Livestock
In a contest few were willing or able to call, Alberta’s ruling Progressive Conservatives handily held onto majority government Monday night, but had to leave their agriculture minister behind. Evan Berger finished a solid second in his riding of Livingstone-MacLeod, on a night which also saw former ag ministers Jack Hayden and Ty Lund fall […] Read more
Alberta Tories win nail-biter, lose ag minister
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices stabilize
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices appear to have stabilized for the time being. Auction market volumes have declined, with the small-farmer cattle feeder preparing for spring seeding. The market will likely consolidate over the next month as warmer temperatures materialize. Demand for grass cattle improved last week but with barley prices jumping another $5 per […] Read more
Pork exports set new 2011 record, 2012 seen down
Canadian exports of fresh, chilled and frozen pork established a new record during calendar year 2011, but are unlikely to match that level in 2012, according to an official in the industry. "Demand for Canadian pork products from China, South Korea and Russia were spectacularly strong in 2011 and helped to fuel the record level," […] Read more
The beef industry could use a sense of wonder about the future
From the hip Young leaders listened to advice from veterans, but there’s work to be done
Reading Time: 3 minutes For me, it was yet-another packed plane and one of many this spring but for the little girl across the aisle, this was her first flight. As the plane lifted she sang out “Oh… look! We can fly!” This sense of wonder charmed and captivated the entire group on the plane. It is this awe […] Read moreExpert says dairy producers need to rethink their approach to treating mastitis
HISTORY MATTERS Each cow has a unique set of risks and that should determine whether to treat the disease or cull
Reading Time: 2 minutes Dairy producers need to take more care and follow proper procedure when treating a dairy cow with mastitis. Too often employees without access to a cow’s records are in charge of treatment, dairy expert Pamela Ruegg told attendees at the recent Western Canadian Dairy Conference. “These guys don’t have time to be making decisions about […] Read moreApril 30 is the deadline for crop insurance
New features AFSC offers a spring price endorsement rider and enhancing the unseeded acreage benefit
Reading Time: 3 minutes As crop prices continue rallying at high levels, the upcoming growing season looks profitable for Alberta farmers. But provincial crop market analyst Charlie Pearson wonders how long the current price rally will last. He cautions producers to think about locking in some of the high prices they’re seeing — before profits slip away. “I don’t […] Read morePink slime: An object lesson for the meat industry?
Labelling The beef industry is not doing itself any favours by claiming “beef is beef”
Reading Time: 3 minutes With a long-term decline in per capita consumption — 94 pounds per capita in 1976 to 60 pounds per capita in 2009 — the last thing that U.S. cattle producers need is the current controversy over “pink slime.” And with the controversy in full swing, they certainly don’t need industry and political leaders fighting the […] Read moreShort-sighted solution to the wrong problem
Phosphorus It’s fertilizer, not a pollutant, so why not manage pigs in a way we can use it?
Reading Time: 3 minutes “It would be giving the animal a gene, which nature made a mistake by not giving them.” If there is one sentence that captures why the world’s first GMO pig never made it to market, it would be this comment from one of the lead researchers on the University of Guelph project back in 2001. […] Read moreAdverse consequences of phenylbutazone
Bute Indiscriminate use can harm the horse, and does not address the cause of the pain being treated
Reading Time: 3 minutes Phenylbutazone, referred to as “bute” amongst horsemen, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for the short-term relief of pain, inflammation, and fever in horses. It is one of the most common medications administered to horses but indiscriminate use is wrought with adverse consequences. Therefore horse owners must be aware of its appropriate and prudent use. […] Read moreManitoba rancher takes the helm at CCA
Issues Retaining processing capacity and fostering foreign trade is critical for Canada’s cattle industry
Reading Time: 2 minutes Manitoba cow-calf rancher Martin Unrau is the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The former vice-president replaces Alberta’s Travis Toews. Along with wife Roxie, son Garett, and a part-time employee, Unrau runs 500 head on Bar 88 Ranch and crops 1,000 acres south of MacGregor, Man. A recent visit found Unrau, former head of […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
