Cassie Marchand entered the Canadian Cattle Association’s mentorship program expecting to learn about building public trust between individual producers and consumers. Instead, she saw first-hand how beef industry players are working on the big picture. Marchand was one of 16 candidates selected for the 2023-24 Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program. The CYL program is […] Read more
Mentorship program expands participant’s view on public trust
For Cassie Marchand, the CYL program offered new ways of thinking about how she works in the beef industry
Blaming parasites for itchy cattle only scratches surface, study finds
Researchers looked at everything from lice to nutrient deficiencies as they examined hair loss and itchiness in cattle
Dr. Brenda Ralston and her team have been getting to the root of the problem to see what is actually causing itching in cattle.
Tech for cattle disease diagnostics edges into the Star Trek age
Researchers are testing new, compact equipment to see if it can quickly and accurately diagnose specific pathogens that cause BRD in the field and feedlot
Remember the COVID rapid test? That was a point-of-need test designed to find a target and match it to a “binder” which then changes the colour if it’s positive or negative. The same principle is applied to the rapid lateral flow device test for anthrax, Dr. Anatoliy Trokhymchuk explains, which was developed by the U.S. […] Read more
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
The economics of preconditioning
Why aren’t more producers preconditioning calves? Kathy Larson dives into the research
Does preconditioning your calves pay? It has been a long-studied and debated topic. When it comes to preconditioning cattle, “every operation is different,” says Kathy Larson, research associate for the department of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Saskatchewan. Larson says there is opportunity for profit in preconditioning every year but it’s variable. […] Read more
Farmer seeking grazier: Matching crop and livestock producers to graze cropland
Manitoba and Nova Scotia farm groups are connecting producers interested in integrating livestock into crop production
Getting livestock back on the landscape — that is the goal for the Manitoba Grazing Exchange and a Living Labs initiative in Nova Scotia. And it benefits more than the livestock. The Manitoba Grazing Exchange started in 2021 as a partnership between the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association and Manitoba Organic Alliance. “It is a […] Read more
Grazing riparian areas judiciously
The thinking on riparian area protection has evolved from excluding grazing to carefully grazing to manage plant growth while protecting water courses
Riparian areas used to be thought of as areas of exclusion when it came to grazing. But those days are over. “In the past, a lot of the water courses were suffering bank or shoreline damage because they weren’t being protected,” says Greg Paranich, agriculture field specialist with the Grey Wooded Forage Association, based in […] Read more
Evaluating options for feeding bales
The hay is baled and stacked in the yard. Now’s the time to decide how to feed it. If the current method wastes a significant amount of feed, it might be time to re-evaluate your feeding system. Bale grazing has become more popular in recent years. Before an entire feeding system is switched over to […] Read more
How do you store your hay?
Direction and spacing are two key things to consider
The hay is baled. But do you give much thought to how it’s placed in storage? With hay prices skyrocketing over the past year or so, weathering or loss in the stack are thoughts on more people’s minds than in years past. While there might not be an actual “right” way to store your hay, […] Read more
How to start rotational grazing
The best recommendations are those that fit you and your farm
After the drought last year, are you looking for a change for your summer pastures? Switching from a continuous grazing system to one that provides a rest period for the plants is one way to help plants recover from drought, while also helping protect plants during future droughts. A rotational grazing system can provide a […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
