
Tag Archives University of Alberta

Cows can control Canada thistle and brush
Managed grazing is one way to suppress aspen and thistles in your pasture
Last fall, while driving through central Alberta and Saskatchewan, I saw pasture after pasture full of mature Canada thistle and aspen regrowth, which reduce available forage. Over the years, research has found that rotational grazing can help control these weedy outbreaks. The main reason for rotational grazing is to give plants a chance to regrow […] Read more

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

Regenerative agriculture as a tool to help limit climate change
From the Ground Up with Steve Kenyon
There sure seems to be a lot of hype about climate change lately. I’m not a scientist but as a producer, a change in weather can affect my business a great deal. The big push seems to be about reducing emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere. Everyone is blaming everyone else about putting too […] Read more

Cattle researchers map feed-efficiency genes
Research: News Roundup from the November 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
After sifting through thousands of genes, researchers have flagged a handful of genes that seem to be related to feed efficiency in cattle. Hui-Zeng Sun, a post-doctoral student at the University of Alberta, used functional genomics and computational statistics to better understand feed efficiency, writes Justin Dupuis on the U of A’s research blog, folio. […] Read more

University’s ‘Beefier Barley’ billboard binned
A billboard about Alberta barley’s prospects under climate change in the University of Alberta’s ‘Truth Matters’ promotion — a series of ads meant to spark discussion about its researchers’ work — has been winnowed out of the campaign. Jacqui Tam, the Edmonton-based U of A’s vice-president for university relations, announced Sunday it would withdraw the […] Read more

Taking a page from Australia’s quality grading playbook
Could a new premium program and grading system boost consumer satisfaction?
A student project at the University of Alberta suggests that introducing an additional quality grading system could benefit the Canadian beef industry. Five animal science students in the final year of their undergraduate degree have proposed the development of a voluntary muscle-based grading system, modeled after a similar program that has had positive results in […] Read more
‘Pride of the Prairies’ hosts its 100th bull show
Purely Purebred with Mike Millar: News about you from the April 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Senior 4-H members participating in the 10th Annual Summer Synergy at Olds Regional Exhibition this summer have an exciting opportunity. The top eight finalists in the judging competition will represent the Summer Synergy Judging Team in the Canadian National 4-H and Youth Judging Competition at Canadian Western Agribition in November. There they will compete against […] Read more

Genomic tools for crossbred cattle in the works
The structure of the beef industry poses challenges
Genomic technologies may soon be available to predict traits in commercial cattle, according to University of Alberta researchers. Graham Plastow, CEO of the University of Alberta’s Livestock Gentec Centre, spoke about current opportunities for commercial producers to benefit from genomic tools and technologies in development during the Canadian Beef Breeds Council’s Technical Forum. This was […] Read more

Make them pay their own way
That sort of sums up Brian Chrisp’s view on rearing purebred cattle
When Brian Chrisp went to college with plans of becoming a veterinarian, he didn’t think he would ever want to come back to the family farm near Vermilion, Alta. But life intervened. “While I was in college I switched course and got an ag economics degree at the University of Alberta. As graduation neared, I […] Read more

Do RFI ratings predict cattle performance on pasture?
In a word, no
Producers often wonder if genetic markers for feed efficiency based on drylot tests reflect feed efficiency on pasture where terrain, water sources and plant diversity are very different from a pen setting. Genetic markers for residual feed intake (RFI) have been identified that correlate well with actual RFI determined during the standard trials in pens […] Read more