
Stories by Barbara Duckworth

REGINA — A red and white theme with an international flair dominated this year’s premier livestock show, which wrapped up the exhibition season for some of North America’s top purebred beef cattle. Canadian Western Agribition’s RBC Beef Supreme champions were a Red Angus bull from Alberta and a Charolais pair from Texas. Each received $10,000 […] Read more
Canadian Hereford Association’s head shaves for charity
The new general manager of the Canadian Hereford Association agreed to a shave for charity with the proceeds going to the junior Hereford program. People bid for the honour to shave Stephen Scott, Bert Grundy of NBG Herefords in Ontario won the honour. About $2,600 was raised. Scott is replacing long time manager Gordon Stephenson […] Read more
Angus winners determined at Agribition
REGINA — The Black Angus show was held Nov. 13 with familiar names heading to the winners’ circle. The grand champion female was the entry of Miller Wilson Angus of Bashaw, Alta, while the reserve female banner went to Remitall Farms Inc., Olds, Alta. The grand champion bull banner was awarded to Hamilton Farms of […] Read more
Sales results from Canadian Western Agribition for Nov. 13
The national Speckle Park sale was held at Canadian Western Agribition Nov. 13. The high seller was a heifer born March 2013 from Johner Stock Farms of Maidstone, Sask. It sold for $10,500. Sale lots were sold across Canada and the United States. The unofficial sale average saw 10 live lots total $94,500 to average […] Read more

Purebred breeder balances cattle with Olympic duties
Wrestling coach | Jeremiah Barnert sees similarities in his two careers
OKOTOKS, Alta. — As an athlete, Jeremiah Barnert seeks constant improvement in strength and skill. As a beef producer, he expects improved performance year by year from his Gelbvieh cattle. The former wrestler works as a strength and conditioning coach for 120 varsity and national athletes at the University of Calgary. Within that group are […] Read more
Canada lags U.S. cattle prices
Tight supply drives prices | COOL restricts access to U.S., discouraging Canadian expansion
Cow-calf producers could be in the money for the next couple years, but outside influences are keeping Canadian prices lower than what they should be. A dollar at 95 to 96 cents US and the impacts of mandatory country-of-origin labelling set back Canadians by $20 to $25 per head compared to U.S. feeders, says one […] Read moreU.S. streamlines BSE international trade policies
The United States has published a new rule that streamlines its BSE trade policies and brings it in line with international guidelines. “It doesn’t create the access in and of itself, but it clears the way of an impediment,” said John Masswohl of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Canada received special access using made-in-the-U.S. specifications in […] Read more
A & W burger promotion draws ire of beef producers
‘Pure beef’ campaign | Off-shore sources concern Alberta producers
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. — A beef promotion launched by A & W Restaurants this fall is proving unpopular with Alberta beef producers. The “100 percent pure beef campaign” advertises meat from animals raised without added hormones or steroids and has been criticized at nearly all fall zone meetings of Alberta Beef Producers. Members contend that […] Read moreMove to group housing raises difficult questions
Changing business | Some hog producers may leave the business or adopt a new model rather than take on conversion costs
RED DEER — Canadian hog producers may find it unworkable to convert their barns to provide group housing for sows, despite an international movement in favour of it. “You are undertaking a fairly substantial change,” said pork consultant Bernie Peet, who was involved in helping British producers make the change when the open housing system […] Read morePartners preserve livestock genetics
Volunteer program | Ag Canada and University of Saskatchewan collecting purebred samples
STRATHMORE, Alta. — Vapours waft around Carl Lessard like witch’s brew when he opens the styrofoam box containing liquid nitrogen. He carefully places thin straws on a specially designed rack and lowers them into an environment of -196 C. It is the final step in his on-farm collection of livestock semen. “Once they are frozen […] Read more