Calf health is a major focus for beef cow-calf producers and their veterinarians for good reason. A recent paper in the journal, Translational Animal Science, highlights some of the findings from the western Canadian cow-calf surveillance network focusing on calf health issues. Dr. Cheryl Waldner and colleagues from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the […] Read more
Beef cattle
Canfax report
This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Fed prices rise Alberta fed prices saw modest gains over the past five weeks thanks to sporadic […] Read more
Agribition opens its doors
Canadian Western Agribition officially got underway today in Regina. One of the first orders of business was the burning of the brand, which is how organizers traditionally kick off the show. This year, Darcy McKay, left, STARS flight paramedic, Kim Hextall, president of Canadian Western Agribition and Andrea Robertson, chief executive officer of STARS Air […] Read more
Outstanding in their Canadian fields
After rigorous examination and being judged for their farming activities and roles in Canadian agriculture, six people will forever be part of an elite group of the nation’s farmers, part of the National OYF. Near the end of the day Nov. 25, Canada crowned its 2022 Outstanding Young Farmers in Saskatoon. Cody Straza and Allison […] Read more
Bulls require special winter care
A veterinarian advises producers to ensure that adequate bull body condition is maintained during the cold months
Bulls should be separated from the cow herd after breeding season so they can regain body condition and then be kept in shape over winter in readiness for their next duties. Dr. Robert Larson, professor in production medicine at Kansas State University, says it’s crucial to maintain adequate bull body condition. “As we go into […] Read more
Mixing it up can yield breeding advantages
The science behind hybrid vigour has been known for a long time, but producers are encouraged to tap into its potential
Crossbred cattle have known advantages over purebreds due to hybrid vigour. Dr. Reynold Bergen, science director at the Beef Cattle Research Council, says hybrid vigour, also called heterosis, is the degree to which progeny outperform the average of the two parents. “If breed A averages 100 and breed 2 averages 110 for a certain trait, […] Read more
Bull selection: should it be maternal or terminal sires?
If using terminal bulls, just sell all the calves, but if using maternal bulls and keeping half, good marketing is essential
When buying a new bull, most ranchers have specific goals and are seeking specific traits in the offspring. Travis Olson, a seed-stock breeder near Athabasca, Alta., has been raising Angus bulls for years and says there are several tools for choosing the right bull for the purpose. “All ranchers have slightly different views on what […] Read more
Breeders say demand growing for Wagyu beef
Meat marbling is a significant selling point, but producers also point to the breed’s vigour, longevity, fertility and docility
Adrienne Herron has been raising Wagyu cattle in Alberta’s Red Deer County for about 15 years. She started with three unregistered purebred orphans from a local herd. “Then I bought purebreds from Marchi Ranches in Montana, and now have registered fullbloods I sell to commercial cattle producers,” she says. Heifers bred to Wagyu bulls don’t […] Read more
Indexes helpful tool for commercial producers
Expected progeny differences come with a wide range of numbers, while indexes simplify many factors into one number
Every breed has its own indexes, and they work in similar ways. The important ones in the Canadian Hereford Association, for instance, are the Maternal Productivity Index (MPI) and the Feedlot Merit Index (FMI). The MPI for the Canadian Hereford Association, which was created in 2000 by Agriculture Canada, was designed to combine genetic factors […] Read more
How to expand production and slash emissions
A recent report concludes that carbon sequestration is the key to producing more crops while reducing greenhouse gases
Canadian farmers can become even more of a global food powerhouse while reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, a team of economists and analysts argues in a new report. From today’s 93 million megatonnes of annual emissions, Canadian agricultural emissions will grow to 137 million by 2050 if present farm production methods are followed and production […] Read more
