The Ference family runs a 4,000-head cow herd, plus a feedlot and a large farm.

Creativity and efficiency pay for young producers

Being named Canada’s OYF was overwhelming “because there’s such a high calibre of people there”

Creativity and efficiency have served Craig and Jinel Ference well on their family farm. These qualities also distinguished the couple when they were named one of two national winners of the 2018 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) program. “Being nominated to be part of the program was a real honour, and then as we went […] Read more

Making good hay

Making good hay

If you follow the principles of making hay, you can also grow good pasture

If you follow the principles of making hay, you can also grow good pasture

My wife and I recently attended the Alberta Organic Conference in Fort Saskatchewan. It was a fantastic event and she made a great comment to me on the way home. We attend a lot of events like this and we are constantly reminded about the principles of regenerative agriculture. It’s “the normal” in our circle. […] Read more


Questions remain around blockchain and beef traceability in Canada

Questions remain around blockchain and beef traceability in Canada

Will the technology sustain enough interest for the concept to reach its full potential?

Blockchain is a buzz-worthy concept in various industries, and companies around the world are investigating how this technology can improve traceability in the agri-food industry. However, there are numerous questions to be answered before the Canadian beef industry can determine if blockchain is feasible for traceability. A blockchain is a web-based record-keeping system used to […] Read more

Tough questions can face livestock owners. If a calf recovers from illness, what caused the event to occur and what action can be taken to prevent it from happening again?

Getting help from a diagnostic laboratory

Animal Health: Diagnostic testing is geared for disease prevention and control

Veterinarians and their large animal clients find themselves in a new era. Regulatory changes regarding the use and acquisition of antimicrobials through 2018 redefined the need for veterinary-client patient relationships between livestock producers and veterinary practitioners. Increasingly sophisticated electronic communication, the universal use of computers and a changing culture of service opened the doors to […] Read more


A calving ease EPD is a better measure than only looking at a potential heifer bull’s head, neck or shoulders, says Travis Olson.

Calving ease top priority when selecting heifer bulls

Calving ease EPD more important than assessing a bull visually, says Alberta producer

When it’s time to choose a heifer bull, expected progeny difference for calving ease tops one beef producer’s list. The birth weight expected progeny difference (EPD) is accurate but it’s simply an average, says Travis Olson of Ole Farms at Athabasca, Alta. For example, two bulls could have an average birth weight EPD of 75 […] Read more

Swelling and yellow pus is visible in the vocal cords.

Dealing with diphtheria in calves

Animal Health: The condition is serious enough that swelling can restrict breathing to the point of suffocation

Diphtheria is an upper respiratory problem in cattle characterized by an infection or inflammation of the vocal folds. It can be serious if swelling restricts the airway and makes breathing difficult. Dr. Steve Hendrick of Coaldale Veterinary Clinic at Coaldale, Alta., sees quite a few cases of diphtheria in cow-calf operations and in feedlots. “It’s […] Read more


Setting up heifers for success in their first breeding season is crucial to earning back the investment in those animals.

Establishing reproductive momentum in replacement heifers

Make sure you take steps to get the most of your investment

Developing replacement females is an investment that can take years to earn back, making it essential to set them up early for reproductive success. Kathy Larson, research economist at the University of Saskatchewan, discussed the financial considerations of developing replacement females in a Beef Cattle Research Council webinar, including whether to purchase heifers or retain […] Read more

Researchers found that exit and flight speed from chutes are reliable indicators of temperament. Heifers generally score higher in exit speeds.

Behaviour temperament scoring in replacement heifers

Different scoring systems have included chute, gait, exit and flight speed

Due to consumers’ perpetual concerns regarding animal welfare, producers are displaying a renewed interest in the study of temperament behaviour in beef cattle. Producers are also searching for legitimate technology and data to keep them on the cutting edge in their operational and financial decisions. They face more and more studies out of universities and […] Read more


Rafael Ramírez González judges the President’s Classic Show during Canadian Western Agribition in 2018.

Mexican beef producer finds top genetics in Canada

Producers in Mexico appreciate high quality of Canadian cattle herds

Canadian beef producers frequently brave winter weather to attend bull sales and cattle shows. In the stalls and by the sales rings, breeders learn about each other’s operations in the hopes of starting partnerships, finding new genetics and sending their best into other herds. A western Canadian ranch or cattle show is also the perfect […] Read more

Their children, parents, extended family and community are all important to the Chuikos.

A farm succession story that went a different way

Camping with the cows motivated John and Deanne Chuiko to envision their future differently. The Chuikos, who run CJ Ranching near St. Walburg, Sask., lived in town with their two young children, Matt and Rylee, and managed calving by moving out to the cow herd. May camping can be chilly in north-western Saskatchewan and John […] Read more