Ben Rodenburg has two guardian dogs, but he’d like to have more. The dogs, Maremma-Great Pyrenees crosses, protect the sheep and lambs at his farm near Ponoka, Alta. The majority of his 1,400 ewes are usually inside barns because Rodenburg and his wife Heather only have 40 acres. But, at any time a coyote could […] Read more
Tag Archives predation
Coyotes cause big livestock damage
A pilot project in Manitoba determines that the predator is responsible for 62 percent of livestock losses in the province
Coyotes are the king of predators, at least when it comes to livestock attacks in Manitoba. A survey of Manitoba producers says there were 11,606 livestock losses in the province between 2015 and 2019. Of those, coyotes were responsible for about 7,210 of the total losses — of cows, calves, sheep and other livestock. The […] Read more
Coyotes cause 62 percent of livestock losses in Manitoba
Coyotes are the king of predators, at least when it comes to livestock attacks in Manitoba. A survey of Manitoba producers says there were 11,606 livestock losses in the province between 2015 and 2019, due to predators. Of those, coyotes were responsible for about 7,210 of the total attacks — of cows, calves, sheep and […] Read more
Alberta grizzly bear shooting sparks debate on safety
High Prairie, Alta. — The shooting of a grizzly bear preying on cattle in the Peace district has re-ignited the debate over how far ranchers can go to protect themselves and their livestock. Leroy Scott Peats of the Whitemud Provincial Grazing Reserve near Dixonville, Alta., has been charged for allegedly shooting a female grizzly and […] Read more
Chickens safe in mobile home
BRANDON — Consumers are willing to pay a price premium for chickens grazed on grass. However, keeping those birds well watered, well fed and safe from predators is an ongoing challenge. It’s a challenge that Daniel Badiou has taken up with enthusiasm. Badiou, who helps run the family’s dairy farm near Sommerset, Man., graduated with […] Read more
B.C. Livestock Protection Program praised
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Livestock Protection Program that the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association launched last spring has the support of the province’s ranchers. “It’s a good program and a necessity,” said Ian Mitchell, who ranches in the North Thompson area. “I don’t remember my parents talking about wolf problems around the kitchen table 30 years […] Read more
Sask. widens hunting area to push wolves out
Saskatchewan is expanding its wolf hunt to help reduce livestock predation near the provincial forest. Environment Minister Scott Moe said the plan isn’t to cull the wolves. Instead, it’s to put pressure on them to stay in the forest and away from livestock. Only three wolves were killed last year. The expanded wolf hunt follows […] Read more
Cell grazing provides spin-off benefits
LUNDBRECK, Alta. — When a ranch is 65,000 acres in size, it can’t be managed at the cellular level. But managing part of it in grazing cells is another matter. On the Waldron Ranch, cell grazing was born out of necessity to limit wolf predation of the cattle herd. Ranch manager Mike Roberts said the […] Read more
Large herds in remote areas raise predation risk
Bale grazing, corn grazing and off-site watering have replaced traditional systems on many livestock farms in Western Canada over the last decade. The practices save farmers time and money, but an Agriculture Canada biologist says the new approaches have a downside. “A lot of the (production) innovation has … allowed producers to have larger herds […] Read more
Wolf meal habits change with grazing season
Customers return to restaurants where they liked the food. However, repeat visits are not exactly welcome when the customers are wolves and the food is the livestock bone yard. “If you follow a wolf pack, they will systematically go from bone yard to bone yard to bone yard,” said University of Alberta biological sciences researcher […] Read more
