Canada's beef production system is working at an improved feedback-mechanism to cow-calf producers on carcass quality traits. Why? Because, ultimately, it's the cow-calf producer making genetic pairings and selections, but it's the feedlot operators seeing the results and often receiving the feedback on carcass quality. As the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) 2.0 moves into place,... Read More
Category: Livestock
If you're a cattle producer in Western Canada, I expect you'll find an opportunity for a mid-winter change of scenery rather interesting. Although the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference organizers likely won't guarantee warm temperatures or a lack of snow, they are offering the chance to attend an industry tradeshow, breed and association meetings and the... Read More
For a year there has been a very interesting project in development called the Beef Straw Man which is trying to facilitate a Canadian beef industry strategy. The three straw men gathered 200 people into the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary on Tuesday to get more input, seek feedback and prepare for a final... Read More
At the Canfax Market Forum I was able to catch up with the Canadian Cattlemen Association President Martin Unrau to get an update on the recent activities of the CCA in the last year. Obviously mandatory country of origin labeling MCOOL and CETA have captured much of the time. If you cannot see the above... Read More
It would seem that American and Canadian cattle producers have a little hop in their step and a little more jingle in their pockets. Cattle prices are high and feed costs continue to shrink. Shaun Haney caught up with CattleFax analyst Duane Lenz at the CanFax Market Forum in Calgary to discuss the American cattle... Read More
Activists (some would say anarchists) seem to be routinely using the method of releasing shocking undercover videos that attempt to create the perception that all producers are using horrible practices. Whether it be the W5 Poultry video, Ohio Hog Farm Video or any other, this undercover scenario is something that not many producers would be... Read More
The Lancet Infectious Diseases published an editorial entitled Antibiotic resistance—the need for global solutions to mark Antibiotic Awareness Week (which is this week, FYI). The article is as long as the situation is complicated. With twenty-six contributors and nearly 400 references, it looks to address the concerns around antibiotic resistance, factors that cause resistance, and... Read More
Following extensive consultation with researchers, producers and industry, the revised Beef Code of Conduct has been rolled out. In it, ranchers and feedlot owners alike will see some changes, some of which are recommended and others that are required moving forward into 2016. A document that's nearly 70 pages long can seem a little overwhelming,... Read More
If you asked me a year ago today what I was up to for the winter, I would have grinned and said, "feeding cows." A few months in, and I may not have been grinning much, save for one thing: podcasts. (sorry AM/FM radio stations, our rural tractors don't come with 30' antennas) Long, cold... Read More
If you've been wary when fall-grazing alfalfa because of the risk of nitrate poisoning, you've been right to be careful, but for all the wrong reasons. Because alfalfa is a perennial legume, nitrogen is fixed and stored in the nodules of its root system and doesn't actually accumulate in the tissues (something that can be... Read More