University of Calgary Archives | Canadian Cattlemen

Over a two-year period, a research team collected samples from feedlots, agricultural soils, wetlands, streams, municipal sewage, packing plants, retail meats and human patients.

Does antibiotic resistance move through the environment?

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen December 19, 2018

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

Beef Cattle, Features, News

W.A. Ranches’ gift to veterinary medicine and bovine health

The ranch will be home to the University of Calgary’s beef research and extension programs

By Piper Whelan December 10, 2018

Students at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine receive hands-on experience at various beef operations. In many ways it’s been a successful approach — after only 10 years, the University of Calgary vet college is ranked among the top 50 vet schools globally. But conducting research at partnering cow-calf operations poses challenges for […] Read more

Two-month-old calves were numbered to identify them as they were sampled for blood and weighed through the chute.

Features, Livestock

Pain control in cattle remains a complex issue

The age of the animal is often a factor when considering pain mitigating options

By Piper Whelan October 2, 2018

When it comes to pain mitigation practices for her cattle operation, Cecilie Fleming believes it’s the right thing to do. It’s also proven to be practical and cost-effective, factors that many beef producers consider when deciding whether to implement pain control. Fleming, who raises purebred Angus, Simmental and Charolais cattle with her family at Fleming […] Read more

Livestock, Vet advice

High-risk calves a welfare concern

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

By Dr. Ron Clarke August 29, 2018

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) accounts for 65 to 80 per cent of the morbidity (sickness) and 45 to 75 per cent of the mortality (deaths) in feedlots. Dr. Dan Thompson of Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine, speaking at the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine 2018 Beef Cattle Conference on managing high-risk calves, highlighted the […] Read more

Even the best cow could use a little help to maximize the potential of her bull calf by weaning.

Beef Cattle, Features, Livestock

Supplementing young bull calves before weaning pays off

Testes development, fertility greatly impacted by being well-fed

By Heather Smith Thomas June 1, 2018

Young bulls need to be fed adequately for proper growth and development, and future fertility, but we are still learning about the best way to feed them, according to John Kastelic, a professor of theriogenology and head of the department of production animal health, in the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. “In beef […] Read more

News, Newsmakers

Haywood-Farmer acclaimed CCA president

NewsMakers from the May 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Staff May 14, 2018

At the March annual meeting of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association in Ottawa David Haywood-Farmer of British Columbia was acclaimed president replacing Dan Darling from Ontario. Nanton, Alta. Cow-calf and feedlot operator Bob Lowe was elected vice-president of the national cattle organization, and next in line for the top job. Lowe served as […] Read more

Thomas, Sonja, Brian, and Kristelle Harper.

News, Newsmakers

Circle H Farms receives Manitoba Environmental Stewardship Award

NewsMakers from the March 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Staff March 12, 2018

Rick Toney of Gull Lake is the new chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. Joe Jackson of Moose Jaw is vice-chair and Arnold Balicki from Shellbrook is the finance chair. Garret Hill of Duval is the member at large. Ben Fox of Dauphin was re-elected to another term as president of the Manitoba Beef Producers […] Read more

Bring them home early and give them time to adjust to new surroundings before they see the cows.

Features, Livestock

Transitioning bulls from feeding to breeding

Prepare to have a good transition program after you bring a bull home

By Heather Smith Thomas March 9, 2018

The hardest time for a young bull is when he’s turned out with cows for his first breeding season, after being well fed all winter. Most bulls are raised in unnatural conditions. After weaning they are confined and often fed high-concentrate feeds, and pushed for fast growth. Many go through a bull test/feeding program to […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Features

First EPDs for udder and teat conformation in the works

Angus herds studied for desirable traits to improve genetic selection

By Debbie Furber February 12, 2018

That first feeding of colostrum invariably charts the course for a calf’s future success and profitability. Knowing that the dam’s udder and teat structure is important to a successful first feeding Kajal Devani, is aiming to improve the genetic selection for improved mammary conformation in Canadian Angus cattle. Devani, who is the Canadian Angus Association’s […] Read more

Livestock

Alberta to reallocate veterinary school funding

By Staff October 12, 2017

Alberta is set to gradually pull its $8 million in annual funding from the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and instead expand the vet school at the University of Calgary. The province announced Thursday it will expand enrolment for the University of Calgary’s Veterinary Medicine program (UCVM) from 130 students currently […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Uncertainty, lack of farmer selling lift canola bids

U.S. grains: Soy slips on favourable weather, demand disappointment

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures top one-month peaks

GFM Network News