When Bob Lowe was elected president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) in March 2020, he couldn’t have anticipated everything the year ahead had in store. Mere days after CCA’s annual general meeting, Canada was in lockdown due to the pandemic, changing the trajectory of everyone’s year and presenting numerous challenges to the Canadian food […] Read more
Focusing on the future while facing a pandemic
CCA president Bob Lowe reflects on the trials and silver linings of a tumultuous year
Raising the right cow for the job
The McNary family focuses on efficient, low-input cattle and Longhorn genetics are one ingredient in their program’s success
When the Longhorn first arrived in southern Saskatchewan’s Great Sandhills, this resilient breed was considered the ideal cow for this semi-arid landscape. In the late 1880s, Sir John Lister Kaye brought 7,000 Longhorn females to this area from Wyoming, the majority of which stocked his newly established ranch at Crane Lake. He ran imported purebred […] Read more
Reinstatement of Coal Policy not enough, say Alberta ranchers
Local ranchers remain concerned as new plan for Alberta’s Coal Policy allows several controversial open-pit mining projects to continue
For Laura Laing and John Smith, news that the province of Alberta planned to reinstate the 1976 Coal Policy raised more questions than answers. Laing and Smith, who run Plateau Cattle Co. west of Nanton, Alta. were never contacted or consulted when the provincial government rescinded the Coal Policy last spring, despite the fact that […] Read more
A demographic ready for a connection
Millennials respond positively to messages about nutrition and convenience of beef, especially when they hear it from third parties
This is the second instalment in a three-part series on millennial consumers and the opportunities for the Canadian beef producers in better understanding this demographic. Look for Part Three in the March 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen. You can read Part One here. When it comes to purchasing and consuming Canadian beef, millennials make a […] Read more
Livestock shows pivot to survive hard times
Several Canadian exhibitions adapt their programming to deal with the COVID-19, pandemic, though the future of the agriculture events sector remains uncertain
In its almost century-long history, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair had only been cancelled once before in a moment of adversity. Toronto’s famed exhibition was put on hold during the Second World War as army barracks were created in the Royal Horse Palace. Canadian soldiers about to ship out to Europe readied themselves in stables […] Read more
What millennials want
Looking beyond the click-bait headlines into how millennials’ perspectives can offer opportunities to the Canadian beef industry
This is the first instalment in a three-part series delving into the priorities and concerns of millennials when purchasing beef. You’ve likely seen the cringe-worthy headlines on consumer trends relating to millennials. From an alleged fixation on avocado toast to supposedly causing the decline of the engagement ring industry, articles blaming millennials for the rise […] Read more
Satellite ear tags for livestock coming to Canada
Canadian producers involved in international trial of Australian-based direct-to-satellite smart ear tag
When Heather Mundt sought an alternative to branding, a new livestock ear tag in development on the other side of the world opened the door for new management decision possibilities. Heather and her husband Brenton, who run a cow-calf operation and grain farm at Oyen, Alta., were interested in GPS ear tags for identification and […] Read more
The power of storytelling
A compelling story combined with all the right skills allowed Ben Wilson to play a vital role reaching audiences beyond the beef industry
When Ben Wilson arrived at the Waldron Ranch Grazing Co-op in June 2019, he and his business partner, Sarah Wray, were there to create a short video about this historic ranch. The two filmmakers, who run Story Brokers Media House, had access to experts from Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The […] Read more
New opportunities to apply embryo transfer
Embryo transfer may start to grow in commercial herds, in conjunction with other genetic selection tools
When you think of bovine embryo transfer, it’s likely you view it as a technique geared toward the seedstock industry. This advanced reproductive technology is a well-established tool for purebred breeders, and now some embryo transfer practitioners are seeing opportunities for its growth in commercial breeding programs. “Embryo transfer or IVF is not a technology […] Read more
Creativity helps young ag exhibition manager pivot during pandemic
Young Leader Spotlight: Sydney Lake, ag manager at the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition, makes the most of her mentorship experience in a challenging year
Being adaptable served Sydney Lake well in a year no one expected. It allowed her to make the most of her experience in Canadian Western Agribition’s Next Gen Agriculture mentorship program. Lake was paired with Rob O’Connor, the show director of Ag in Motion, who was an ideal resource for navigating the challenges posed by […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
