
Tag Archives Beef Cattle Research Council

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

Narrowing in on Johne’s Disease
Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen
Johne’s disease is caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, or MAP) that was discovered in 1895 by a heavily bearded, bespectacled bacteriologist from Dresden named Heinrich Albert Johne. When a cow develops persistent, watery, smelly hosepipe diarrhea, and progressively loses weight and body condition, even though her appetite is normal and she isn’t running […] Read more

Mycotoxins and beef cattle
Health: News Roundup from the January 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Beef Cattle Research Council recently posted an article on mycotoxins and how they affect beef cattle. Mycotoxins are produced by certain types of fungi. Fusarium and ergot are two of the most common causes. Mycotoxins can be found in green pasture, cereal swaths, standing corn for winter grazing, cured and ensiled grass, cereal forages […] Read more

New Year’s resolution: Get better beef grades
Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen
Youthful carcasses from feedlot-finished cattle are graded for yield (amount of meat in the carcass) and quality (marbling score). Federal grading began during the Second World War to ensure quality standards during wartime price controls. Canada’s last major beef grading change occurred in the early 1990s, when Canada added quality grades to the grading system. […] Read more

Comment: Moving on from the plebiscite
From the January 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Alberta Beef Producers plebiscite results were a disappointment for those hoping for a non-refundable provincial check-off. In case you haven’t been following it, here’s a quick summary of the situation. Each year the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) collects $4.50 per head on cattle sold within the province. The national check-off, which supports the Beef […] Read more

Alberta Beef Producers’ plebiscite results in
Associations: News Roundup from the January 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The results of the Alberta Beef Producers’ plebiscite on the future of the producer check-off model were announced at the start of the AGM in December. The tight results, released by the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council, stated that 51.3 per cent voted for a refundable service charge model, while 48.5 per cent voted for […] Read more

Does antibiotic resistance move through the environment?
Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen
Recent columns have talked about antibiotic use in Canadian cow-calf and feedlot operations. Contrary to common misperceptions, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are very unlikely to transfer from cattle to beef, evade food safety interventions in the processing plant, survive cooking, and cause an antibiotic-resistant infection in a person. But can antibiotic-resistant bacteria be transmitted from cattle, through […] 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
Beef Cattle Research Council hires new extension co-ordinator
NewsMakers from the November 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Ellen Crane is the new extension co-ordinator for the Beef Cattle Research Council. In her new role she helps co-ordinate the development, maintenance and utilization of various extension resources, including the BCRC’s webinars, blog articles, and other content on BeefResearch.ca. She started with BCRC last month after spending six weeks in Japan as part of […] 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: