With no treatment or vaccine available, the impact of Johne’s disease on beef herds can be a nightmare. “Johne’s disease is particularly challenging to manage because we have so few options,” says Dr. Cheryl Waldner, professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine. To help beef producers make better management decisions about […] Read more
New calculator to help analyze Johne’s testing options
The online tool provides producers with a range of possible management scenarios for their herds
A leg up for young cattle producers
CCA’s new president discusses his priorities, including investing in the beef industry’s next generation, improving market access and risk management, plus protecting Canada’s herd from foot-and-mouth disease
Reg Schellenberg knows what it’s like to be a young rancher, just starting out with the odds stacked against his family. In the early 1980s, Schellenberg and his wife Shannon had become partners in her parents’ cow-calf operation, Perrin Ranching, south of Beechy, Sask. He was always interested in cattle and horses, and he worked […] Read more
Into the woods
A focus on balance required to get the most from grazing forested areas, say producers
On Kingsclere Ranch, the balance between forestry and beef production is mutually beneficial for both its business model and the environment. “The cows have a role to play in the total balance of the equation, and that’s a pretty significant role,” says Jeff Braisher, who produces high-end timber and raises cattle at Golden, B.C. Here […] Read more
How to win fans and influence consumers
Three people share how they changed their minds about beef, becoming advocates for beef production
David Kleiman’s first visit to a ranch in the southern Alberta foothills was an awe-inspiring experience he’ll never forget. Nature and conservation have been life-long passions for Kleiman, a Calgary-based science teacher. After meeting Kimberly Wachtler of Burke Creek Ranch at a farmers market, Kleiman was eager to learn more about how cattle are raised […] Read more
Canada’s first national agri-food sustainability index in the works
Agri-food stakeholders collaborating to position Canada as a sustainability leader, create market access opportunities
As people around the world demand proof that their food is sustainably produced, Canadian agri-food stakeholders are taking advantage of this opportunity to back up their sustainability claims together. The National Index of Agri-Food Performance, Canada’s first sustainability index that encompasses the entire agri-food sector, arose from the need to build greater trust with consumers […] Read more
New film features grazing as wildfire prevention tool
"Too Close to Home" highlights potential role of cattle in wildfire mitigation in B.C.
The team behind Guardians of the Grasslands is back with a new film highlighting the role cattle can play in managing wildfire risk. Too Close to Home, the second short documentary produced by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s Public and Stakeholder Engagement team and their partners, aims to share the benefit of targeted grazing as a […] Read more
Union Forage rising
Thinking outside the box, customer consultation key to Union Forage’s success
In the Union Forage warehouse, general manager Geoff Barker explains the process of creating custom forage seed blends for clients, his voice denoting his Australian roots. Towering shelves lining the south Calgary warehouse are stacked with pallets and large totes of seed, neatly labelled for traceability purposes. On the wall, a large promotional poster states […] Read more
Taking the guesswork out of selecting a data management program for your cattle herd
A recent Maritime Beef Council project analyzed various data management software from the producer’s perspective
When it came to determining the best data management software program for her herd, like many beef producers, Amy Higgins found the possibilities a tad overwhelming. “It was almost like analysis paralysis,” says Higgins, who runs the Maritime Beef Council and raises cattle at Quispamsis, New Brunswick. “There were four or five different options. I […] Read more
Respect at the heart of successful producer meetings
Past Alberta Beef Producers delegate and this year’s AGM co-chair Cecilie Fleming talks about the human side of industry association meetings
To kick off the 2022 Alberta Beef Producers annual general meeting, Cecilie Fleming encouraged delegates to be hard on the issues but soft on people. Fleming co-chaired the association’s in-person event at Red Deer, Alta, in early March, along with Howard Bekkering. She knows that open, honest discussion and considering the entire issue are key […] Read more
A rangeland up in flames
Another record-breaking summer of wildfires in B.C. suggests the need for a new approach to fire prevention and management
The wildfires that upended Chris Haywood-Farmer’s world last summer are likely still smouldering this winter, deep in the roots of the charred rangeland. For safety reasons, parts of this vast Crown range were closed for public recreation throughout the fall, a reminder of what the fourth-generation rancher and his family faced earlier that year. “We […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
