Stories by Debbie Furber | Canadian Cattlemen

On the trail of bovine tuberculosis (bTB)

11,500 head sacrificed so far with no source in sight.  The final phase of the investigation begins this month 

By Debbie Furber September 20, 2017

A year ago beef producers in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan were thrown for a loop when an Alberta cow tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) at a U.S. packing plant. The ensuing disease investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) quickly became the largest and most complex beef cattle investigation in its history, […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Features, Markets

Whitewood Livestock returns to Pipestone, Man., this fall

Marketing: While futures markets may fluctuate, one constant is this family-owned operation

By Debbie Furber September 6, 2017

The upcoming year will be one for the record book at Whitewood Livestock Sales as preparations get underway for the September reopening of its affiliated market at Pipestone, Man., and to welcome Canada to the 21st annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championships next May 11 at Whitewood, Sask. Market owner-operators, Rhett Parks and his dad, Gene, […] Read more

JGL founding partners Bill Jameson (l) and Robin Gilroy welcome visitors to their new yards.

Features, Markets

Confidence backs JGL’s expansion

By Debbie Furber August 24, 2017

JGL kicked off this year’s Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s conference with a hospitality evening and tour of its new office building and assembly yard situated along the Trans Canada Highway, 10 kilometres west of Moose Jaw. As JGL co-founder Bill Jameson put it, the company outgrew its original place along the tracks on the city’s […] Read more

Horn flies swarming on a cow's shoulder.

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Features

Garlic is worth its salt for fly control

By Debbie Furber June 30, 2017

Feeding a little garlic powder to cattle does keep flies away and there are finally numbers to show it. Cows that received trace mineral (TM) salt fortified with garlic powder had 52 per cent and 56 per cent fewer flies on average than the two control groups that received TM salt alone during a summer-long […] Read more

For humane euthanasia of cattle, the point of entry of a projectile should be at the intersection of two imaginary lines, each drawn from the outside corner of the eye to the base of the opposite horn. The entry point should be high in the centre of the forehead but not between the eyes.

Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

Talking about euthanasia

Cattle Management: The final call is ultimately up to the cow-calf producer

By Debbie Furber June 28, 2017

When cow-calf producers talk about the need to euthanize an animal, their first thoughts turn to those that are sick or injured and whether the animal is likely to recover. If it hasn’t responded to care and is suffering, then there is really no other option. This decision isn’t made lightly, as Dr. Melissa Moggy […] Read more

Pairing landscape with food service, or sharing taste-of-place is my focus. – Mathieu Paré, director of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence

Beef Cattle, Features, News

Beef Centre of Excellence under new management

Mathieu Paré takes over from Marty Carpenter

By Debbie Furber June 21, 2017

Mathieu Paré knew he had a big chef hat to fill when he assumed the role of director of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence from Marty Carpenter, who officially retired on March 1. Since opening its doors in March 2015, the centre has welcomed people from 168 domestic companies, 116 small- and medium-sized businesses, […] Read more

CBCE technical director Abe Van Melle seeks added profits from carcasses.

Beef Cattle, Features

Making the most of a beef carcass

Abe Van Melle of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence offers up his thoughts on creative butchering

By Debbie Furber June 21, 2017

In a recent beef-cutting demonstration, Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence technical director Abe Van Melle gave a first-hand look at the added value to be coaxed from a beef carcass with creative butchering. The 28 per cent of a beef carcass categorized as prime cuts from the middle sells itself, but there are lots of […] Read more

Features, News

Tips for negotiating wind and solar leases

By Debbie Furber June 19, 2017

Leasing land for commercial wind and solar power developments is an opportunity for additional revenue that might someday come knocking on your door. It’s a long-term commitment, so making an informed decision before signing on will go a long way toward smooth operations for you, your neighbours and the developer, says Jeana Schuurman with the […] Read more

These mats woven from recycled tires are made to protect cattle from injury in high-traffic areas.

Features, Livestock

They have a mat for that

Double D's customers include packing plants, feedlots, ranches, and many other locations

By Debbie Furber June 16, 2017

Little did Dale Goetz know that his idea for weaving treads from old tires into mats to prevent cattle injuries in high-slip areas at the family’s feedlot would eventually become the footing for Double D Family Mat Shop as well. He established the mat shop in 1995, at first hand-cutting used tires to make anti-fatigue […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Six ways to keep your cattle wormer working

By Debbie Furber June 6, 2017

Resistance among internal parasites to broad-spectrum cattle wormers is emerging in Canada and experience in other countries leaves no reason to believe the problem won’t worsen. On the brighter side, producers here still have a fighting chance to retain the efficacy of available cattle wormers by combining parasite control strategies, says epidemiologist Dr. Fabienne Uehlinger[...]
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U.S. livestock: Cattle stumble to two-month low ahead of USDA report

U.S. grains: Corn futures hit three-month high on export demand

No turkeys, pigs, goats: U.S. to let airlines limit service animals

GFM Network News