Following years of drought and a record-breaking wildfire season, pastures across Alberta are in poor condition. We asked rangeland ecologist Cameron Carlyle to bring us up to speed on the situation and provide some recommendations on how to help pastures recover. Across Alberta, wildfires and drought reduced available grazing acres in 2023, resulting in heavy…
Read MoreNew castration bands containing slow-release local anesthetic provide pain relief for cattle during castration. Large animal veterinarians in Alberta will soon be providing producers with anesthetic-infused castrationbands made in Canada. While producers currently inject pain relief or give it topically, a new process, developed by Solvet and Alberta Veterinary Laboratories (AVL), impregnates existing latex elastration…
Read MoreEach winter many producers face tough decisions about which heifers to retain to breed as replacements, and which to sell or send to the feedlot. Recent record-high cattle prices have great influence over those decisions. It often begins with a visual appraisal…How does she look? How tall is she? What does she weigh? Is she…
Read MoreDrifting smoke caused by massive wildfires has been a greater problem in Alberta this summer than ever before. We spoke to veterinarian Dr. Roy Lewis about how inhaling smoke might be affecting beef herd health. Following a record-breaking wildfire season in Canada, in which as much as two million hectares of land were destroyed in…
Read MoreAfter facing a third year of drought across much of Alberta, producers are getting creative in the search for alternative feed options. Here are some ideas to help beef cattle survive – if not thrive – through another difficult year. Continuing dry weather is translating into a tight feed supply again this fall. By mid-August,…
Read MoreThe results of a four-year animal transport research study, funded in part by ABP, suggest the most important animal welfare factor in transport may be conditioning before they get on the truck. Since we last reported on this story in January 2022, researchers have completed their final year of a study to help improve animal…
Read MoreWinter grazing has productivity pluses, including reduced costs for feed and labour and improved soil fertility. We spoke to three grazing experts to collect some research data and pro tips that will help you maximize the pluses of winter grazing. According to the Western Canadian Cow Calf Survey, a high percentage of beef producers have…
Read MoreBeef producers across western Canada are turning surplus food and food waste into high-quality protein by upcycling food that would otherwise go unused. By forming relationships with food producers, processors and retailers, beef producers across Canada are helping convert a massive amount of human inedible food, plants and plant byproducts into high-quality protein – milk,…
Read MoreAs the shortest and coldest days approach, now is the right time to prepare the herd for the worst winter might bring. We asked veterinarian Dr. Roy Lewis to help us check off chores to complete now, before the chilliest days arrive. Feed Start by ensuring you have secured enough winter feed for the size…
Read MoreAntimicrobial use in beef cattle production greatly benefits animal health. But, it has come under scrutiny in recent years, due to increasing incidents of antimicrobial resistance. To bring you the full story, we spoke to an animal health scientist and a feedlot veterinarian about the benefits and challenges of antimicrobial use, the developing risk of…
Read MoreJohne’s disease is a sneaky production-limiting disease that damages herd health. We introduced Johne’s in the November 2021 issue. A new digital risk-reward calculator has been developed to help beef producers predict the future spread of Johne’s in their herds, and compare costs and benefits of different management strategies. As cattle herds grow and consolidate,…
Read MoreRuminant Nutritionist Lynne Girardin provides supplement recommendations to support health in weaning calves. Getting calves off to a healthy start depends on a combination of factors, including good genetics, a healthy heifer, and ample, high quality colostrum. “A healthy cow means healthy milk, and healthy milk means a healthy calf,” suggests Lynne Girardin, ruminant nutritionist…
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