Like the facial recognition technology now used on smartphones, a new livestock identification technology is using artificial intelligence to keep tabs on cattle. Created by Canadian company OneCup AI, Bovine Expert Tracking and Surveillance, or BETSY, uses artificial intelligence to identify and monitor cattle through facial recognition technology. Mokah Shmigelsky, founder of OneCup AI, grew […] Read more
Biometrics and artificial intelligence may be coming to a ranch near you
Companies are developing emerging technology to identify cattle, track health, growth and behaviour, and analyze data
Creativity needed to address veterinarian shortage
As demand grows for veterinarians, stagnant graduation rates and steep competition from urban areas have left many rural practices in a crunch
Working in a rural community as a large animal veterinarian always made perfect sense to Dr. Trevor Lawson. “There’s nowhere I’d sooner be because I came from a rural area and that’s where I always wanted to be,” says Lawson, who practices at Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, specializing in bovine and equine care, and is an […] Read more
Ontario MDS volunteers already moving hay west
Disaster response group spearheading program separate from CFA plan
It’s in the spirit of co-operation in difficult times that a group of Ontario farmers have launched a hay donation program to assist their Saskatchewan counterparts. Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada, a volunteer organization that provides assistance in the aftermath of disasters in Canada and the U.S., is organizing the latest iteration of Hay West […] Read more
Prioritize your health during challenging situations
Basic self-care, awareness of stress responses and reaching out to others all key for dealing with difficult times
When faced with a crisis, prioritizing your physical and mental well-being is extremely important. “You are the number-one piece of machinery on your farm,” says Cynthia Beck, cow-calf producer at Milestone, Sask. and clinical psychology masters’ candidate at the University of Regina. Practicing self-care is vital, Beck explained during a recent Canadian Cattlemen’s Association webinar […] Read more
Chronic stress can affect health and decision-making
Understanding our body’s stress response can help us cope in healthy ways during difficult times
When a person takes unnecessary risks and makes decisions that are out of character for them, this could signal that they’re struggling with chronic stress. For example, the current frequency of bale theft across the Prairies might indicate that more people are “under a lot of chronic stress, and it could be impacting their decision-making […] Read more
The Environmental Stewardship Award reaches 25-year milestone
National recognition has contributed to the sustainable beef conversation, but people in the industry see more opportunities to reach the public
The most recent recipients of The Environmental Stewardship Award weren’t seeking praise when they implemented conservation-minded practices on their ranch. However, the opportunity to share their story with a national audience was incredibly meaningful. “For us to be recognized was a true honour,” says Ricky Seelhof of Woodjam Ranch at Horsefly, B.C., who along with […] Read more
Leveraging data in beef production
New mobile app development, networks of smart farms highlight the potential to use data tools in agriculture
A new research project aims to help beef producers better interpret the production data they’re already collecting to make informed management decisions. Currently in its first stages of development, the Arm-Chair Rancher mobile application, a collaboration between Livestock Gentec and David Wishart, professor of biology at the University of Alberta, will analyze data on production […] Read more
Negligible risk status may mean more market access for Canadian beef
Historic designation opens doors for conversations on removing BSE-era trade restrictions for beef products, feeder cattle access and processing requirements
This spring, a difficult chapter for the Canadian beef industry came to a close after almost two decades. In late May, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Scientific Commission approved Canada as having negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), moving from controlled risk status to the disease’s lowest risk level of transmission. This […] Read more
Watch for high sulphate levels in salvaged canola
Supplementation necessary to prevent trace mineral and vitamin deficiencies
If salvaged canola is your alternate feed of choice this fall, be aware of the potential health issues posed by its high sulphate levels. “White muscle disease can be caused by selenium deficiency or vitamin E deficiency or a combination of both, and both of these nutrients can be impacted by feeding canola,” says Dr. Cheryl Waldner, professor of large animal clinical […] Read more
Ag leaders lean in to gender equity
Across the country, women and men are not only identifying remaining barriers to equity, but also finding ways to make agriculture a more welcoming industry for everyone
Despite the incredible strides made by Canadian women in agriculture over the past decades, challenges persist for many. You don’t have to dig far to find stories of women being disrespected by salespeople, having trouble securing loans, or fending off sexual harassment at agricultural events. One challenge that often comes up in the Ag Women’s […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
