Calgary Bull Sale | Top bull at Alberta event sells for $19,000; average sale equals $5,322
This year’s Calgary Bull Sale may have been smaller than past years, but the 114-year-old institution still carries weight among cattle breeders. This year, 122 Angus, Gelbvieh and Hereford bulls sold for a total of $649,325 to average $5,322. For Ken Rutledge of Hardisty, Alta., the March 6 sale was a compliment for the farm, […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Protection order sparks fear among ranchers
The Calgary Zoo symposium action plan developed five points to protect the greater sage grouse:
RED DEER — Ronda Reesor was never one to get involved in causes. However, when an emergency order for the protection of the greater sage grouse included some of her ranch, she was compelled to speak. The federal government order under the Species at Risk Act was issued in December and went into effect in […] Read moreCanadian beef to benefit from trade deals, says CCA
OTTAWA — Canada has an ambitious trade agenda as it works on 11 free trade agreements encompassing 60 countries. It should be good news for the beef industry in the longer term, but the devil is in the details. Processing plants need approval or nothing moves, said representatives from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association during its […] Read more
Beef herd numbers continue to fall in Canada
A downturn in Canadian livestock herd numbers reflects too many years of increasing costs and dwindling profitability. The Statistics Canada inventory report released March 5 showed cattle and sheep numbers are down with a minor uptick in the national hog herd. The number of beef cows fell .8 percent to 3.9 million head as of […] Read more
Canada may open door to Mexican beef
OTTAWA — Mexican beef could be exported to Canada following the all clear from food safety inspectors. Canadian meat inspectors have audited Mexican beef plants and deemed them to be equivalent to Canadian plants, Claudine Pagé of Agriculture Canada told the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting held in Ottawa March 4-7. The exports are likely […] Read more
U.S. takes steps to slow antibiotic resistance
Food and Drug Administration released guidelines | Intent is to stop using important medications for growth promotion
RED DEER — Antibiotics were once called wonder drugs because they combatted potentially fatal bacterial diseases, but a growing list of microbes resisting treatment has become worrisome. That concern is partly behind the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines that were released in December to voluntarily eliminate the use of medically important antibiotics for growth […] Read moreNew program teaches about meat industry
OTTAWA — An education program to build a unified and well informed voice for the beef industry has been launched. Beef Advocacy Canada is an online course to prepare people to talk about the industry as educators or media spokespeople. Launched by Canada Beef Inc., the two step program teaches producers, industry and consumers more […] Read more
Wildlife damage survey deadline extended in Alberta
AIRDRIE, Alta. — An Alberta wildlife damages survey deadline has been extended to March 31. Alberta Beef Producers is working with the Miistakis Institute at Mount Royal University in Calgary to gain a better understanding of the extent and costs of wildlife on a regional and provincial scale. The survey hopes to assess populations as […] Read more
Solverson acclaimed as new CCA president
Alberta rancher Dave Solverson is the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Dan Darling of Ontario is vice president. Solverson ranches at Camrose and was acclaimed at the CCA annual meeting in Ottawa held March 4-7. Solverson runs Woodwind Ranch, a 5,000 acre cow-calf to finish operation along with his brother Ken. He has […] Read more
Stuart takes on role as beef challenges add up
Livestock leader | Page Stuart is the first woman elected as chair of the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association
RED DEER — A pivotal experience changed Page Stuart’s life when she decided to switch her university studies from English to animal science. She saw a display from an animal rights group that condemned the raising of farm animals and knew she had to take a stand. “I felt such a profound responsibility when I […] Read more
