With calving season in full swing, ensuring calves are primed to thrive is top of mind. When refreshing themselves on indicators of good health in calves, producers are encouraged to remember to trust in their knowledge of their own herd and to stay vigilant in monitoring them. “Early detection is always going to be key […] Read more
Benchmarks indicate healthy calves
Preparing a calf for a healthy life begins before calving
Hog wild — Canada’s feral pig problem worsens
Even as Alberta steps up tactics to control wild pigs and Canada develops a national strategy to control them, hope dims of eradicating invasive swine from the landscape
Whenever the wild pig problem facing Woodlands County makes the news, Dawn Fortin receives numerous phone calls, all promising the same thing. “Every time we get a media event that occurs, we are inundated with calls from expert hunters that want to come and fix our problem,” says Fortin, the agriculture services manager for this […] 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
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
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
