Livestock Management
EDMONTON – Lowlines may be little, but they made a big splash at their first breed sale in Canada. A bred heifer owned by Big Island Lowlines of Edmonton sold for $8,000 at the inaugural Canadian National Lowline sale at Farmfair International. The 10 fullblood Lowline females sold for an average of $4,660, ranging from […] Read more
Livestock Management
Lowline sale gives breed exposure at Farmfair
Attitude change needed when it comes to safety – Special Report
Jim Paxman is a believer in farm safety. Ten years ago, he survived having two 1,600 pound round bales bounce off his back. The Raymond, Alta., farmer and another man were hauling bales onto a semi trailer with a front-end loader. They’d already hauled six or seven loads and had developed a routine. Paxman wasn’t […] Read more
Fall fair suffers from late harvest
This year’s late harvest left its mark on Saskatoon’s fall farm show. “This year, anybody who’s showing, hats off to them because a lot of people aren’t done combining,” said Richard Mollenbeck of Englefeld, Sask., who raises purebred Shorthorns and was the breed representative at the Nov. 11-14 Fall Fair. “They’ve had to have a […] Read more
Big Sky fortunes turn gloomy
Feed suppliers fear they are out millions of dollars after Saskatchewan’s largest pork producer applied for creditor protection. Humboldt-based Big Sky Farms has experienced 22 consecutive months of negative margins, is losing $350,000 per week and must financially restructure, say documents filed in Saskatoon’s Court of Queen’s Bench. But farmers who supply feed to the […] Read more
CFIA restricts horse imports from Texas
The U .S.-Canadian border has become less welcoming for American horses now that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has implemented new restrictions. They are the result of an outbreak of equine piroplasmosis in Texas. In an effort to stop the disease from spreading, the CFIA has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily modify […] Read more
Coyote bounty has pros, cons
A coyote control program announced in Saskatchewan last week is drawing praise and criticism. Some rural residents say the $20 per coyote bounty will encourage more farmers and hunters to kill the animals and protect their livestock. Others say coyotes play an important role in controlling gophers and other small pests. Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud, […] Read more
Early calf castration easier on animal and producer
There are several benefits to castrating bull calves. Steers are less aggressive than bulls, which means fewer injuries from fighting, and they can be grouped with heifers because there is no danger of pregnancy. However, the best reason is increased value after castrating because processors prefer steers over bulls and pay more for them. Castration […] Read more
Once a winner, always a winner for supreme show champion
EDMONTON – A big Black Angus bull that has never lost in the show ring continued its winning streak at Farmfair International. HF Tiger 5T, co-owned by Hamilton Farms of Cochrane and Ring Creek Farm of Fairview, Alta., beat out champions from 11 other breeds during the Supreme Show of Champions at Farmfair International Nov. […] Read more
Feed efficiency inherited
For Rod Morison, finding a genetic pathway that leads to more feed efficient steers is just one way to make a profit feeding cattle. Ten years worth of data into residual feed intake shows this is a moderately heritable trait that could be infused into the Canadian beef herd. “This is a good starting point. […] Read more
Winner likes Farmfair switch from banners to collar ribbons
EDMONTON – Long ribbons have replaced the traditional banners handed out to championship cattle at Farmfair International. They may become a permanent fixture, depending on the reaction from exhibitors, says Fleur Keast, an event co-ordinator for agriculture with Northlands. The ribbons were suggested by event co-ordinator Carriann Johnson, who saw them during a three-month agricultural […] Read more
