cattle herd and horse rider

Three things cattle producers need for herd health

If they're not already in place, antimicrobials, traceability, and biosecurity should be on your to-do list

There are things that beef producers need to look out for in the coming months when it comes to herd health and biosecurity. “We do know that there are changes in play that will require all medically important antimicrobials to become prescription only,” said Rob McNabb, general manager of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Some medically […] Read more

cattleman on a horse

CCA Report: Our negotiating position

From the June 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

The beef cattle business is an interesting one in that there are many factors at play in determining a successful year from a less successful one. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) does a lot of good work to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the industry, including advocating for responsive business risk management tools and disaster […] Read more


Canada Beef welcomes a new executive vice-president

NewsMakers from the June 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Francis Andres is the new executive vice-president of Canada Beef. Working with the board of directors he will lead all aspects of the organization’s domestic and international market development and promotion efforts and as the senior officer will essentially replace former president Rob Meijer who resigned unexpectedly last September. Andres’ background is in global branding […] Read more

Comment: Our cattle inventory numbers seem high

The Census of Agriculture is important. It’s a way of correcting all the estimating we do between censuses about our economy, our industry and even our society. Every five years we take a snapshot to give us a more accurate picture of what is going on in the country so we can refocus and stay […] Read more


CCA Report: Making a place for those new calves

CCA Report: Making a place for those new calves

From the May 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Calving time is always a busy and rewarding time of the year. Producers are checking heifers and cows several times a day watching for signs of difficult births, like a breech calf that may require assistance or, in the event of twins, ensuring a mother cow is suckling both calves. These weeks are tiring and […] Read more

Comment: Albertans now get to choose

With his introduction of Bill 9 on April 11 Alberta Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier gave the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) the gift of a second chance to unify the provincial cattle industry as it faces increasingly uncertain times. The bill revokes previous marketing legislation to give producers the right to choose via a plebiscite whether […] Read more


Species at risk adds new emphasis to managing grasslands

Species at risk adds new emphasis to managing grasslands

New project looks at satellite mapping Canada’s range and forage lands

The management of species at risk on pasture, rangelands and wild lands is an issue of considerable interest to most cattle producers. As a result it was highlighted at a workshop jointly sponsored by Environment and Climate Change Canada during the International Rangeland Congress in Saskatoon last summer. Several provincial environmental farm plans and producer-run […] Read more

NCFA’s Casey Vanderploeg, Andre Roy, Ryan Thompson, and John Shooten in Ottawa.

National Cattle Feeders’ Association focused on competitiveness

Associations: News Roundup from the April 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

“That will be a focus this year,” says NCFA chair Ryan Thompson. “We have made the federal government aware of it and other national organizations are also aware of and using it. It’s a public document on our website for anyone who wants the information.” A feature of this report is the detailed economic analyses […] Read more


cattleman on a horse

CCA Report: A successful annual meeting

From the April 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) enjoyed a hectic and successful annual general meeting in Ottawa March 8-10. I am always impressed by the quality and breadth of work produced by CCA staff, work which is, of course, central to the discussions that occur at the committee meeting level, and followed by the debates at the […] Read more

Comment: Ontario banks on branding

It was near the end of the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) meeting and Sylvain Charlebois, the well-known food researcher from Dalhousie University was wrapping up his talk on changes in consumer buying habits. One final questioner asked him if he had any suggestions for the best way to convince consumers of the value of […] Read more