Livestock Management
If it sucks, that’s a good thing — when it comes to newborn calves. It’s so good, in fact, that newborns with a good suckle reflex are 41 times more likely to consume colostrum on their own compared to calves with a weak suckle reflex. Dr. Craig Dorin of Veterinary Agri-Health Services in Airdrie, Alta., […] Read more
Livestock Management
Next generation ready for the world
Twenty-year-old Tyra Fox has become the public face of Justamere Ranch and is determined to keep the name alive
DENVER, Colo. — Evidence of Tyra Fox’s purebred cattle career shows up in a picture from Farmfair International in Edmonton, where her father, Jonathan Fox, is seen giving the two-year-old a cuddle behind the family’s champion bull. A fifth generation member of the Justamere Ranch family, the 20-year-old is now the official exhibitor for the […] Read more
Sask. Angus producer shows well in Denver
Ward Cockburn says attending the National Western Stock Show is about promotion more than winning ribbons
DENVER, Colo. — Pretty show heifers come and go, but that broody heifer in the pen may be the mother of the next grand champion. That is the opinion of Ward Cockburn, who showed his Red Angus females and a bull at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, Jan. 14. Entering the prestigious […] Read more
Proper ID helps treat calf disease
The type of pathogen that can cause scours will largely depend on the calf’s age, and knowing which one is important
Disease is like a hydra with many tendrils, and each should be identified for the best treatment. In the case of calf scours, the age of the animal, environmental factors and different bugs may contribute to debilitating diarrhea. “It makes a lot of sense to have your diagnosis in mind because you can have direct […] Read more
Mineral, vitamin deficiencies can delay calf development
Newborn calves that are slow to get up and do not respond right away could be affected by a trace mineral or vitamin deficiency. If pregnant cows are low in selenium in the fall, the calves may be wobbly when they are born the following spring. They could suffer from a variety of maladies, including […] Read more
Agriculture student sheds light on accurate cow costs
Agriculture student Michelle Duckworth has determined the cost to keep a cow is likely a lot higher than what was being taught at school, thanks to the help from producers on Twitter. Duckworth, an animal science technology student at Lakeland College, found keeping a cow costs around $1,000 per animal per year, nearly double than […] Read more
Manitoba teenager kicks career up a notch at cattle show
DENVER, Colo. — For her first foray into the ring with a new heifer calf, Robyn Tibble decided to enter the National Western Stock Show, which was held in Denver, Colorado, Jan. 12-27. The tenacious teenager from Swan River, Man., went one step further by entering the highly competitive junior Angus show to compete against […] Read more
PED virus demonstrates why biosecurity needed
The latest case of a porcine epidemic diarrhea virus outbreak in Alberta emphasizes the immense importance of strong biosecurity protocols for livestock operations. Pork producers have some of the strictest biosecurity protocols of any livestock sector in Canada and they are continuing to try to improve their biosecurity practices and emergency response planning in an […] Read more
Weekly Manitoba cattle report
Winnipeg – Manitoba cattle auctions were busy during the week ended Jan. 18, with solid prices for the large numbers moving through the rings in most locations. About 4,700 head of cattle were marketed in the province’s major auction yards during the week, which was up considerably from the previous week as activity picked up […] Read more
Alberta’s first PED discovery brings worry
BANFF, Alta. — These are dark days for the 400-sow farrow-to-finish hog operation in Alberta that was infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in a case confirmed Jan. 7. Baby pigs that would otherwise face slow death from dehydration and malnutrition are being euthanized. Every movement on and off the farm in recent weeks is […] Read more
