Dr. Digvir Jayas. (University of Manitoba photo)

Acclaimed Manitoba stored grain researcher now Alberta bound

Digvir Jayas named president at University of Lethbridge

A leading Canadian researcher and expert in safe storage of grain is headed westbound and up to the head office at another Prairie university. Dr. Digvir Jayas, currently on sabbatical as professor and vice-president (research and international) at the University of Manitoba, will become president and vice-chancellor at the University of Lethbridge effective July 1 […] Read more

File photo of potatoes in storage. (Kativ/E+/Getty Images)

Potato storage research to get boost

A federal-provincial investment goes to improve an existing storage facility at the University of Manitoba

Manitoba’s potato research landscape is getting a funding injection to improve infrastructure. The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $98,970 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to upgrade the University of Manitoba’s horticulture storage facility so it can conduct potato research. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and provincial Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson made the announcement […] Read more


Abscessed livers with A+ scores such as this one are condemned.

Cutting time on tylosin

Researchers looked at whether feeding tylosin for a shorter period affects antimicrobial resistance, along with liver abscesses, health and growth of feedlot cattle

Liver abscesses in cattle have been extensively studied for the last 70 years. Yet condemned or discounted livers due to abscesses still cost the Canadian beef industry over $60 million per year. Tylosin, a member of the macrolide family of antimicrobials, is widely used in beef cattle and is administered through the diet to reduce […] Read more

Cattle grazing a cover crop near Brandon, Man.

Manitoba researchers seek cover crop growers

Forages: News Roundup from the October 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

If you grew a cover crop in Manitoba in 2019, researchers would like to hear from you. Researchers at the University of Manitoba are undertaking a three-year survey on the number of acres in cover crops, the types of farmers growing cover crops and the range of cover crop species grown in Manitoba. Those who […] Read more


Female soybean cyst nematodes feeding on soybean plant roots form bulbous, egg-filled nodules from which their young hatch the following spring. (Keith Weller photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Soybean cyst nematode confirmed in Manitoba

A damaging soybean pest that was expected to show up sooner or later in agricultural Manitoba has officially arrived. Crop surveys by University of Manitoba Ph.D. student Nazanin Ghavami with soil science professor Mario Tenuta and his students have turned up soybean cyst nematode at “extremely low” levels on soybean plant roots in one field […] Read more

Caylee Dorval is putting her scholarship award towards studying animal science at Lakeland College.

Sask. agriculture scholarship winner to study animal science technology

NewsMakers from the August 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Program Melissa Van Sickle’s interest in cattle started early and grew with her participation in 4-H. Van Sickle earned a bachelor of science in animal science from the University of Saskatchewan and then visited Australia. She then returned home to work for her family’s business, Genetic Ventures, which specializes in artificial insemination […] Read more


Canadian and U.S. calf preconditioning trends

Canadian and U.S. calf preconditioning trends

Conventional preconditioning programs generally include at minimum — castration, dehorning, vaccination against clostridial and bacterial diseases, parasite control, weaning for a period of 30-plus days, and acclimation to feedstuffs, bunks and water bowls prior to sale. The term itself is not narrowly defined and can mean different things to different people including a combination of […] Read more

cattle on a pasture

Grass guys developing a forage carbon offset protocol

Forages: News Roundup from the February 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Cedric MacLeod considers carbon sequestration through forages and grasslands and the soils they grow in as a long overdue, up-until-now-grossly-underplayed chit that Canada’s grass and forage producers can finally throw down and claim proper ownership on. “Our members grow forage, many run livestock and most plant annual crops too,” says MacLeod, executive director of the […] Read more


Research into the suitability of biochar as a livestock feed supplement will look for a reduction in methane or hydrogen emissions.

Biochar could be a game changer

Environment: News Roundup from the June 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

A multi-pronged research project based in Alberta aims to assess whether feeding biochar in backgrounding and finishing rations could be a way to reduce methane emissions created during enteric fermentation in the ruminant digestive system. Biochar can be manufactured from any type of feedstock with a fibre component — wood waste from saw mills, coconut […] Read more

Environmental goods and services offer more questions than answers

Environmental goods and services offer more questions than answers

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

The beef industry takes pride in how forage, grazing and beef production benefit the environment. These environmental goods and services (EG&S) include carbon sequestration, plant and wildlife habitat, reduced soil erosion, watershed recharging, scenery, etc. While consumers pay for beef, the EG&S are free. For instance, many ducks need grasslands and wetlands to nest and […] Read more