The Cargill meat processing plant in High River, Alta., which slaughters 40 percent of the cattle in Canada, announced temporary closure effective April 20. Date of reopening is unknown but the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said it could mean industry losses of half a billion dollars by June if the closure lasts that long. Halt of […] Read more
Tag Archives livestock
VIDEO: Cattle producers look at ways to spread the good word
MACGREGOR, Man. — The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has produced a video explaining the environmental impact of Canada’s beef industry. The video, available on YouTube and a longer version on the Beef Cattle Research Council website, features images of cattle on green pastures and ranchers on horseback with mountains in the background. Producers and scientists appear […] Read more
CFIA reviews livestock feed rules
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is reviewing feed regulations for beef and dairy cattle. “The regulations we have now date back to 1983 and we really haven’t done much in the way of updating those regulations. They are 30 plus years old,” said Sergio Tolusso, national manager of the agency’s animal feed division. “The world […] Read more
Livestock traceability systems in place but future uncertain
Nearly a year after the federal government quietly axed funding for developing a central database to support new livestock traceability regulations, the project’s main supplier has still not been paid and its former chair says he doesn’t know where the government plans to redirect the money. Marie-Christine Talbot, president of Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ), the non-profit […] Read more
Consumers willing to pay premium for organic, natural beef
With more shoppers seeking quality sirloin and ribeye, wholesalers are seeking a market for lower cuts
RED DEER — There is a growing trend among beef lovers to seek more organic and natural products. Changing tastes and the desire for higher quality have been noticed by beef sellers who supply grocery stores and restaurants. At Centennial Foods, the beef business is changing as more customers from food service, wholesale and retail […] Read more
New tech measures cattle feed intake
Feed consumption and weight gain are linked to healthier herds, so keeping an eye on feed intake can pay off
AIRDRIE, Alta. — When Camiel Huisma was helping a friend manage his ostrich chicks in 1990, the link between feed intake and animal health intrigued him. The hatchlings were selling for $6,000 each, but the survival rate was less than 16 percent. As an engineer, he saw death loss as a problem that could be […] Read more
Support beef sector, support Canada
The following is a response to a posting on the website of a clothing company run by Siera Bearchell, who was recently named Miss Canada Universe. The posting talked about the amount of water that is required to produce beef and suggested that one solution might be to eat less beef. Eat less beef so […] Read more
Biowaste plant gets go ahead
A month long extension to get financing in order turned into a one year delay, but Lacombe, Alta., city council has finalized a land sale with a company that plans to turn specified risk material into safe byproducts. BioRefinex Canada completed a land sale of 12.2 acres in southeastern Lacombe for its proposed $35 million […] Read more
Drought forces Calif. ranch to convert to fruit
It’s expected that money earned from the new orchards will help pay for herd expansion once rain returns to the region
ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Rancho Guejito is the largest ranch of its kind in southern California, where cattle and horses have grazed for nearly 200 years. Fruit and wine may be its salvation. Located north of San Diego near the city of Escondido, the ranch sprawls over 23,000 acres that rise from 200 to 4,000 feet […] Read more
Galloways offer grass-fed option
LONDON, Ont. — Farmers interested in the grass-fed beef market can look to the example of Andy and Lisa Sproston. Cuts from their Galloway cattle demand a premium at their on-farm store. Tenderloin sells for more than $60 a kilogram and New York strip loin for more than $45. Meaty soup bones sell for $14.95. […] Read more
