Category: Livestock

After coping with excess moisture in many instances over the last few years, farmers in much of Western Canada are suffering from a case of “weather whiplash,” as Dave Phillips, veteran meteorologist with Environment Canada, has termed it. Much of the west has received less than 60 percent of average precipitation this growing season, with... Read More

There are few things on livestock operations more difficult than deciding whether or not to euthanize an animal. And according to Jan Shearer, professor at Iowa State University, we tend to let that decision go on way too long. Shearer was a speaker at this year’s UCVM Beef Cattle Conference pre-conference, where he spoke on... Read More

Elizabeth Homerosky, doctor of veterinary medicine and Simpson Ranch Fellow at the University of Calgary, is looking at developing a scoring system that might enable producers to predict a calf’s ability to consume colostrum on its own, in a timely manner. So far, the data seems to point in a rather unsurprising direction: suckling reflex.... Read More

McDonald's Corporation is offering up to $20,000 in funding for organizations and members of the Canadian beef community for projects that help prepare ranches and feedlots to successfully participate in the McDonald’s Verified Sustainable Beef Pilot Project (VSB Pilot). Qualifying applicants may be veterinarians, genetics providers, feed companies, associations and more. The funding, up to... Read More

It’s our own complacency that brought on the threat of antimicrobial resistance, says Trisha Dowling, a professor of veterinary clinical pharmacology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. “We got complacent just pretty much thinking there was a pill for every ill. So there’s been a whole lot of use of antibiotics just in case... Read More

The Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA) is urging producers to keep a close watch on their sheep and lambs, as strong prices can cause an uptick in sheep rustling incidences. Stock is at risk in pastures and in barns, and farmers are encouraged to take some extra time to deter thieves. This may include: Limiting... Read More

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation (CCF) officially launched this week with a golf tournament and much celebrating. RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney spoke with CCF chair Bob Lowe from the event to highlight what the foundation is all about — building and sustaining the Canadian cattle industry by focusing on youth and leadership, environmental sustainability, and timely research.... Read More

The dry conditions in much of the west are underlying many conversations and decisions at Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina while excess moisture is causing problems in Ontario. Here’s this week’s news update, featuring Norm Hall of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and others: Find more coverage of the ’15 Farm Progress Show... Read More

The 5th annual UCVM Beef Cattle Conference is officially underway today, following a rather insightful day of pre-conference workshops at the University of Calgary’s Spyhill Campus. The pre-conference dealt with proper management of cattle, covering low-stress handling techniques, treatment protocols and humane euthanasia. For now, I’ll report on the middle ground, as I’ve covered cattle... Read More

Ontario Corn Fed Beef, a beef brand owned and operated by Ontario beef farmers, is expanding into international markets in Japan. Following the May 1st launch of Ontario Corn Fed Beef at 33 Kinsho Stores throughout the Osaka Japan market, a delegation of guests, including retail and distribution partners from Japan, are touring Ontario beef... Read More