Graeme Finn (left) and Kelly Boles (middle) in a field of corn in Mongolia. Both are consulting along- side Telus Agriculture for Metagro to advance agricultural practices in Mongolia.

Mongolian company turns to Canada for agricultural expertise

Mongolia is behind in technology, but borders on huge markets, motivating those working in agriculture to learn as much as they can

When you think of Mongolia, you likely don’t think about how it may be similar to Canada. Instead, you might think about its vast wilderness or mountain ranges that run into the frigid Gobi Desert. You may know of the traditional culture of Mongolian nomads or the history of the Mongol Empire. Though there are […] Read more

Lactation, reproductive efficiency and maternal instincts all play into how well a cow fits into her environment.

Kansas professor highlights role of genetics in the sustainable cow herd

Breeding and selecting beef cattle that fit an operation’s environment benefits a producer’s bottom line and scores sustainability points

Bob Weaber’s work on cattle genetics is for the producer, and so it’s for him, as well. Growing up, his family raised mostly commercial cattle but also got involved in the Junior Hereford Association in the U.S., where he got interested in seedstock, which was further piqued when he went to university. Now, Weaber operates […] Read more


Jose Alcivar, graduate student and researcher at the University of Saskatchewan.

Using reproductive tract scoring to pick replacement heifers

A project at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence is comparing conception rates of replacements to earlier reproductive tract scores

In Canadian beef cattle systems, increased efficiency accompanied by higher levels of performance is largely dependent on the female herd delivering live calves within a desired time frame. Most commercial operators retain and develop heifers for potential replacements. When adding numbers and quality to the herd, these yearlings become a critical piece of the puzzle. […] Read more

A cow and young calf caught in a spring snowstorm in Saskatchewan. Shifting or condensing the calving season requires careful consideration.

What to consider when changing the breeding season

Producers tightening or shifting their breeding season should consider everything from economics to feeding programs

Trudging through slushy snow in April is a scene many producers know well. One day there’s a hint of summer in the air, with birds chirping in trees overhead as a farmer checks on newborn calves frolicking near puddles. The next day, the farmer is rushing through pastures as hard sleet slashes his face, trying […] Read more



Green needle grass in a pasture of native prairie near Hanley, Sask. Plants function differently within diverse polycutures than monocultures.

Essentials for profitable ranching: Part one

What makes a profitable ranch? Burke Teichert introduces his five ‘essentials’ and unpacks the first two

Since the end of World War Two, we have been developing a ranching and farming culture more dependent on fossil fuel, iron, synthetic fertilizers and chemicals. Early on those inputs (tractors, vehicles, equipment, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, etc.) were relatively inexpensive. During the last 60 years, those input prices have increased more rapidly than the […] Read more


Simmental breeder recognized, B.C. breeders awarded

Purely Purebred, news from the March 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Richard Meyers of Minton, Sask., was honoured during Agribition’s commercial cattle show last fall. Meyers has been raising purebred Simmentals for 50 years in Canada. He and his family started with Simmentals in 1970 with some Swiss-imported heifers and also expanded into purebred Red Angus in the early 1980s. Congratulations, Richard, on this milestone. Welch […] Read more

Genetic selection is a very slow way to improve reproductive performance.

Picking replacement heifers

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

To listen to an audio version of this article, visit beefresearch.ca. Developing heifers is costly because of the feed and time involved and margins on weaned calves are typically narrow. If it takes the first five calves for the average cow to simply pay for herself, culling her before seven years of age is clearly […] Read more


This is a good year to start working with a nutritionist if you aren’t already.

Feeding decisions are important breeding decisions

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

When life gets really stressful it can be hard to remember what you already know. This column probably won’t tell you anything new, but it might remind you of some important principles that can be overlooked in the scramble to buy feed and make important financial decisions. Winter feed costs are a key financial make-or-break […] Read more

Driving profit through cattle genetics on the ranch

Driving profit through cattle genetics on the ranch

Breeding: News Roundup from the March 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

It has been said that it is getting harder and harder to make money in the cattle business. Expenses too often outweigh revenue, resulting in limited profit potential. Whether you agree or not, many ranchers are cautious about making additional investments to their management systems. To many, it feels as though mounting demands on how […] Read more