Category: Livestock

For many in the agriculture industry and especially the beef industry, the announcement that BSE had been found in the Canadian cattle herd was one of those moments where you'll likely always remember where you were when you first heard it. I was at work, my first job in publishing, and the news came over... Read More

There are few things I love more than the smell of fresh cut hay. The joy of that smell for some comes from the incredible value a high-producing alfalfa field creates. But while alfalfa stands can produce for several years, each winter takes its toll on the crop, and a careful evaluation of production potential... Read More

There are some jobs on the farm (and at home for that matter, but we won't get into that now) that are worthwhile, important jobs, but really leave you feeling like the time could be better spent somewhere else. Those jobs are exactly the niche jobs robotics were designed to fill. In years past, the... Read More

Working with what nature gives you and spending a bit of time with pen and paper can boost your pasture and hay land productivity. Whether it's matching topography like floodplains to forage species that don't mind wet feet, or mapping out cattle movement or winter feeding needs, pasture planning is well worth the time. In... Read More

Shaun Haney and Anne Wasko discuss the increase in US beef cutout prices versus the slumping cash price to feedyards. Is it all about packer margin or is there a bigger story yet to be told on beef demand through the summer. If you cannot see the embedded audio file, CLICK HERE

The agriculture industry has historically taken the tact of "Science is on our side" in many debates over food production. But, as Charlie Arnot, with the Centre for Food Integrity, explains, perception trumps science when it comes to how consumers shape their opinions about food and their food choices. "Science tells us if we can... Read More

You may have run out of hay this winter, but at least you have the know-how to start your own snow-removal business! There’s a plus side to everything, right? We were actually pretty fortunate, this winter (I mean, besides from the experience gained by the aforementioned snow collection). Though we used more hay than anticipated,... Read More

A cow who is uncomfortable or, worse, in pain, won't just produce less milk, she's also less likely to get back in calf. It may seem simplistic, but solid research shows a definite and measurable link between foot and leg health and reproductive health. Dr. Renaldo Cerri, with the University of British Columbia, spoke recently... Read More

Just because an animal does not overtly display discomfort, doesn't mean they don't feel any. This is true of prey animals — like cattle — where displaying pain may make them an easy target for predators. Because of this, it can be difficult to gauge how painful some procedures may be on animals. That said,... Read More

2013 is a big year for 4-H Canada, as it's the year the organization marks 100 years of "learn to do by doing." Started in Roland, Manitoba, so very long ago, 4-H's particular style of teaching young farm kids about everything from animal husbandry to woodworking has evolved in recent years to include instruction for... Read More