Among the bruised and battered in the flooded town of High River, Alta., is the community’s museum with an extensive collection of western history and artifacts. “We lost about 80 percent of our collection,” said curator Irene Kerr. The Museum of the Highwood is in a 100-year-old building located in the downtown area. It had […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Mitigating ruminal acidosis in cattle problematic
BANFF, Alta. — Typical feedlot diets rich in highly fermentable grain may help cattle gain weight fast but can also play havoc with their digestive systems. Ruminal acidosis is often cited as the most common digestive disorder affecting feedlot cattle, although its true prevalence is not fully understood, researcher Greg Penner of the University of […] Read more
Flood victims seek answers
BRAGG CREEK, Alta. — Bev MacDonald knew the situation was becoming dangerous on the morning of June 20 as she watched the school bus cross a bridge leaving Bragg Creek. Her son was on the bus, and the water was rising hard and fast. Parents did not know if the bridge would hold and no […] Read more
B.C. producers told to tout pristine setting
Niche marketing | Capitalize on the healthy environment and health benefits of beef raised on grass, says researcher
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Thousands of cattle graze British Columbia’s mountain meadows and produce a unique beef that could be marketed like fine wine, say researchers at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Research into the benefits of alpine forages and grass-fed beef could help save a provincial industry that produces fewer cattle every year. The Okanagan […] Read more
Blackbellies provide low cost weed control
Pedigreed rare breed | The animals are low maintenance and don’t require shearing
Doug and Tina Noyes had a serious weed problem in pastures and coulees when they took over the family farm at Innisfail, Alta., in 2005. The Noyeses decided they would use sheep to clear away a potential fire hazard of overgrown weeds and buckbrush. They chose American Blackbelly sheep partly because they are interested in […] Read moreYoung voice heard at auctioneering competition
Fast talking rancher | Calgary Stampede’s grand champion auctioneer familiar in winners’ circle
Justin Gattey of Consort, Alta., was the grand champion auctioneer at the annual international livestock auctioneers’ competition held during the Calgary Stampede The win earned him $5,000 in cash, a silver belt buckle and a berth at the world auctioneer’s competition next year. The 28-year-old was up against competitors who were selling livestock before he […] Read moreJBS offers plant safety assurance
Safety measures | JBS says it has taken steps to restore consumer trust after the E. coli crisis
BROOKS, Alta. — It’s been six months since JBS took over XL Foods in Brooks, and the new owner says the plant is now running at full speed. The multinational meat processing giant also claims to have re-duced incidents of bacterial contamination at the plant during that time. “We have internal processes that hold us […] Read moreQuick action urged on COOL injunction
A preliminary injunction was filed in U.S. District Court July 25 in an attempt to stop the implementation of the latest version of country-of-origin labelling. The action, which was taken by a coalition of North American meat processors and livestock organizations, follows an earlier lawsuit filed July 8 that asked the court to strike down […] Read more
Environment big factor in creating tough steak
Genetics plays role | Some breeds are more consistently tender
Genetic tests can predict whether a beef animal might produce tender meat, but many other factors also affect quality. “Sixty percent of the variation in tenderness is not due to genetics. It is due to environment,” said geneticist Steve Miller of the University of Guelph. “You could have the best genetics for tenderness but if […] Read moreCOOL lawsuit filed in U.S. court
A preliminary injunction to stop the implementation of the latest version of a country-of-origin labelling law was filed in a U.S. District Court yesterday by a coalition of North American meat processors and livestock organizations. The injunction should be considered within weeks, although there is no specific timeline, said a news release from the Canadian […] Read more
