Livestock Management
The latest report from Statistics Canada showing a sharp decline in the number of hogs and hog producers in the country doesn’t surprise Neil Ketilson. The general manager of SaskPork believes the agency’s estimates that Canadian hog numbers have declined 11.6 percent and the number of hog farmers declined 19 percent doesn’t show the real […] Read more
Livestock Management
Hog stats differ from reality: sector
Canadian cattle tally drops
Canadian farmers reported fewer cattle and calves on the farm, said a Statistics Canada livestock inventory report. “It absolutely doesn’t surprise us,” said Andrea Brocklebank, research manager with Canfax, the research arm of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The report estimated 15.2 million head of cattle on farms, a decline of 4.3 percent from last year […] Read more
Sheep numbers dip
While Statistics Canada has reported a decline in the number of sheep and lambs on farms, Canada’s largest sheep feedlot operator has yet to see the impact. Roy Leitch of Brandon said lower overall flock numbers haven’t translated into a shortage of feedlot lambs. “I’m buying more lambs than I ever did. I don’t see […] Read more
Dual logos reflect cultural differences
After months of work to create a distinct brand, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association unveiled new logos Aug. 13. Not all customers will see the same one. One logo, which will appear on beef packaging, pamphlets and other material to promote Canadian cattle and beef, will be used for Canada and the United States. A different […] Read more
Anthrax cases normal in Sask.
Saskatchewan has seen 24 cases of anthrax at five locations this year, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Sixteen cattle and eight bison contracted the fatal disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium called bacillus anthracis. Betty Althouse, CFIA veterinary program specialist, said there is no cause for alarm with this year’s cases, which are […] Read more
Fair develops skills, provides incentives
OLDS, Alta. – At seven years old, Kolby Thompson is already comfortable in the show ring. After three years showing sheep at the Olds Fair, the local girl won grand champion yearling ewe earlier this month and barely cracked a smile when she took the red ribbon. For her parents, Buck and Renai Thompson, the […] Read more
Junior shows teach valuable work ethic
OLDS, Alta. – It’s 5 a.m. and cattle need to be fed and preparations made as families get ready to show cattle at the Olds Fair. For Ron Daley and Tammi Van Tighem of Carstairs, Alta., summer vacation is taken up with fairs and junior events for their three children: Sawyer, 14, Shallaine, 12 and […] Read more
Improving beef one molecule at a time
An encyclopedia of information is being revealed to geneticists as they learn more about DNA, the control centre of life. Geneticists have talked about making major improvements to livestock and combating diseases for years, and now the technology necessary to make predictions based on genetic information is a reality, said David Bailey, president and chief […] Read more
Murray Grey breeders test science on steers
Three Murray Grey producers have decided to combine science with cow sense to produce the best beef they can. Following this year’s Calgary Stampede steer show, cattle were entered in a carcass competition where the Australian breed showed its real strength as a beef machine. Sixteen Murray Greys entered the competition of 57 carcasses representing […] Read more
Cattle producers get access to genetic information
Storing genetic information to help producers make better production choices and improve beef quality is a new service at the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency. The agency plans to use its database to identify economically valuable genetic traits and link it to an animal’s individual identification number. “We certainly need to identify the genetics and the […] Read more
