Warm weather, packed parking lots and strong sales made for a successful Canadian Western Agribition, organizers said as the show concluded Nov. 26. Final sales and attendance figures weren’t yet known, but chief executive officer Marty Seymour, at the helm of his first show, said staff and the board were pleased. “Turnstile traffic has been […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Half interest in Hereford bull’s semen fetches $46,000
Rick Johnston says JJPH 83T Benchmark 127Y is the best bull calf he’s had in 35 years of raising Herefords. When he offered him for sale at the Canadian Western Agribition national Hereford sale Nov. 24, he discovered how highly others thought of him, too. Twenty-two breeders paid a total of $46,000 for a half-interest […] Read more
Livestock traceability gets boost in funding
A well-functioning livestock traceability system is critical to opening and re-opening markets, federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said last week. Against the backdrop of Canadian Western Agribition, he announced $410,000 for projects through the Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative. “There’s just no doubt about it,” he said. “Traceability is opening doors and walls on the world […] Read more
Australian builds Speckle Park herd
Speckle Park cattle have taken Australia by storm since Greg Ebbeck first showed the breed in his home country three years ago. The breed has soared in popularity, outstripping the competition in live and carcass contests. At Canadian Western Agribition in Regina last week, Ebbeck bought a package of six embryos for his Australian operation […] Read more
Ranchers add red to operation
A Montana couple spent their Thanksgiving holiday shopping in Regina at Canadian Western Agribition. Max and Debby Porter of M Heart D Gelbvieh in Stevensville, Montana, bought the two top-selling animals in the breed’s show to boost the genetics in their operation. “We want to put some more red in our program,” said Max Porter […] Read more
TV’s Rick Mercer helps lead Agribition goat sale
The highlight of the Canadian Western Agribition goat sale was likely more the appearance of a TV celebrity than the prices, although the prices were pretty good. Rick Mercer, host of CBC’s Rick Mercer Report, spent time at Agribition last week for an upcoming episode of his show. He spent time in the wash stalls […] Read more
Difficult year for Manitoba producers ends with winning streak
REGINA – A decision to return to the farm has paid off for Ashlee Mitchell. The Manitoba Limousin breeder, who farms with her parents, Blair and Diane Mitchell at Virden, Man., earned a hat trick when the breed association awarded the family show bull of the year, sire of the year and dam of the […] Read more
Agribition monitors animal welfare
Cattle industry officials were expecting to see more unofficial policing in the barns at Canadian Western Agribition this week following the death of a cow last year. Show chief executive officer Marty Seymour said anyone who sees misconduct should report it, particularly as it relates to animal welfare. Last year, a two-year-old Charolais cow died […] Read more
Growing concern about disease
Respiratory disease has emerged as a significant cause of death in Alberta bison herds. “In my opinion, it’s the biggest single most significant disease affecting the North American bison industry,” said Dr. Roy Lewis, a veterinarian in Clyde, Alta., who is part of a team conducting autopsies on bison to identify causes of death. He […] Read more
Perception differs from reality
Photographs of bison roaming the prairie and grazing grass portray to consumers an image of how the animals are raised and their food is produced. But would they have the same perception if the bison industry used feedlot images in its marketing campaign, asked animal welfare professor Ed Pajor. People have expectations about how animals […] Read more
