Livestock Management
An Alberta rancher says cattle are better behaved if they can walk into a corral calmly and quietly instead of being chased
Dylan Biggs recognized the benefits of quiet cattle handling early in his career. The Hanna, Alta., rancher learned from Bud Williams, who spent many years in Alberta practising and teaching low-stress methods for moving and sorting cattle. “The first thing that sets the stage for good handling in a corral is how the cattle were […] Read more
Livestock Management
Rested pastures able to absorb more moisture
A University of Alberta researcher who studies adaptive multi-paddock grazing says practice can benefit pasture soil
Scientists have found a type of grazing for cattle that can boost the movement of water into prairie grassland soil, which helps build drought resistance, but a researcher says the conclusion is only part of the total picture. “I think it’s the nature of ecosystems,” said Timm Dobert, a post-doctoral fellow in the Faculty of […] Read more
Lead poisoning often seen when cattle are put on pasture
I was recently working on a herd investigation that involved neurological symptoms in young calves. We are suspecting that the symptoms are caused by some sort of toxin because there is no evidence of infectious disease. At the time that I am writing this column, I still don’t have a definitive diagnosis, but the case […] Read more
Disease screening aims to improve health of wild sheep
Pilot project in British Columbia offers free M. ovi testing in domestic flocks as a way to reduce spread to wild animals
This spring, rather than landfilling or burning their waste wool, domestic sheep producers in the East Kootenays can have it turned into environmentally friendly fertilizer pellets while supporting wild sheep conservation. In an initiative that partners hope will grow to include all wild sheep areas in the province, British Columbia shepherd Jennifer Bowes is spearheading […] Read more
Portable corrals ease handling stress
Facilities can be set up anywhere, even in the middle of a large pasture, but it’s important to handle the cattle properly
Portable corrals can make handling easier when cattle are in large pastures. Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz of Sandhills Cattle Consultants says his early experience with portable corrals occurred when he was in a cow-calf practice at Ainsworth, Nebraska. “We did a lot of pregnancy checking, Bangs vaccinations, etc. with more than 45,000 cows in that practice. […] Read more
Horned cattle may require special chutes
Horns are an asset in the Longhorn, Watusi and Scotch Highlander breeds, but safe handling methods must be found
The handling of horned cattle requires special considerations. Longhorn, Watusi and Scotch Highlander breeds, as well as yaks, can have horns that aren’t easily accommodated in regular cattle chutes. Thus, there are specially designed chutes that are safer for the animals and the people handling them. They include simple panels with horizontal bars so the […] Read more
Handling and sorting can be easy, with or without a corral
Patience, an ability to read cattle and knowing the pastures and terrain can make all the difference when handling cattle
Cattle respond to good handling by becoming easy to manage. If mishandled, they react with suspicion or fear when they see people and become difficult to handle. Consistent, non-confrontational methods can build trust in a herd. Al Fenton of Fenton Herefords near Irma, Alta., has been raising Herefords for decades and has 700 registered cows, […] Read more
Breeder urges producers to reap benefits of hybrid vigour
Montana producer says Charolais has the most potential for crossing because many other European breeds have changed
Crossbred cattle have several advantages over purebreds, especially fertility, longevity, feed efficiency and disease resistance. Buddy Westphal, a Charolais breeder near Polson, Montana, says he is amazed that more ranchers haven’t taken advantage of hybrid vigour. “When I was in college 50 years ago, that was the ‘new’ thing that got me into the Charolais […] Read more
Ag census finds cow herd growing
Total Canadian beef cow inventories have risen while heifer numbers for slaughter as well as beef and dairy herd replacement numbers continue to decrease, according to the latest data release from the Statistics Canada 2021 agricultural census. Total beef cow inventories rose in 2021 for the first time in the last decade, rising slightly by […] Read more
Tyson Foods raises annual sales forecast on higher meat prices
May 9 (Reuters) – Tyson Foods Inc TSN.N raised its full-year sales outlook on Monday after soaring meat prices helped the U.S. processor beat quarterly revenue and earnings estimates. Shares jumped about 2 percent in premarket trading. Meatpackers have come under scrutiny from the White House and Congress over climbing meat prices, with the White […] Read more
