During the beef industry’s darkest hour, one organization has agreed to increase its service charges. The Alberta Beef Producers voted to raise its check-off fee to $3 from $2 every time cattle are sold as of April 1, 2004. That will give the group a $12 million budget for the 2004-05 fiscal year. Five resolutions […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Beef industry hopes to expand foreign markets
Being shut out of foreign markets has cost Canadian beef producers as much as $280 per animal. That is the value per carcass usually made through sales of offal and meats not normally consumed in Canada. Now these cuts are reduced to rendering value, said the president of the Canada Beef Export Federation. “That premium […] Read more
Fleckvieh genetics spice up sales
RED DEER – A cavalcade of Simmental sales based on the Fleckvieh influence drew big crowds and healthy prices to a recent sale. Only fullblood Simmentals with a minimum of five generations of German or Austrian Fleckvieh in their pedigrees are considered full Fleckvieh. These days animals imported through South Africa are especially valued among […] Read more
Group seeks to replace imported beef
The biggest challenge facing beef producers since May 20 is moving mature cows and bulls to market, says Glen Brand. The retail manager of the Beef Information Centre, who is also a member of the national cull cow working committee, said a January meeting is scheduled with the further processing sector, food service groups and […] Read more
Cautious farmers overlook malting opportunity
RED DEER – Malting barley production may be a missed opportunity for many farmers, says an Alberta cereal specialist. “If you grow human peas, look at malt,” Bill Chapman of Alberta Agriculture told a feed and forage conference here. “If there is 50 percent acceptance of malt in your area, you should be taking a […] Read more
Many factors involved in silage making
RED DEER – Ensiling forage goes back 4,000 years, yet the quest for the perfect method continues to this day. Silage involves cutting hay or green cereal, storing and packing it, to prompt aerobic activity, which allows fermentation to start. Problems can occur at any phase in the process said Keith Bolsen, retired professor at […] Read more
Miniature Herefords locate the spotlight
REGINA – Miniature Herefords stepped into the national spotlight for the first time at this year’s Canadian Western Agribition. The Miniature Hereford Breeders Association of Canada’s first show and auction offered bulls and females for sale. The top seller was a young horned bull owned by Rob Ross of Innisfail, Alta. Darcy Wall of Cochrane, […] Read more
Agribition mood ‘producer friendly’
REGINA – When the Agribition champion Limousin females walked past the judge, they were either owned or bred by Ivy Livestock of Duchess, Alta. This year’s Canadian Western Agribition, held Nov. 24-29, turned into a profitable event for the Hertz family. It had grand champion female and the high seller at the national Limousin sale […] Read more
Owners pleased with Angus sale
REGINA – A risk paid off for a group of Saskatchewan Red and Black Angus producers who held their first production sale since borders closed to Canadian cattle. Two sales Nov. 28 of bred heifers and calves brought favourable results for the Prairie Lily and Southern Belles sales groups. The Prairie Lily sale involved 21 […] Read more
Lamb producers start to sell at home
RED DEER – A new initiative to encourage Albertans to eat more lamb is taking hold. Participants in the Alberta Lamb marketing group are linked with customers and processors. Customers can tell the producer exactly what they want and the meat is delivered in a timely fashion according to their specifications. The year-old program encourages […] Read more
