Reading Time: 3 minutes Livestock have come under the magnifying lens as being destructive for the climate and for the environment. Producers have been quick to respond and Canada leads the way globally with its environmentally conscious and sustainable beef supply chain. However, society as a whole does not understand the role of livestock in systems. The concept of […] Read more
Schoepp: People need to know livestock can be good for the environment
In a regenerative program, livestock bring a host of benefits — but that fact is being ignored
A horse’s immune system can’t be taken for granted
Our understanding of the immune system has evolved past the war-on-germs analogy
Reading Time: 3 minutes In horses, as in humans, the immune system is a powerful biological force. Most of the time, it works so effectively that its true value is often overlooked, even minimized. The traditional view of an immune system is as an army poised for the simple eradication of pathogens. While accurate, this description vastly oversimplifies immunity. […] Read more
Schoepp: To sustain is one thing, to regenerate is something else
Sustainable agriculture has been a step forward but it is not the end of the journey
Reading Time: 3 minutes For the past decade the focus on food and farming has been on sustainable systems. To be sustainable means to meet production needs without compromising the future, particularly our future natural resources. To farm sustainably is to ‘do no further harm’ or to maintain the current balance and to accept a level of accountability for […] Read more
Cattle can get stuck or go down when being processed
Watch for balking and think prevention when it comes to alleyways and chutes
Reading Time: 3 minutes Large cows or bulls can get stuck or go down in a chute or an alleyway system, and that can cause losses or welfare issues. I have trained myself to really watch when cattle balk at certain points of a handling system as there is often a very good reason for this, and one that […] Read more
Schoepp: The consumption of minerals calls out for a new approach
Agriculture can offer some alternatives if we innovate and adopt a regenerative mindset
Reading Time: 3 minutes In an agricultural context, the term mineral might take one’s thoughts straight to a balanced livestock diet or to the most recent soil test. It might lend itself to a water or blood test. But rarely are minerals thought of as something we consume by ingestion or external use. I checked out the amount of […] Read more
Just because the horse has no limp doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem
Horse Health: Horses are far too good at disguising foot pain but sore hoofs can lead to a host of problems
Reading Time: 3 minutes As animals of prey, horses are adept at masking pain, especially foot pain. Foot pain matters deeply to the physical health and psychic well-being of the horse that, at a primal level, relies on flight for a sense of safety. Unfortunately, for many horses with generalized foot pain, their discomfort goes unrecognized, is poorly understood […] Read more
Schoepp: Ag technology is a marvel but one that should be shared worldwide
There shouldn’t be haves and have-nots when it comes to the amazing advances in ag tech
Reading Time: 3 minutes As farmers, we are exposed to a multitude of choices in agricultural technology. And today, college students in Canada can earn an agricultural technology degree or diploma. What an opportunity for young men and women who want to grow food! I recently participated in the Global Agriculture Technology Summit on the panel for Women in […] Read more
Focusing on the big three calf conditions will pay dividends
Scours, pneumonia or navel infections are commonplace but their incidence can be reduced
Reading Time: 3 minutes Most experienced cattlemen will have had an increased incidence in one of the three main calf diseases we see on ranches across Western Canada. These can be smouldering problems and occur year after year. I have spent many a time over my career discussing treatment of scours, pneumonia or navel infection (and then, ideally, working […] Read more
Schoepp: Technology can be used to create new opportunities in Canadian agriculture
We can not only grow more veggies and fruits here, but also create new value-added sectors
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s food guide encourages putting fruits and vegetables at the centre of the plate. But to do this the nation is heavily dependent on imports, particularly from California. In 2019, Canada imported US$4.3 billion of vegetables, fruits and nuts from California. In total, Canada imports nearly US$6 billion in fruits and US$4 billion in vegetables […] Read more
There are several keys to getting a yearling on the proper path
Horse Health: Sound nutrition, plenty of exercise and social interactions are the foundation for the horse’s future
Reading Time: 4 minutes As the equine version of an early teenager, the yearling is a bit of a peculiarity within the modern-day horse world. Yearlings generally appear and act physically ungainly, have a naive mindset and are often emotionally raw. So pressure and haste are often placed upon the yearling to be more than it is and to […] Read more