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Cattle producers are adapting to dry conditions persisting across the Prairies but the drought is pushing their ingenuity to the limit. “We haven’t grown any grass — virtually zero native pasture grew in 2023,” said Brad Osadczuk of Jenner, Alta. “We are pretty good at carrying over from the previous year but we’re down to…

Canada’s monitoring regimen for bovine tuberculosis is based on tests that are old, time consuming and not overly accurate, researchers say. But there aren’t any better options. “We don’t have a better test for humans either,” said one researcher, Shu-Hua Wang. Wang is a professor of medicine at Ohio State University and director of research and implementation…

The holiday season is a time for joy, togetherness, and, of course, delicious food. While many traditional holiday dishes focus on poultry or ham, there’s something special about celebrating the holidays with beef. Whether you’re a carnivore at heart or simply looking to try something new, beef can add a unique and delectable twist to…

A new program sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada and supported by Farm Credit Canada hopes to spur producers to turn uneconomical farmland into perennial forage. The Marginal Areas Program on the Prairies is open to producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with DUC providing financial support to convert unproductive cropland to forage areas. Read more

Canadian beef cattle genetics have improved over decades as trends, production methods and market access channels evolve. Dr. Roger Davis, one of the founders of Davis-Rairdan Embryo Transplants, an elite embryo export business, is synonymous with the advancement and movement of beef cattle genetics. Read more

Farmfair International has driven major changes in the way two international beef producers grow cattle. And it all comes down to Canadian genetics. Read more

The federal government says it’s siding with Canadian farmers on the right-to-repair debate. An announcement this week from the federal government called for an adjustment to the Competition Act that would prevent manufacturers from refusing to provide the means of device and product repair in an “anti-competitive manner.” That declaration came in the government’s 2023 Fall Economic…

It is often hard to quantify the value of our participation at international conferences as the results aren’t always immediate. But having Canada’s experience and leadership in sustainable beef production at the table during these talks is starting to move the needle on the perceptions about environmental effects of beef production and how a regional approach…

Over the past 20 years, Canada’s barley acreage has shrunk by nearly 155,000 acres annually, while both wheat (up 440,000 acres annually) and corn (up 300,000 acres annually) have grown. A smaller barley supply has prompted Western Canadian cattle feeders to look at alternate grain sources. Cattle feeders in Central Canada and the U.S. have…

The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is excited to announce that the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) will deliver live cattle chain of custody tracking for the Certified Sustainable Beef Framework. After a significant two-year review of the program, CRSB is confident that working with the CCIA will enable consistent implementation of its chain of custody requirements…

The standing agriculture committee has released 15 recommendations for the federal government to consider after its study of the sector’s environmental contributions. In a report submitted in the House of Commons last week, the committee said Canadian farmers have a tradition of environmental stewardship but the government could help “unleash their full innovative potential and preserve natural…

Many producers use remote drug delivery devices. If you are thinking of using one, or if you have used one in the past, this article may be a good review. Dart guns have their pros and cons but the Beef Cattle Research Council has some great resources that can help. It offers guidelines on usage…

A new report for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute seeks to educate policymakers about the impact of animal agriculture on economic, social and environmental levels. Read more

Could your freezer beef carry the Certified Angus Beef brand logo? Perhaps. With the launch of a new program, Angus farmers and ranchers in Canada now have the option to market their beef directly to consumers as Certified Angus Beef product. Read more

Manitoba Beef Producers says the province should reinstate testing of wild game for bovine TB as a precaution, while testing continues on a Manitoba cattle herd. Two Manitoba herds were connected to cases of bovine tuberculosis found in Saskatchewan earlier this year. Testing is complete on one of those herds, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said…