Livestock Management
Alberta’s cattle sector is like a locomotive leaving the station. It has built a full head of steam, the pressures of market forces have reached a boiling point, and it’s heading to a profitable destination in 2025. As the new year arrives, there is no shortage of optimism. “We’re walking into a historic time for […] Read more
Livestock Management
Switch calves from milk to feed with low stress
Glacier FarmMedia – Calf stress after weaning shouldn’t be a surprise, producers heard during Manitoba Agriculture’s first Stock Talk webinar of the year in November. Calves have spent their entire lives on the farm with mom. Suddenly, mom isn’t there and, for those bound for auction, neither is the farm. “This is a very stressful […] Read more
Sustainability becomes critical factor in vet medicine
Without a doubt, environmental issues such as pollution, climate change and habitat loss impact animal health. Our collective future depends on finding new and better ways to tread lightly on our delicate planet. Environmental stewardship is a key pillar of the veterinary profession. The Canadian veterinary oath even includes the provision that “I will strive […] Read more
Producers encouraged to raise sheep by the numbers
An expert in sheep production says incremental change and increased measurement can increase production profit
Glacier FarmMedia – The pathway to profit in sheep is paved with little details. “The secret of success is doing the common thing uncommonly well,” said Mark Ferguson, founder and chief executive officer of neXgen Agri of New Zealand. “Our goal has to be kilograms of lamb out the door.” Measurement and data analysis are […] Read more
Calm, slow work called crucial for bison handling
Producers say the fewer people involved in processing the animals, the better, because they do better in quiet conditions
REGINA — The quieter and calmer the handler is, the quieter and calmer the bison will be. Producers at last month’s Canadian Bison Association annual convention offered their tips for better handling. CBA vice-president Robert Johnson said many people believe bison are unruly and difficult to handle, but that’s not necessarily true. He said producers […] Read more
Economics key to methane reduction
New technologies also need an on-farm benefit, and some winners are showing up that help efficiency and profitability
When researchers reached the end of their triels of 3-nitrooxypropanol, a feed additive that reduces methane emissions, they also expected to see an increase in feed efficiency in the cattle that consumed it. They didn’t. Without a feed efficiency improvement, the adoption route for 3-NOP, known by its commercial name Bovaer, became more challenging. “The […] Read more
U.S. finds first severe human case of avian flu
Glacier FarmMedia – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first severe human case of H5N1 bird flu on Dec. 18, after a patient from Louisiana was hospitalized with severe respiratory illness. The CDC said partial viral genome data from the patient discovered the virus was part of the D1.1 genotype, the […] Read more
Cattle prices expected to remain strong through next year
The market saw fluctuations because production didn’t decline as much as expected but ended the year higher overall
REGINA — It was a good year to be a cattle producer. Prices fluctuated at times in 2024 but moved overall higher as the year progressed. Brenna Grant, executive director at Canfax, said demand has remained steady and producers have benefitted. Cow-calf producers have had the leverage at this point in the cattle cycle. “Alberta […] Read more
Producers take many paths to regenerative ag
Motivations for following regenerative agriculture practices vary from producing quality food to ecological stewardship
Regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum across the Prairies, but it’s far from a one-size-fits-all approach. Still, the diverse practices share a common thread — a commitment to leaving the land, and the world, healthier for future generations. Regenerative agriculture has become somewhat of a buzzword but can be broken down to mean farming practices that […] Read more
Canadian milk tests negative for bird flu
Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian milk continues to test negative for avian influenza, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said. The agency said as of Dec. 19 it has tested 1,432 samples of raw milk from across Canada for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). All samples have tested negative. “This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor […] Read more
