Beef Cattle Research Council Archives

Beef Cattle, Research, Research on the Record

Responsible antibiotic use on Canadian cow-calf operations

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen February 6, 2025

In 2018, over-the-counter sales ended for the few antibiotics (such as tetracycline) still available in Canadian farm supply stores. The new requirement for a veterinary-client-patient relationship before all antibiotics could be prescribed or sold was designed to ensure that the right antibiotics are used in the right animals, at the right dose, at the right […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Nutrition

The science of fibre in diets for finishing cattle

By Gabriel Ribeiro, Greg Penner September 13, 2024

The science of fibre has advanced substantially over the past 10 years and newer fibre characteristic assessments can help formulate diets to reduce risk for both digestive disorders and production-limiting diets.

Lice may not be the only culprits causing itching. Environmental sensitivities, premature seasonal shedding and dry skin could also drive cattle to scratch.

Animal Health, Parasites

Blaming parasites for itchy cattle only scratches surface, study finds

Researchers looked at everything from lice to nutrient deficiencies as they examined hair loss and itchiness in cattle

By Jill Burkhardt September 12, 2024

Dr. Brenda Ralston and her team have been getting to the root of the problem to see what is actually causing itching in cattle.  

Beef Cattle, Research on the Record

Cattle genes behind the scenes

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen August 29, 2024

The cattle you raise and the beef they produce result from two factors — their genetic potential, and the environment they’re raised in (climate, feed, health management, handling practices and everything else you do). The beef industry adopts genetics more slowly than poultry, swine or dairy. Several things make genetic advancement trickier in beef cattle. […] Read more

Forage, Research

Comparing tame forages under grazing

By Reynold Bergen June 28, 2024

Bart Lardner and colleagues recently published the results of a forage variety grazing trial conducted at the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.

Calving, Cow-Calf, Livestock

How to spot respiratory acidosis in a newborn calf

By Beef Cattle Research Council March 15, 2024

Most beef producers know the frustration that accompanies dealing with the dreaded “dummy calf”. These calves will not suckle, won’t sit up or stand and stare blankly with what seems to be a lack of will and intelligence to survive despite your best efforts. This lack of coordinated movement is often due to respiratory acidosis. […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Livestock

How to evaluate newborn calves using the calf VIGOR scoring system

By Beef Cattle Research Council March 12, 2024

Ideally, after a calf is born, things go well, and the cow and newborn calf thrive. However, it is important for producers to know how to assess calves for subtle signs of distress or trauma that can occur due to a difficult calving. Good vigor is a vital characteristic. A vigorous newborn calf has the best chance […] Read more

Research on the Record

Taking some of the guesswork out of winter feeding

By Reynold Bergen October 6, 2023

This column usually focuses on research projects funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) through the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off that producers pay when they market cattle. But most individual research projects are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Some of them may look interesting on their own, but they’re almost always a lot […] Read more

The Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network works with vet schools, private vets and 175 cow-calf producers to quantify health and management challenges and opportunities from coast to coast.

Livestock, Research

Record collectors unite: There’s power in numbers

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen August 23, 2023

Ranching without records is like travelling without a map. Records tell you where you’ve been and where you are. Connecting those dots tells you where you’re heading. If you don’t like that destination, records can help you decide how to adjust your management. When producer records are combined, you can tell where you are with […] Read more

Forages, News

Forage U-Pick online tool now available Canada-wide

By Beef Cattle Research Council June 12, 2023

The Canadian farms producing top-quality beef are as unique as our country’s topography. They do have one thing in common–each uses forages in some way. Forage U-Pick–a tool that helps farmers and ranchers from British Columbia to the Maritimes choose forages best suited to their fields, calculate seeding rates and manage forage weeds–is now available […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb higher to end week

Draft ‘MAHA’ commission report avoids pesticide crackdown feared by farm groups

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans rise on short-covering ahead of weekend, crop tour

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb higher to end week

Draft ‘MAHA’ commission report avoids pesticide crackdown feared by farm groups

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans rise on short-covering ahead of weekend, crop tour

Tag Archives Beef Cattle Research Council

Responsible antibiotic use on Canadian cow-calf operations

The science of fibre in diets for finishing cattle

Blaming parasites for itchy cattle only scratches surface, study finds

Cattle genes behind the scenes

Comparing tame forages under grazing

How to spot respiratory acidosis in a newborn calf

How to evaluate newborn calves using the calf VIGOR scoring system

Taking some of the guesswork out of winter feeding

Record collectors unite: There’s power in numbers

Forage U-Pick online tool now available Canada-wide

Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field

Blogs

Cows ain’t coal

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Aug. 15, 2025

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