STRATHMORE, Alta. – A five stage private research project has begun at Cattleland Feedyards. Located north of Strathmore, Cattleland has become the largest applied research centre in Canada. It is owned by Greg and Candace Appleyard with Karen and Joe Gregory. This facility also has a 25,000-head feedlot with the tie-in of a 5,000-head bull […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Records play bigger role in world beef market
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – As Canada’s cattle industry shifts from exporting live animals to shipping beef, the hunt for new markets is gaining importance. A new opportunity could be the European Union, said Brad Wildeman, foreign trade committee chair for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association at the group’s convention in Kamloops Aug. 17. Canada and the United […] Read more
Pregnant heifers slip past beef inspectors
A group of eight pregnant heifers in a load of 35 cattle from Ontario were shipped to a Wisconsin packing plant, violating the United States regulations on live cattle shipments. U.S. officials checked the load at the slaughter plant and discovered the first trimester pregnancies. Later, one of the pregnant heifers was found to be […] Read more
Cattle group wants ways to market older beef
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – One of the success stories from Canada’s struggle with BSE is the recapture of the domestic manufacturing beef business. Processed products like burgers, sausages and wieners now contain mostly Canadian beef instead of imported meat. “We have generated about a threefold increase in the amount of product from animals over 30 months […] Read more
Older cows weigh down beef market
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Canadian cattle may be crossing into the United States but that does not mean clear sailing for producers as markets normalize. The United States beef herd is expanding, the Canadian dollar has increased making returns from the U.S. market less attractive, and there are nearly one million cull cows to be dealt […] Read more
Alberta show caters to kids
OLDS, Alta. – Cassidy Daley was barely out of diapers the first time she showed cattle at the Mountainview County Fair in Olds, Alta. The 18 month old walked around the ring with grandpa Pete Van Tighem and has been participating in the junior beef show at Olds ever since. “She combed the calf herself […] Read more
Draft horses judged by youth
OLDS, Alta. – Sarah Hunder did not have a horse for this year’s junior draft horse show at the Mountainview County Fair, but that didn’t stop her from competing. The Olds, Alta., fair offers a junior judging component along with a provincial 4-H achievement day for youngsters who love the massive animals. A 4-H draft […] Read more
Food safety program building
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – More than 2,000 beef producers have taken their first tentative steps toward adopting an on-farm food safety program. While the concept has been discussed for more than 10 years, the national program is moving forward slowly due to lack of money and slow uptake within some of the provinces, said Terry Grajczyk, […] Read more
BSE crisis sparks success story
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Sometimes the bonds of friendship are forged during a crisis. That was the situation when British Columbia cattle producers approached a major grocery chain to consider stocking exclusively Canadian beef on its shelves after a case of BSE cut off export markets two years ago. The Overwaitea Food retail chain and its […] Read more
Poultry barn built with environment in mind
BEISEKER, Alta. – When John and Mike Richter open their 10,000 laying hen operation this fall, they will be abiding by the newest environmental and animal welfare guidelines. The family has been farming at Beiseker for nearly 50 years and gradually sold off its cattle and hogs to become an egg farm on 2,200 acres […] Read more
