PHOENIX, Ariz. — The definition of meat derived from animals or plants is becoming a hot potato. Groups in the United States want clarification on the definition and regulation of plant-based products and meat grown from an animal cell culture rather than livestock. No products are yet on the market but a chicken type product […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Bovine leukosis incidence rises on Prairies
Bovine leukosis can be spread via:
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The presence of lymphomas is a leading reason for condemnation of beef and dairy cows at slaughter. They may have been infected with bovine leukosis virus. Bovine leukosis was not considered an important disease 25 years ago, but prevalence studies in Canada and the United States show it is circulating in many […] Read more
Arizona dairy manages 12,500 cows and 52,000 steers
STANFIELD, Ariz. — Actor John Wayne was master of all he surveyed when he looked out at thousands of beef cattle from his office window at Red River Feedyards. Today, the Duke would stare out over the same property in disbelief to see the Herefords have been replaced with Holsteins. Wayne and his business partners, […] Read more
Testing required to ensure quality forages
High quality forages supply significant amounts of energy, which results in high feed intake and milk production
GUELPH, Ont. — Forages are the foundation of a good ration for cows, providing roughage, essential minerals and other nutrients. Forage feeds the rumen microbes, and the cow receives most of the protein and nutrients from rumen microbial fermentation. “The rumen can exist primarily on forages,” said ruminant nutritionist Mark Bowman of Grand Valley Fortifiers […] Read moreU.S. beef sustainability initiative faces hurdles
Questions remain about what sustainable beef production means, while distrust continues between groups
PHOENIX, Ariz. — An American initiative established to advance beef sustainability has released a set of indicators designed to guide the sector toward becoming more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. But convincing those in the trade to get on board could be a challenge. There is probably no extra money in it, there are lingering […] Read moreNorth America said ill-equipped to handle FMD outbreak
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Foot-and-mouth is the big bad disease nobody wants in North America. The size and structure of the modern livestock industry would present an unprecedented challenge if an outbreak should occur, said animal health experts speaking at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention in Phoenix from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. “Foot-and-mouth is […] Read more
Livestock forecast: good with a chance of maybe
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Agribusiness intelligence sources suggest 2018 could be a good year with some fringes of uncertainty. There are record amounts of beef, pork and poultry in the United States so retail prices should be stable, said Cattlefax analyst Mike Murphy. “We got into that extremely tight supplies in 2014 that drove retail prices […] Read more
U.S. cattle producers urged to support NAFTA
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The United States may withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement, but many in the United States agricultural sector hope negotiations produce a new and improved deal. “I am not yet convinced the administration has not decided whether it will withdraw from NAFTA,” said Republican senator Jerry Moran. Speaking before a […] Read more
U.S. debates pros and cons of cattle traceability
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Less than 10 percent of cattle in the United States can be traced back to the herd of origin. That places the U.S. at a disadvantage against other major beef exporters that have traceability programs in place, according to a recent study. Today, about 65 percent of the global beef traded comes […] Read more
Purebred cattle cornerstone of Alta. ranch
100-year-old Shiloh Cattle Co. in southeastern Alberta has evolved from a commercial herd to purebred Red Angus
CRAIGMYLE, Alta. — Blake Morton and Darcy Olesky are dedicated to their art. The art in this case is the pair’s dedication to producing quality purebred cattle at Shiloh Cattle Company in southeastern Alberta. The fourth-generation ranch was established in 1909 by Blake’s great-grandfather, Kingsley Morton. It evolved over time from a commercial spread to […] Read more
