A couple weeks ago at the International Livestock Congress I took the opportunity to have my 9 year old daughter join me for the day. I expected her to sit in the corner of the room and play on her ipod all day but instead she naturally asked for a media pass and volunteered for... Read More
Category: Livestock
With concerns around climate change, the availability of non-renewable resources, and increasing the sustainability of industries as a whole, it is not surprising that organizations like the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) are looking at ways to harness energy that is otherwise wasted. I recently spoke to Joy Agnew, project manager at PAMI, about their... Read More
Purebred cattle breeders have relied on artificial insemination (AI) and estrus synchronization as a part of herd management for decades. That got me thinking — what’s stopping commercial breeders from doing the same? Time? Money? Aren't these reasons we should be considering AI? In June, Travis Peardon, regional livestock specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of... Read More
For a bit of a change of pace, Shaun Haney and Anne Wasko sat down face to face for this edition of the Beef Market Update. Filmed at the International Livestock Congress held last week in Calgary, Alta., this Beef Market Update covers several good news topics in stark contrast to last year's discussion at... Read More
Maximizing forage acre production may be an easy concept to work on in the office, but making decisions in the field isn't always that straightforward. How do you know whether or not a pasture needs some rejuvenation versus renovation? What factors play a role in getting the most out of existing acres, and what are... Read More
So, it seems we don’t just have an issue eating our horses, but also our hens. A recent article by Sarah Boesveld of the National Post, brought my attention back to a rather interesting consideration: “the urban chicken movement.” You’ve heard of it, yes? The desire many urbanites have, to produce their own food? Well,... Read More
As everyone is hearing from the news this morning regarding the lawsuit against the US Government for the possible unconstitutional components of COOL, this is very much apart of a multi pronged attack against the legislation. Who better to talk to an hour after the launch of the legal battle than John Masswohl, Canadian Cattlemans... Read More
Eight major livestock lobby groups in the United States and Canada have decided to pursue legal action against the United States Government for its implementation of the new mandatory country of origin (COOL) legislation. The legal action was released this morning and it pits the producers and packers against the US government in a very... Read More
Biosecurity is one of those terms that brings to mind people in hazmat suits and areas roped off with red tape and biohazard signs. The simple truth about the term biosecurity is that it consists of a lot of things that producers already do on the farm. Biosecurity is everything producers do to prevent the... Read More
Many Canadian cattle people have been urging CCA and the Canadian cattle industry to try and focus more on developing other markets than just the United States. With issues like mandatory COOL in place in the Unites States, other trade partners are needed so that the Canadian beef industry is not just a one trick... Read More