close up view of beef cattle in a feedlot

Big cows and big questions

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

August’s column talked about how genetic selection for growth rate and carcass merit has resulted in heavier carcasses with better marbling scores. New genetics get to the feeder and packer through the bulls that cow-calf producers buy from seedstock producers. These new genetics also leave fingerprints on the cow herd as they pass through. If […] Read more



Graeme Finn (left) and Kelly Boles (middle) in a field of corn in Mongolia. Both are consulting along- side Telus Agriculture for Metagro to advance agricultural practices in Mongolia.

Mongolian company turns to Canada for agricultural expertise

Mongolia is behind in technology, but borders on huge markets, motivating those working in agriculture to learn as much as they can

When you think of Mongolia, you likely don’t think about how it may be similar to Canada. Instead, you might think about its vast wilderness or mountain ranges that run into the frigid Gobi Desert. You may know of the traditional culture of Mongolian nomads or the history of the Mongol Empire. Though there are […] Read more

Stock photo of corn silage. Alltech’s feed testing reveals a higher mycotoxin risk in Western Canada than previous years, and corn silage seems to be higher risk across the country.

Alltech’s mycotoxin testing rates corn silage as riskier in 2024

News Roundup from the December 2024 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Alltech’s 2024 Canadian Harvest Analysis revealed significant regional variability in contamination levels in silages and grains, said the company in a press release. Early harvest testing suggests corn silage may be a higher-risk commodity across Canada, says Alltech. Barley may have a greater prevalence of mycotoxins, and in higher concentrations, than wheat. At press time, […] Read more


Since moving to Saskatchewan, the Stewarts have changed some of their grazing and winter feeding practices, and have been pleased with the results.

The big move: Relocating the ranch

The Stewart family undertook a modern cattle drive, moving their operation from B.C. to Saskatchewan

Ranching is ranching, wherever you are. Or is it? Erika and Cyle Stewart would likely say it is, and it is not. Relocating a house and family to another province is no small task. Make it an entire ranch and cow herd and you are at a whole other level. In 2017, the Stewarts had […] Read more

One of Klopatek’s projects while attending the University of California, Davis, was to ask U.S. ranchers “What does sustainable ranching mean to you?” She put the responses together in this word cloud in the shape of cow, with the size of type reflecting how often the word was used. Her full report is: Klopatek, Sarah C., et al. 321 Rancher Motivations for Joining Sustainability Programs. Journal of Animal Science 101.Supplement_3 (2023): 253-254.

Sustainability in the beef sector is a ‘big picture’ topic

Resilient beef production benefits the environment along with the economic fabric of the country, says the chief livestock scientist for JBS

Some of Sarah Klopatek’s first recollections of being connected to science and the land was at the age of five, helping her parents, who were soil scientists, collect soil samples from U.S. rangeland. “They had research projects and field work every summer out in native grasslands and took me along,” says Klopatek, who is today […] Read more


John Duynisveld and daughter, Maria, winners of the national TESA for 2024.

Nova Scotia beef producers take home The Environmental Stewardship Award

Holdanca Farms emphasizes importance of wildlife, rotational grazing and sustainable farming

The Canadian Beef Industry Conference is the biggest of the year, and one of the biggest awards gets announced here too. The lights in the conference centre are dimmed and the hall buzzes with conversation and the clinking of cutlery, but also with excitement as The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) announcement draws closer. The crowd […] Read more

Researchers have uncovered evidence that some alfalfa varieties respond differently to specific beneficial microbes in the soil.

Microbes matter during pasture restoration

Glacier FarmMedia – Choosing the right alfalfa variety can make a difference, possibly a huge difference, when producers are rejuvenating a pasture.  After several years, a pasture’s productivity will decline and many ranchers choose to over-seed or sod-seed alfalfa to revive the pastureland.  Farmers will likely select a high-yielding alfalfa variety that is adapted to […] Read more


Cattle in the Canadian prairies

Ranchers share lessons learned from drought

Despite experiencing a million-dollar rain, beef producers are still asking how they can prepare for drought

Despite experiencing a million-dollar rain, 
beef producers are still asking how they can 
prepare for drought

Drought” is a word beef producers on the Prairies know well. For years, many areas in Western Canada have struggled through a prolonged drought. Although a “million-dollar rain” fell in many areas this past June, producers are still pondering lessons learned from previous years of drought, dealing with the lingering effects of several dry years, […] Read more

Cedric MacLeod farms with his wife, Alanda, and son, Kalen.

Maritime beef farmer starts with the forage

Linking profitability and agronomy through forage production 
in New Brunswick potato region

It’s early July 2024 and Cedric MacLeod is already preparing for winter. He’s knee-deep in harvesting hay and silage that will be bale feed for his herd in cold weather. Calving has just finished. Yesterday, the last calf of the season walked up to him in the field. He’s so fresh he doesn’t know who […] Read more