Livestock Management
Research shows calves exposed to fence-line separation gained better in the first 10 weeks than abruptly weaned calves
Weaning is stressful on calves, and multiple studies show those that are abruptly weaned often struggle with respiratory disease and require treatment. Many of these calves have been recently separated from their mothers, handled, processed and shipped to a feedlot where they are exposed to new feed and animals. The 2017 Western Canadian cow-calf survey […] Read more
Livestock Management
Livestock show season kicks off in Alberta
The Olds Fall Classic held Thanksgiving weekend in Olds, Alta., is the first major livestock show in Alberta. Each of the champion bull and female winners from each breed are eligible for the Alberta Supreme at Farmfair and the RBC Beef Supreme Challenge at Canadian Western Agribition. In addition, the Lloydminster Agriculture Exhibition Association, Northlands […] Read more
Boosters crucial part of vaccination program
Injection procedures:
The most recent western Canadian cow calf survey found that 95 percent of producers vaccinate their cattle, a slight improvement from the 2014 survey. The most common vaccination is a clostridial seven-, eight- or nine-way product, and the second most common is protection against respiratory disease. However, vaccines often require a booster, said veterinarian Roy […] Read moreCanola meal boosts milk performance in trials
Feeding trials from Wisconsin dairies showed that cows produced more litres of milk per day with canola meal in their feed rations. On-farm trials carried out at two dairies by the Canola Council of Canada and GPS Dairy Consulting, a group of independent dairy nutritionists, replaced animal protein and high-bypass soybean meal with canola meal […] Read more
Feeder associations hire new CEO
Janice Tranberg is the new president and chief executive officer of the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association and National Cattle Feeders Association as of Nov 1. She is replacing Bryan Walton, who retires in early 2019. Tranberg has been executive director of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, an assistant deputy minister for the Saskatchewan ministry of […] Read more
Maple Leaf embraces open housing in its hog barns
Canadian hog farms won’t be able to keep pregnant sows in restrictive stalls by 2024. Maple Leaf Foods, which operates about 60 barns in Manitoba, has no concerns about that deadline. The company intends to beat it by about three years as it implements a housing system that exceeds the national standard created by the […] Read more
Horse owner pleads for help to find missing Clyde
A six-year-old mare has been missing for nearly a month, and its owner believes it was stolen from her property overnight. The bay-coloured Clydesdale named Molly was last seen on the evening of Sept. 22 in her pen near Evansburg, Alta., 100 kilometres west of Edmonton. Owner Cindy Thomas said she noticed Molly was missing […] Read more
Dairy farmers say trade deal threatens future
Alberta producers say the recently signed agreement will ‘negatively shape the future of the Canadian dairy industry’
Four days before the new international trade deal was agreed, Klaas and Eric VanderVeen welcomed a Lethbridge County tour group to their dairy farm in southern Alberta. The father and son talked about their recent investment in four robotic milkers, valued at $200,000 to $250,000 each, that made their operation more efficient and capable of […] Read more
Alta. dairy family calls robotic milkers a boon for farm
PICTURE BUTTE, Alta. — Four robotic milkers were a big investment for Favour Holsteins, a dairy farm operated by Klaas VanderVeen and his son, Eric. It’s been almost a year since their installation and results have been positive. “Last November we fired these things up and we’ve been milking with them ever since,” Eric told […] Read more
No end in sight for corn flow into Alta.
U.S. corn and dried distillers grain are expected to play an important role this year in keeping a lid on feed prices
American corn is flowing into southern Alberta at a brisk rate because of a shortfall in domestic feedgrains. Corn is currently cheaper than the traditional barley ration used in Alberta feedlots. Imported corn and dried distillers grain will play an important role this year in keeping a lid on feed prices, said Tom Dowler, director […] Read more
