Getting the most out of precision livestock technology can be daunting. Betty-Jo Almond says the best approach is to do the research, know what you want to accomplish and ensure whatever you choose fits your operation. “The goal of these technologies is to make data capture easy so that you are better informed to help […] Read more
Buying and using technology on the farm the right way
There’s an ever-growing plethora of technology available, but what makes sense for your operation?
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
Breaking bad habits key to better bottom lines
Cow-calf producers urged to look at potential replacement heifers and older cows as buyers rather than sellers
The silent killer of cow-calf profitability is the bad habits of producers, according to Dr. Jordan Thomas, and holding on to less efficient cows is one of the worst. “What causes long hay-feeding seasons and long calving seasons is the person in the mirror — we need to work on how we think,” says the […] Read more
The evolution of beef research in Canada
As the Beef Cattle Research Council marks its 25-year milestone, the people involved look back at the council’s formation, research achievements and look forward to where it’s all headed
Regular pregnancy checks, a routine regimen of vaccinations and working on extended grazing are just three of the many improvements Matt Bowman has implemented on his Thornloe, Ont. farm because of sound research from Canada’s Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC). Bowman, along with thousands of producers and the beef industry, has reaped many rewards as […] Read more
Canadian beef check-off pays off
A look at the formation of Canada’s unique check-off program and the activities it funds
Canada’s ability to attract buyers such as McDonald’s to its beef products can be attributed to producers themselves funding research, marketing and public outreach through check-off dollars. “We realized that, if we were going to be a world-class producer of high-quality beef, and continue to grow, we needed to make an investment in research and […] Read more
Shelter, feed keys to successful winter calving
A Charolais producer and a beef specialist share tips for calving in the bitter cold of winter
Wanda Snobolen’s passion for her Charolais purebreds shines through when she talks about the care she takes when they’re calving. “When you’re calving and it’s -20 degrees out there, you have to get them dry — that is key,” she says. Depending on how cold it is, she brings the calves into a heated workshop […] Read more
Partnering to produce high-end purebreds
This Alberta couple is working with seedstock producers from across the country to buy pedigreed females with potential to be donor cows
An Alberta couple’s passion for investing in top breeders has helped produce high-quality Limousin and Hereford cattle in Canada and they don’t even own a farm. “We didn’t have the capital to buy a place and cattle,” says Anne Brunet-Burgess. “We started slowly, but got really involved in 2015, with Wayne’s nephew Justin, who was […] Read more
Getting livestock research into practice
With the decline in government extension, other organizations have shifted gears to try to cover some of that ground
The large gaps left when governments stopped providing a full range of on-the-ground advisory services to farmers are slowly getting filled with useful and accessible resources, according to industry experts. “In the 1990s in Ontario, the Ministry of Agriculture cut those services and it meant different sectors reacted differently with no defined process,” says Mike […] Read more
Itchy cattle? It may not be lice
Everything from nutritional deficiencies to mites can trigger scratching in cattle
A spike in complaints about its product’s ineffectiveness against itchy cattle drove Solvet, a Canadian veterinary pharmaceutical firm, to investigate the potential causes and to look for relief. “This has become a bigger problem than it used to be,” says Dr. Denis Nagel, a consulting veterinarian with the company, as well as with Alberta Veterinary […] Read more
Taking care of beef business
Whether you’re thinking about incorporating or wondering if you should switch to accrual-based accounting, here are a few things to consider
Beef producers can be more profitable by controlling costs and, if the circumstances are right, incorporating their operations. Two virtual presentations by BDO Canada representatives on Beef Day at the Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week earlier this year provided participants with tips and advice on how to optimize their bottom lines. Maggie Van Camp moderated the presentations […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
