
Beef Cattle

Nature vs. Nurture in animal performance
Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen
Nothing is ever as simple as we think it is or wish it was. We’ve known for centuries that an animal’s performance, health, behaviour and other traits depend on a combination of their genetics and their environment. The genetics are inherited from their parents. Environmental influences are not inherited. Environments might be similar across generations […] Read more

Klassen: Improving margins support lightweight feeder cattle
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $4 on either side of unchanged; however, calves under 650 pounds were steady to as much as $5 higher. Bids from Alberta packers were sharply higher with fed cattle trading in the range of $160 to $162 on Friday, up $5 to $6 […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures slip ahead of USDA report
Chicago | Reuters – U.S. hog futures eased back on Monday, ahead of a quarterly government report that is expected to show a healthy boost to the size of the U.S. hog herd, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly Hogs and Pigs report is expected to show the herd increased 2.9 percent in […] Read more

A lifetime with purebred cattle
Ernie Esau built a successful career by breeding the cattle commercial producers wanted and valuing honesty
Ernie Esau’s outstanding career in the purebred industry started with two Shorthorn heifers in 1952. Esau, who was inducted earlier this year into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame for his contribution to the beef industry, operated Ernmore Farms in Elm Creek, Man. He and his wife Irma were married in 1955 and he began […] Read more

The challenge of starting a cattle ranch from scratch
Thinking outside the box, taking advice from mentors and old-fashioned hard work are vital to tackling challenges, say farm advisors
While there are plenty of exceptions, beef operations have traditionally been cross-generational family businesses. There’s a good reason for that: while inheriting land doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve hit a home run, it at least puts you on a base. But what about those young, hopeful beef producers who want to get in the game but […] Read more

Maritimes working on strategy to grow the beef herd
While access to land, grass and forages support beef production in the Maritimes, the industry must overcome other barriers
The Maritimes beef industry may be small but the quality is high and there’s plenty of opportunity for growth, according to Amy Higgins. “We have lots of access to grass and forages,” says Higgins. “And generally, land costs are much lower here than, say, Ontario.” Higgins and her family run a small purebred Black Angus […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. For the second week in a row, the markets were quite variable across the Prairies but shorter-keep yearlings appeared to lead the charge higher. In Alberta, quality 900-lb. steers were once again touching the $190 level and 800-lb.-plus steers […] Read more

Cattle producers get longer phase-in on new transport regs
New federal livestock transport regulations, due to come into force in February, will now roll out on a longer timeline for the beef and dairy cattle sectors. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced a “two-year transition period” for bovines, which is meant to provide “time to gather more data on effective solutions concerning the […] Read more

Meeting consumers on the Cattle Trail
The Calgary Stampede’s Cattle Trail is a case study into the value of face-to-face interactions between beef producers and consumers
For many visitors to the Calgary Stampede, a trip to the barns is the only interaction they ever have with livestock. This lends greater importance to the UFA Cattle Trail, an interactive exhibit about beef production. Set up each year in the Calgary Stampede’s Nutrien Western Event Centre, the Cattle Trail shares the story of […] Read more

Deer Creek Livestock honoured with Alberta Beef Environmental Stewardship Award
Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) recently presented Deer Creek Livestock Co. with the 2020 Environmental Stewardship Award at the ABP Annual General Meeting. Each year, ABP recognizes a cattle operation that demonstrates leadership in environmental stewardship – one that contributes to the land while improving productivity and profitability. Since the 1900s, cattle ranching has been part […] Read more