
Beef Cattle

Alberta feedlot harnesses the power of sun
Solar panels supply some power on this feedlot, but they probably wouldn’t be here without government funding
Feeding cattle in sunny southern Alberta offers an opportunity to producers interested in alternate energy sources. Les Wall and his family saw this potential with their bright location and have recently installed solar technology to help power part of their operation. Les and his wife Lisa started KCL Cattle Company in 1999, beginning with their […] Read more

Your burgers are still done at 71
Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen
Maintaining consumer confidence is crucial to our industry. Consumer confidence in the safety of Canadian beef was briefly shaken by the 2012 XL Foods E. coli outbreak that infected at least 18 people and resulted in the recall of 1,800 tonnes of beef, a $4 million legal settlement and the sale of the packing plant […] 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
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

Amplimune receives organic stamp of approval
Health: News Roundup from the November 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Amplimune, an immunotherapy for calf scours, has received an Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listing in Canada. This means calves treated with Amplimune are in compliance with Canada’s Organic Regime regulations. Amplimune, produced by Nova Vive Inc., is an immunomodulator that reduces the clinical signs and mortality associated with E. coli K99 diarrhea in neonatal […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were unchanged from week-ago levels. Favourable weather conditions enhanced buying interest from cattle feeders in Feedlot Alley; however, cattle-on-feed inventories in Alberta and Saskatchewan are running 16 per cent above year-ago levels. Pen space remains at a premium due to limited capacity. County permit fees and added regulations have also […] Read more

Strategies for year-round grazing
With careful forage management, cattle can harvest their own feed year-round
Winter feeding is the biggest input cost when raising cattle, so many producers try to minimize the number of days they have to feed hay. In some situations, with careful forage management, cattle can harvest their own feed year-round, especially in mild climates. Even in northern climates with cold weather and snow, year-round grazing can […] Read more

Klassen: Softer demand causes feeder prices to weaken
Compared to last week, Alberta feeder cattle markets traded $4 to as much as $8 lower; however, Manitoba and Saskatchewan prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $3 to $5 on average. Demand from Eastern Canada appeared to limit slippage in the eastern Prairie regions but some of these markets also faltered late in the week. […] Read more

Bovine TB case turns up in southern B.C.
Federal food safety officials are now looking into the life story of a slaughtered British Columbia beef cow confirmed with bovine tuberculosis. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced it has launched an investigation after a mature beef cow was confirmed Nov. 9 with bovine TB. The case comes a few months after the […] Read more

Beef Watch: Canadian cattle herd inventories down
Prepared by the staff of Canfax and Canfax Research Services, divisions of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
Strong demand has supported remarkably steady feeder cattle prices going into the fall run despite uncertainty around feed grain production with a disappointing harvest. Feedlot margins in the first half of the year were better than expected, even though they were negative in the second half, in the face of larger protein supplies in North […] Read more

Five tips for grazing corn this winter
Corn grazing is becoming more popular across Canada because producers can grow more biomass on less land. If you are planning on grazing corn this winter, here are five tips to help you make the most of the corn grazing season: