SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The complicated and divisive conundrum of beef labelling in the United States has raised its head once again. If a product sold at retail is labelled Product of the USA, beef producers want assurances that claim is true. “Origin labels were considered generic labels by FSIS (Food Safety Inspection Service) and […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Dairy-beef crossbreeds could help tap higher value meat market
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — There is a growing trend to cross dairy cows with beef bulls to add value to calves that might otherwise be considered a liability. A new study from Rabobank shows these calves will not add to an already large beef supply but will shift the crossbreds to a higher value market. […] Read more
Profitability predicted for U.S. beef sector this year
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The traditional cattle cycle of boom and bust phases may be gone, but volatility is the continuing reality for the beef business. However, the entire U.S. beef chain can expect a profitable 2020, said Cattlefax analysts at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention held in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 4-7. “When […] Read more
Survey finds decline in feed supplies
Global feed supplies have decreased by 5.5 percent, partly due to the impacts of African swine fever in the Asia Pacific region. International production of feed for all livestock, pets and aquaculture amounted to 1.126 billion tonnes according to an Alltech annual survey covering 145 countries, 13 species and 30,000 feed mills. The study was […] Read more
Alberta bred bull wins big in Denver
A Canadian bred Simmental bull was named reserve grand champion at the National Western Stock Show held Jan. 22 in Denver, Colorado. The bull was bred by John and Tammy Dolliver’s JT Livestock of Stettler, Alta., and the family knew from the time it was a calf that they had a potential winner on their […] Read more
Calving trauma called production risk
Cattle producers can improve calf health and survivability by decreasing the negative effects of a difficult calving
New beginnings and hope start with each calving season but sometimes things can go awry. About five percent of calves are assisted at birth and about four percent are either born dead or died in the first day of life, according to information gathered from the Western Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network. The numbers are low […] Read more
Disease can be bad news for calves
Blackleg, tetanus and white muscle disease are three deadly conditions for calves. “These three diseases result in compromised muscle function in calves and are not seen often, but when you do see them, it tends to affect more than one calf,” said Werner Debertin of New Brunswick’s provincial veterinary services. “All three are lethal if […] Read more
Research studies colustrum quality factors
Suckling is the best way for calves to consume colostrum because it goes directly from the esophagus to the true stomach
Getting calves off to a good start in life begins with that first drink of colostrum. Colostrum contains essential immunoglobulins to build immunity against calf-hood diseases. Imunoglobulins are antibodies that pass on immunity to the babies in the colostrum. Colostrum also contains vitamins, minerals and calories. Researchers at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary […] Read more
Healthy cow diets improve calf success
Gestating cows need a healthy diet to maintain their body weight, produce good milk for their calves and prepare for the next breeding season. “What you do now dramatically impacts next year’s calf crop,” said beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio of Alberta Agriculture. “We are not feeding for this year’s calf and as long […] Read more
Land management key to successful grazing
A grazing expert considers livestock to be a tool for managing the land and helping rebuild soil and sequester carbon
AIRDRIE, Alta. — Steve Kenyon can teach basic grazing principles, but for him, managing the land goes far beyond running electric wires and moving cows every day. Livestock are a tool to manage the land and help rebuild soil and sequester carbon. He and his wife, Amber, operate Greener Pastures Ranching near Busby, Alta., where […] Read more
