Beef on dairy can improve meat’s marbling, yield, quality and carcass cutability without affecting milk production
Breeding beef animals to dairy cows is becoming more common, says Kee Jim, senior lead of animal agriculture at Telus and managing director for G.K. Farms. He shared more information about beef on dairy with attendees at last month’s Canadian Beef Industry conference. “In my 41 years of doing feedlot work and being involved with […] Read more
Melissa Jeffers-Bezan
Stories by Melissa Jeffers-Bezan
Drought preparation continues to be a priority
Water quality and forage decisions are key factors for producers to consider in areas where moisture remains scarce
Dry conditions remain a concern for many cattle producers, despite rain in some parts of the Prairies. At the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, researcher Bart Lardner and rancher Tara Mulhern-Davidson discussed ways to prepare for future drought years. “It’s a bit of a bleak topic,” said Mulhern-Davidson. “I would love to stand up here and […] Read more
Research studies viability of straw-based diets
A U of S graduate student attempts to determine how to improve straw rations by adding canola and flax screenings
Years of drought inspired Beatriz Montenegro Gonzalez to examine the potential of feeding wheat straw to cattle during tough economic times. Gonzalez, a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan, is studying its use in beef cattle diets, as well as canola and flax screenings, to see if they can be economically viable options when […] Read more
Read the label to be safe when using vaccines
Close attention to labels not only ensures the proper dose is administered but also that the vaccines are mixed correctly
The labels on cattle vaccines have important information and producers should make a point of reading them. Lauren Carde, programs director for the Canadian Animal Health Institute, notes they contain information on route of administration, correct dose, timing, animal age and whether boosters are needed. Attention to these specifics “ensure the safety of the human, […] Read more
Handling called key to feedlot
Andrea Stroeve-Sawa of Shipwheel Cattle Feeders learned stockmanship from the man himself: Bud Williams, the guru of low-stress cattle handling. Her father met Williams at a conference and invited him to visit Alberta. Stroeve-Sawa said her father and Williams worked cattle together for two weeks, 12 hours a day, and Williams taught the ins and […] Read more
Handling tied to cattle health
Low-stress handling called an important tool that producers can use to improve their cattle’s health
Lee Sinclair’s interest in low-stress cattle handling emerged during a summer job at a feedlot and carried through to his career with Merck Animal Health. “Nobody had ever told me position, distance and angles make the difference. All we were taught is, ‘we’ve got to get this done’,” Sinclair said of his initial experience working […] Read more
Nova Scotia ranchers snag environmental award at Canadian Beef Industry Conference
Glacier FarmMedia – Holdanca Farms from Nova Scotia is this year’s recipient of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA), it was announced on at the banquet of the Canadian Beef Industry Conference this week. Holdanca Farms is located near Wallace Bay, N.S., and is owned and operated by the father-daughter duo of John and Maria Duynisveld. […] Read more
Beef producers have risk management options
Weather, feed availability and trade barriers affect markets, making it important to understand what tools are available
Glacier FarmMedia – Cattle prices remain strong in Canada and look to stay that way in 2024. However, the market can change quickly, as producers saw in March when avian influenza was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle. Introduction of risk in a red-hot market affected prices and price insurance. That may have cattle producers […] Read more
Farm tries virtual fencing
Glacier FarmMedia – Virtual fencing is being studied in a pilot project on John and Deanne Chuiko’s CJ Ranching operation near St. Walburg, Sask. “Up in St. Walburg, they’ve been having really good luck,” said Andre Bonneau, a range management extension specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. Related story: Sask. hosts virtual fence pilot project The system […] Read more
VIDEO: Kelln solar makes waves in beef industry
Glacier FarmMedia – Providing accessible, affordable water systems to cattle producers is the goal for Derek Verhalst. “We’ve been doing it for 35 years,” said the CEO of Kelln Solar at the Ag in Motion farm show near Langham, Sask., last week. Kelln Solar is a remote watering system company based out of Lumsden, Sask. […] Read more
