When you make your living in the cattle business, it’s difficult to imagine what the beef industry looks like from an outside perspective. This gap is a challenge when trying to gain a true sense of consumer perceptions of beef production. “One of the phrases I really like is that you can’t see the label […] Read more
Better communication needed to sell consumers on sustainably raised beef
Misconceptions and false information about the beef industry further complicates what consumers know about beef production
Electrified irrigation wheel line offers several benefits
“The electrified wheel line has been a big asset to make our haylands last longer...”
A rancher in southwestern Alberta has created an innovation that allows an irrigation wheel line to perform double duty. David Armitage, who ranches on his family’s operation at Mountain View, Alta., close to Waterton Lakes National Park, discovered that rather than continually move conventional electric fences to rotationally graze his hayland, he could work with […] Read more
The search for affordable ways to track feed efficiency at the ranch
Core body temperature can be used to identify feed-efficient animals
A two-year collaborative study led by the University of Saskatchewan is looking for affordable technology beef producers could use to track feed efficiency in their herd. “The collaboration and co-operation across different universities and provinces and states… is pretty novel and key,” said Bart Lardner, a research scientist at the Western Beef Development Centre and […] Read more
Testing forage even more necessary in a dry year
With many parts of the country having endured a dry season, knowing feed nutrient levels is crucial
A startling amount of beef producers run the risk of nutrient deficiencies in their herd by not testing their forage sources. Analyzing forage sources to better plan for feeding and supplementation is even more crucial in a dry year to ensure cattle receive the nutrients they require as the colder months and calving season approach. […] Read more
Leading with an eye on the beef industry’s next generation
Kelly Smith-Fraser's NuHaven Cattle Company a testament to a long family history of beef producers
Kelly Smith-Fraser’s deep roots in agriculture helped develop her present leadership role in the Canadian beef industry. The vice-chair of Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and president of the Canadian Maine-Anjou Association, Smith-Fraser’s path in the cattle business was shaped by the previous generations, a legacy she continues on her family’s operation, NuHaven Cattle Company of […] Read more
Pain control in cattle remains a complex issue
The age of the animal is often a factor when considering pain mitigating options
When it comes to pain mitigation practices for her cattle operation, Cecilie Fleming believes it’s the right thing to do. It’s also proven to be practical and cost-effective, factors that many beef producers consider when deciding whether to implement pain control. Fleming, who raises purebred Angus, Simmental and Charolais cattle with her family at Fleming […] Read more
Effective stockmanship adds to the bottom line
... and it’s the right thing to do
For Curt Pate, handling cattle in an effective manner is vital to a stockman’s success. “What we really need to think about are what the effects of our cattle handling are doing to the performance of our cattle,” he said during the 2018 Western Canada Feedlot Management School in Regina. Pate, who came into the […] Read more
Animal health protocols keep everyone on the same page
Vet-client relationships are essential to help ensure livestock remain healthy
While any type of beef operation can benefit from establishing consistent animal health protocols, this is especially evident when caring for the health of thousands of feeder calves at a time. Kristen Hunter, feedlot manager at Buffalo Plains Cattle Co. at Bethune, Sask., knows this firsthand. Hunter, a veterinary technician who has worked in feedlot […] Read more
Ranchers prove essential in fighting B.C. wildfires
One of the main issues the BC Cattlemen’s Association confronted was animal welfare
The 2017 British Columbia wildfires, the largest in the province’s history, at that time, will likely loom in the collective memory of cattle producers for years. While the devastating scope of the fires is what many remember about that disastrous summer, ranchers contributed greatly to the firefighting efforts and set important precedents about the role […] Read more
Are veterinary technicians ready to take on a larger role?
Ashley Gaudet says they already are
Whether she’s working to advance her skills in veterinary medicine or teaching Air Cadets to fly, Ashley Gaudet’s ambition takes her to great heights. Gaudet, a veterinary technician at Veterinary Agri-Health Services (VAHS) in Airdrie, Alta., grew up in Cornwall, P.E.I. Her family’s neighbours gave her an introduction to agriculture, allowing her to help with […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
