Livestock Management
An $8,000 Belgian filly topped the North American Equine Ranching Information Council sale at Canadian Western Agribition last week, pushing the 2011 futurity payout to slightly more than $40,000. Prices at the Nov. 23 draft horse classic sale averaged less than last year, but that didn’t concern NAERIC executive director Norm Luba. “I think there’s […] Read more
Livestock Management
Filly fetches $8,000
Cattle pick what they eat based on need
Fred Provenza, a professor from Utah State University’s wild land resources department, likes to tell the story about a colleague who met an old, crusty rancher at a seminar in Montana. The conversation between the academic and the rancher hit a roadblock so Provenza’s colleague, out of desperation, asked the rancher what the average weather […] Read more
Angry farmers protest at Big Sky Farms
RAMA, Sask. – About 20 farmers blockaded the road into Big Sky Farms’ feed mill north of Rama, Sask., Nov. 24. The farmers say they are owed more than $1 million for grain they delivered to the financially troubled hog producer. The company owes $15 million to grain growers who supplied it with wheat and […] Read more
Changes challenge show
A format change, a football game and the financial downturn conspired to lower attendance at Canadian Western Agribition, but organizers say they are happy with the event. Final attendance figures for the Nov. 21-28 Regina show weren’t available in time for The Western Producer’s Nov. 30 press deadline, but president Marilyn Charlton said she expected […] Read more
Manitoba takes financial hit on Rancher’s Choice
The five-year saga of Rancher’s Choice Beef Co-operative, a proposed cattle slaughter plant in Dauphin, Man., has come to an unhappy ending for Manitoba taxpayers. The Manitoba government invested $4.5 million in the plant, but this fall, it auctioned off the slaughterhouse’s remaining asset, its equipment and machinery, for the price of a used half-ton […] Read more
Charolais bull calf tops sale; draws $67,500
REGINA – A new breeder bought high-selling cattle at last week’s national Charolais sale held during Canadian Western Agribition in Regina held Nov. 21-28. Tim Facette and his business partner John Fitzgerald, who started Clear Lake Charolais at Tiger Lily, Alta., have decided that if they are going to start new careers as cattle producers, […] Read more
Youth judge cattle for scholarship
REGINA – To judge or be judged was the challenge for young people entering the commercial cattle competition at Canadian Western Agribition from Nov. 21-28. Working with commercial judge Will Lowe of Northwest Consolidated Beef at Strathmore, Alta., the 30 youngsters were taught how to judge commercial cattle like professionals in settings similar to what […] Read more
Sheep markets remain steady
Beaver Hill Auction in Tofield, Alta., reported 533 sheep and lambs and 420 goats traded Nov. 16. The sheep market was steady. Goats fell $20 per hundredweight. Lambs lighter than 70 lb. were $113-$156 per cwt.; lambs 75 to 85 lb. were $121-$148; 86 to 105 lb. were $113-$136 and those heavier than 105 lb. […] Read more
North American swine industry shows signs of recovery: economist
There’s light on the horizon for beleaguered hog producers who can lock in profitable prices for next summer. Analysts and traders are hoping they can soon announce the end of the loss-making period that has devastated so many farmers. “We’re almost at the situation where we can say the worst is behind us,” said University […] Read more
At $1.2 million, she’s the loveliest cow west of anywhere
The Ponoka, Alta., cow is one five in the world and the second in Canada to sell for more than $1 million. It only took two minutes for a three-year-old Canadian Holstein cow to make history at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy, consigned by Morsan Farms of Ponoka, Alta., […] Read more
