Biological clocks play an important role in animal behaviour.

Evolution and circadian rhythms of cattle

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

DNA analysis has shown that domestic cattle descended from wild ox in southwestern Asia some 10,500 years ago. An international team of scientists from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and National Museum of Natural History in France, the University of Mainz in Germany, and University College London in the U.K. conducted the study by […] Read more



This trail camera photo shows a family of grizzly bears near a well-travelled livestock trail.

Truth or bear: Reducing grizzly confrontations on the ranch

As grizzly bear numbers stabilize and perhaps increase, what can ranchers in Alberta and B.C. do to stay safe?

Cattle producers are no strangers to working through conflict and managing difficult relationships but imagine if your adversary is a 350-pound grizzly bear that has decided to help itself to one of your cows. For beef producers living and ranching in bear country, managing carnivore conflicts is a reality and can evoke a lot of […] Read more



Many livestock producers who grow, manufacture or mix feed on-farm for their own animals continue to be exempt from the new regulatory requirements, which largely affect the commercial feed industry.

What do the modernized ‘Feeds Regulations’ mean for cattle producers?

The long-awaited “Feeds Regulations, 2024,” were published on July 3, 2024, marking the most significant legislative change for the livestock feed sector in 40 years. Industry and government stakeholders worked collaboratively to modernize these regulations for over a decade. This work was motivated by a need to better align Canada’s regulatory framework with modern-day industry […] Read more

Photo: ARS/USDA

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit contract highs as strong demand fuels rally

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures set new contract highs on Friday as strong domestic and export demand, particularly for U.S. pork bellies and ham, drove the market upward, analysts said. Live cattle futures touched a one-month low, while feeder cattle recovered after reaching the lowest price in more than five […] Read more


drone view at Ag in Motion farm show

Using TMR mixers on a beef operation

TMR mixers are becoming a bigger conversation in the beef industry in recent years

Although total mixed ration (TMR) mixers have been popular on dairy operations historically, they are becoming more common on beef operations, as well. TMR mixers are used primarily for ruminant animals. For both dairy and beef, there are benefits and challenges to implementing a TMR mixer into an operation. TMR mixer 101 TMR mixers usually […] Read more



Cattle in the Canadian prairies

Ranchers share lessons learned from drought

Despite experiencing a million-dollar rain, beef producers are still asking how they can prepare for drought

Despite experiencing a million-dollar rain, 
beef producers are still asking how they can 
prepare for drought

Drought” is a word beef producers on the Prairies know well. For years, many areas in Western Canada have struggled through a prolonged drought. Although a “million-dollar rain” fell in many areas this past June, producers are still pondering lessons learned from previous years of drought, dealing with the lingering effects of several dry years, […] Read more