Livestock
Reading Time: 3 minutes Everything changed for Tom Thompson of Winding Creek Ranch when he attended the West Central Forage Association’s AGM in 2003. That was when the Mayerthorpe-area rancher learned about grazing principles that led to him winning Alberta Beef Producers’ 2017 Environmental Stewardship Award. “Kit Pharo (an American rancher who spoke at the meeting) was the one […] Read more
The award is nice, but the payoff even better for rancher
The winner of ABP’s Environmental Stewardship Award grows more grass and captures more rain by working with nature
Bocock Brothers receive top dairy award
Reading Time: < 1 minute John and Bill Bocock are the 2016 recipients of the Alberta Milk’s Dairy Industry Achievement Award. The brothers are trendsetters whose dairy careers have spanned decades, and among their contributions to the industry is a donation of 777 acres to the University of Alberta to create the St. Albert Research Station. The station is used […] Read more
No TB quarantines lifted over holidays
None of the 50 ranch properties still under federal quarantine for bovine tuberculosis in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan have been released in the past two weeks, officials reported Thursday. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday resumed regular updates on its ongoing investigation into cases of bovine TB in the area. As of Thursday, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle turn lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday gave back some of Wednesday’s gains, pressured by profit-taking and technical selling, said traders. They said early-session futures buying subsided after investors digested this week’s cash prices. February live cattle closed 0.6 cent/lb. lower at 115.075 cents (all figures US$). April ended down […] Read more
Get ready for super-efficient cattle — and a better relationship with consumers
Top researcher says big data and genomics are game changers, but winning the trust of consumers is equally key
Reading Time: 3 minutes In the ever-changing landscape of Canadian agriculture, efficiency is the new watchword. “If we can increase efficiency of production by about five per cent in Alberta, we can save producers about $100 million a year — even if only one-third of livestock producers adopt those efficient improvements,” said Erasmus Okine, vice-president of research at the […] Read more
Have a game plan before calving season gets underway
The risk factors that can sicken young calves are numerous but some can be mitigated, says veterinarian
Reading Time: 2 minutes The upcoming calving season will be a time of risk for disease on cow-calf operations. Pathogens that cause disease in young calves are present in all herds, so careful management is necessary to prevent them from getting sick. “Cow-calf producers most often deal with scours, septicemia, respiratory disease, and joint or navel ill,” said Dr. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Fund buying rallies live cattle, lean hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday reversed the prior day’s losses, with strength from technical buying and short-covering, said traders. February live cattle closed 0.8 cent/lb. higher at 115.675 cents (all figures US$). April ended up 0.775 cent at 114.725 cents and above the 10-day moving average of 114.547 […] Read more
Tim’s, Burger King to cut some antibiotics from chicken supply
The parent of fast-food chains Tim Hortons and Burger King plans to end the use of certain medically important antibiotics in its Canadian chicken supply chain in 2018. Restaurant Brands International (RBI) in late December announced the new policy on its website, saying it “will work with our supply chain partners to support and implement […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs retreat from four-month high
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs settled lower on Tuesday after profit-taking and fund liquidation dropped futures from an early-session four-month high, said traders. February hogs ended 2.65 cents/lb. lower at 63.5 cents (all figures US$). April closed down 1.175 cents, to 66.9 cents. Both contracts finished below their respective 10-day moving […] Read more
Just a bad patch? Or is the cattle sector in denial?
Two views of how the plan to revitalize the beef sector is working so far
Reading Time: 4 minutes The cattle industry needs to stop patting itself on the back and face an uncomfortable truth — its grand plan to create a bright new future isn’t yielding results. That’s the view of Charlie Gracey, one of Canada’s most renowned experts on the beef industry. And all you have to do is look at the […] Read more