A herd of elk in a winter wheat field in Alberta’s foothills.

Deer and elk take a bite out of winter feed

As Alberta’s wildlife populations balloon, who will pick up the dinner cheque becomes a pressing question for beef producers

Wildlife and livestock co-exist on pasture throughout the summer. However, in winter when livestock are being fed, wildlife can become a nuisance. Across Alberta, many producers are dealing with wildlife in winter feed, but how many are experiencing problems is not known. “It’s pretty ubiquitous throughout the province, but what changes is species,” says Mark […] Read more

Tan, a red border collie handled by Calin Duce of Cardston, Alta., at work in the ring. (Melissa Bezan photo)

At Agribition: Young dogs debut their new tricks

'These guys show up to work'

Ranchers and livestock producers at a Regina farm show got a demonstration of a potential solution to looming labour shortages: dogs. Dogs and their handlers competed at the seventh annual Cattle Dog Futurity and Maturity competitions and the International Stock Dog Trials held Thursday at Canadian Western Agribition. The futurity event featured dogs born between […] Read more



The Wray families: Doug, Linda, Joanne, Tim, Eva, Miriam and Jesse.

TESA winners focused on stewardship and succession planning

The Wray family aims for sustainability in everything from grazing practices to transitioning the ranch

After winning the Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for Alberta, Doug and Tim Wray were already happy with the success they’d had.  They only had to travel an hour to the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, hosted in Calgary, Alta., in mid-August to see who won the national award, so making the trip was an easy decision. […] Read more


The McDougall Creek wildfire burns outside West Kelowna, B.C. on Aug. 18, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Chris Helgren)

AgriRecovery feed, freight, breeding herd aid set for Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C.

Feds, provinces announce combined $365 million in aid programs

The federal and Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia governments are jointly putting up $365 million to support ranchers and farmers up against this summer’s drought and wildfire damage. The feds on Friday announced their 60 per cent, or $219 million, share of AgriRecovery program funding for the three westernmost provinces. “I’ve had the opportunity to […] Read more

Urolithiasis results in significant economic loss to the feedlot industry and stands as the fifth-most prevalent cause of feedlot deaths.

Urolithiasis: a pasture and feedlot conundrum

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Bladder stones, or obstructive urolithiasis, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in male ruminants, especially steers. Uroliths form from protein and mineral components of the diet. Protein components may include cells produced during vitamin A deficiency, sutures, tissue debris, blood clots, excess protein or bacteria in the urine. Typically, stones develop in the […] Read more


Ranchers check out the cattle during a Hereford tour in northwestern Saskatchewan in 2019. Consider what mix of cattle, and whether a maternal or terminal herd would best fit your enterprise.

Major determinants of profit

From enterprise mix to inputs, Burke Teichert unpacks the decision-making that makes a ranch profitable

In a previous article, I asked, Profitable Ranching — Is it Possible? I answered, “Yes, if you know how.” In two recent articles, I presented the five essentials for successful ranch management, which I believe are the essential attitudes, approaches or mindset you need to be profitable: You can find those articles in the May […] Read more

A herd of cattle near Wellesley, Ont. Some beef and cash crop farmers are signing on with an Ontario company that aims to develop carbon projects.

Carbon farming: fad or trend?

An Ontario-based company is banking on farmer interest in emerging carbon markets

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding carbon markets, and producers are looking into another way they can make their farms and ranches generate revenue from the soil. But it’s still early going in Canada and it’s a complex industry, so many questions remain. “The most important thing is that producers need to be at the […] Read more


Vet Advice: Vibriosis

Vet Advice: Vibriosis

Vibriosis is an important venereal disease of cattle caused by the organism Campylobacter fetus. Some refer to the disease as campylobacteriosis. In sheep, it may be referred to as enzootic abortion, not associated with venereal transmission as much as ingestion of contaminated water and feed. Typically, the disease causes female infertility, with an increased number […] Read more

The Wray family.

CCA reports: Wray Ranch receives TESA, improvements to BRM programs in the works

From the September 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Uncertainty is often the common thread that unites us, and this summer is no different with adverse weather hitting cattle producers across the country. Perseverance and hard work are not new to us, but sometimes we need support to get through the tough times. This was a message I carried with me to the federal, […] Read more