthumously to Neil Jahnke. The Jim Lewthwaite Memorial Award recognizes those committed individuals who do an outstanding job of promoting […] Read more


Tessa and Colin Verbeek.

Jumping in with eyes wide open

It starts with a sound plan, say Tessa and Colin Verbeek, plus some parental support, a large helping of passion for the business, and a willingness to go for it

Tessa and Colin Verbeek will forever look back on 2015 as a landmark year. They married, established a new yardsite with a home and barn where they hosted their first annual prospect-calf open-house sale, she accepted a position as general manager of the Canadian Limousin Association, and he took the plunge into farming full time […] Read more



Angus Herd

Understanding holistic management

Holistic Ranching with Don Campbell

H M has been in Western Canada for about 30 years. That is a relatively short time for a new concept. The term H M is well known but I suspect there are many people who do not understand what H M is. Lack of understanding can generate fear. If you have heard the term, […] Read more

Harvey Brink, Bentley, Alta. rancher.

Help where help is needed

Harvey Brink looks to service specialists for expert advice on feeding fababeans and other chores

When Harvey Brink needs help he goes shopping instead of advertising. Rather than having a full-time employee or seasonal helpers, he counts on the services of his cattle buyer, beef nutritionist, grain marketer and crop agrologist. A financial adviser may be next as he and his wife, Coby, start thinking about their succession plan. Handling […] Read more