REGINA – The Heartland First Lady Classic, the Beef Supreme Challenge, the beef carcass competition, the Cinderella Classic, Agribition Pen-Arama – these multi-breed cattle events continue to attract crowds and entries at purebred cattle shows across North America. “Excitement. It is exciting. It is unpredictable. It pits our best of breed against theirs,” said Karen […] Read more
News
Multi-breed shows make for difficult judging
Canada penalized for honesty on BSE case
Countries that slammed their borders shut to Canadian beef exports after the May 20 discovery of one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy were overreacting and not following international rules, says the world body that oversees animal health issues. In effect, Canada has been penalized for being forthright and transparent. Other countries may take note and […] Read more
Trees block hog odours
SHAKESPEARE, Ont. – Trees and shelterbelts around pig barns can be part of the solution to controlling smells, pollution and complaints from neighbours, says an Ontario government specialist. “Trees alone will not resolve the problem of odour,” Todd Leuty of the Ontario ministry of agriculture said Nov. 19. “But shelterbelts do offer a significant tool.” […] Read more
African genetics impress Simmental buyers
REGINA – It may take show judges awhile to get accustomed to the new look of Bar 5 Simmentals, but in the sale barn, buyers know what they like. South African Simmental genetics from Bar 5 have been spicing up sales this fall where Canadian and American breeders have been competing to own some of […] Read more
Optimism rules at agricultural show
An atmosphere of quiet optimism and strength permeated the barns at Canadian Western Agribition last week. There wasn’t much evidence of the turmoil the livestock industry has undergone in the last six months, at least not in the attitude of exhibitors and visitors. That’s exactly what president Larry Brack expected. “If we create a positive […] Read more
Growers eye dispute resolution
Canadian seed potato growers can avoid costly court cases through a service offered by the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp. David Hendrick and Andrew Wilson of the Canadian Horticultural Council presented an overview of the DRC to the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association meeting. The not-for-profit corporation was established in 1999 under the North […] Read more
Female bison don’t need pampering
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – Feeding bison heifers and bulls together in the same feedlot will still get good carcass results, showed a northern Alberta study. “There doesn’t seem to be a problem mixing bulls and heifers,” said Bruce Rutley, applied research co-ordinator for the Peace Country Bison Association. The initial study is good news for […] Read more
Hogs won’t fill piggy bank this year
Being in the hog industry stinks these days. Experts at the 2003 Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium said producers and packers have been flattened by a variety of unforeseen circumstances. “We usually have a situation where one is winning and one is losing, but when it’s something like the Canadian dollar strengthening, it’s impacting everybody,” said […] Read more
Tarentaise breed proves prairie hardy in crossbreds
LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. – The Tarentaise cow, described as “the best mom a calf could have,” has adjusted well to life on this side of the ocean. The animals were one of the last continental breeds to come to North America from France, said Bryce Burnett of Burnett Tarentaise in Swift Current, Sask. Moderate in structure, […] Read more
Hog price discovery confused by industry consolidation
Price discovery in the Canadian hog market is clouded by consolidation that has led to a handful of buyers, each with their own quirks of pricing, says the executive director of SPI Marketing Group. Don Hrapchak told the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium last week that comparing the returns from doing business with the four big […] Read more
