Reading Time: 2 minutes New transportation regulations that cut maximum time cattle can be confined in a transport trailer could have a major impact on buyers such as Ken Schaus. The 48-hour limit is being cut to 36 hours under the new rules (although there’s a two-year transition period which started Feb. 20 when the regulations came into effect). […] Read more
New rest-break rule a challenge for eastern buyers
But reviewing the rules is a good thing because cattle transport is being scrutinized, says veteran cattle buyer
Attention to the details pays dividends when transporting cattle
It’s a long haul from Alberta to Ontario, but cattle arrive in good shape when things are done right
Reading Time: 5 minutes Producers don’t often think about what happens to their cattle after they leave the farm, and the cheque is in the bank. But with more public focus — and new rules — on how animals are transported, it’s worthwhile to have a better understanding of what happens (or doesn’t) after your cattle are loaded on […] Read more
Less is proving to be more at Agri-Trade Equipment Expo
The change to a three-day format proved to be a success as the show continues to hit the high notes
Reading Time: 3 minutes It was a major change, but Agri-Trade’s switch to a three-day format proved to be a success. “That was a real positive move,” said Dave Fiddler, manager of the Red Deer ag equipment expo. The move to a three-day format (from four previously) was exhibitor driven, with most wanting to be away from home for […] Read more
The heat is on for innovation award contestants at Agri-Trade
The Red Deer show is using a ‘Dragons’ Den’ approach to pick the winner of its Ag Innovation award
Reading Time: 4 minutes Showcasing agriculture innovations has long been one of Agri-Trade’s priorities. But this year, it’s upping its game — and making the contenders for its Ag Innovation award do the same. Organizers of the Red Deer ag equipment expo will give $20,000 to a company that not only has a creative product or service that benefits […] Read more
Rancher finds success after realizing he had things backwards
Morrie Goetjen spent years focusing on his cattle, but he now says it’s healthier soil that is the key
Reading Time: 4 minutes What do a policeman and cattle producer have in common? Probably not much, unless you are Morrie Goetjen. The Calgary-area producer has been farming full time since the mid-’80s but since retirement has been able to really focus on his cattle operation. Goetjen has land both northwest of Calgary and northeast of Cremona. The two […] Read more
Put your forage to the test – and money in your bank account
High-quality forage will save the cost of supplementing, and avoid costly calf losses
Reading Time: 4 minutes Letting cattle ‘pick and choose’ what they want to eat is no substitute for feed testing. The quality of forage needs to be matched to the animal’s needs — and those nutrition requirements are going to change throughout the year. And that’s why you should test your forages, say experts and groups such as the […] Read more
The test results are back —so what do they mean?
Test results should drive a feeding program, but you need to know what the numbers signify
Reading Time: 2 minutes Interpreting forage test results can sometimes be like trying to read a foreign language. But there’s a new translation tool — the aptly named ‘A Tool for Evaluating Feed Test Results.’ “The tool is designed to take feed test results and compare them to basic nutrition rules of thumb for different classes of cattle,” said […] Read more
Closing the loop: Food waste gets gobbled up on farms
Chickens eat sushi while washing it down with non-alcoholic beer
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sushi, sandwiches, broccoli, yogurt, and non-alcoholic beer. Sounds like things you might eat when in fact, it’s what I feed my chickens. Yes, you read that right. My chickens eat sushi and drink non-alcoholic beer on occasion. It’s all thanks to a program called The Loop and a local grocery store chain, Save-On-Foods. The Loop […] Read more
Connecting the dots: Less stress = less sickness = fewer treatments for cattle
The time spent on acclimation is easily reclaimed with the benefit of improved herd health, says longtime vet
Reading Time: 3 minutes Low-stress handling has been around for decades, but the practice is becoming more widespread. “There has always been a bit of a trend,” said Dr. Roy Lewis, a well-known Alberta veterinarian who had a large-animal practice for many years. But while the techniques are commonly used in the handling of purebred bulls, on some cow-calf […] Read more
Building a little trust with bovines can produce big dividends
Low-stress handling isn’t new but it’s gaining new attention thanks to a (gentle) push from a major animal health company
Reading Time: 3 minutes Does the thought of working cattle bring to mind shouting, pushing unwilling cattle in directions they don’t want to go, and excessive prodding? It doesn’t have to be that way. The late Bud Williams started training producers and feedlot workers in low-stress handling methods three decades ago and today that work is carried on by […] Read more
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