A Grasslands Conservation Initiative announced last fall is designed to protect grasslands by offering producers conservation agreements and easements. The terms rang from short-term to perpetuity and include no-break, no-drain clauses.  |  File photo

Provincial, national groups at odds over proposed conservation initiative

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — A Grasslands Conservation Initiative announced last fall has created tension between Saskatchewan cattle producers and the Canadian Cattle Association. The CCA, along with Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, plan to protect grasslands by offering producers conservation agreements and easements ranging from short-term to perpetuity. They will contain no-break, […] Read more

A proposed research project looking for ways to help producers breed cattle that emit less methane would attempt to do for the beef industry what a similar Canadian research initiative did for the dairy industry.  |  File photo

Research would look for low-emitters

Scientists apply for federal funding to look for molecular breeding values for genetic traits that reduce methane

CALGARY — A proposed multimillion-dollar national research program will seek to help beef producers breed cattle that emit less methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas linked to climate change. “This is a substantial investment,” said John Basarab, head of beef operations at Livestock Gentec. Related stories: Genetic tool recognized for reducing emissions Beef research […] Read more

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency is now handling chain of custody tracking for the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef’s certifiable sustainable program.  |  File photo

CCIA to track cattle for sustainability program

Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef says tracking partnership should provide transparency throughout the system

The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef hopes more cattle will make it all the way through its certified sustainable program after signing a new tracking partnership. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency is now handling chain of custody tracking for the program. The move is designed to provide more transparency and help find out where cattle […] Read more