Checking in with ABP

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The purpose of proactive investment in veterinary and medicine (vet and med) costs is to have better health outcomes, avoiding costly treatments and reducing death losses. However, as noted in the Optimizing Productivity fact sheet, there comes a point where more dollars spent do not…

What’s Changing and Why Over the past three years, grazing lease rental rates have climbed sharply. While record calf prices certainly played a role, much of the increase was driven by problems baked into the rental rate formula itself. The formula was doing exactly what it was designed to do — but in today’s market,…

The National Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) is seeing a concerning trend: unauthorized construction at confined feeding operations has increased significantly. Complaints have increased by approximately 32 per cent from 2024, and enforcement actions have jumped by about 125 per cent. Under Alberta’s Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA), it is illegal to begin construction of a…

Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off dollars that beef cattle producers allocate to research fund a variety of studies: from keeping cattle healthy and improving pasture productivity to boosting feed efficiency and ensuring high quality beef. This post is part of an ongoing series that highlights recent research results. You can find all BCRC research summaries under…

Eastern and Western Canadian fed prices have been moving in opposite directions as of late. Eastern Canadian fed prices were the lowest seen this year, while Western Canadian fed prices established new record highs. Last week, light to moderate trade was reported with dressed sales at $540.00/cwt delivered. Cattle that traded were scheduled for early…

A new pilot program aimed at strengthening rural veterinary services in Alberta will help connect veterinary students with livestock practices across the province. Funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Grant Program will invest $250,000 over two years to encourage veterinary students to gain hands-on experience in rural communities…

Over the past several decades, reproductive technologies like artificial insemination and embryo transfer have gained popularity in the beef industry by allowing producers to magnify the impact of high-profile genetics. Lately, the suite of reproductive services has evolved to offer cloning as another option for producers to further their use of top performing cattle.  While…

ABP’s producer-led Research Committee once again invested producer check off dollars into research in 2025 to improve the competitiveness, sustainability, and profitability of beef producers. In this funding cycle, proposals were considered through the Agriculture Funding Consortium and Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund. Each proposal undergoes a scientific technical review and then are evaluated by the…

Several Alberta women whose work is shaping agriculture through innovation, leadership, research and community building were recognized with the 2026 Women in Agriculture Awards presented by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). The awards were presented March 8 in Calgary during “The Notables,” a reception held alongside the Advancing Women in Agriculture & Food Conference (West)….

The University of Calgary’s Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU) has launched a new telepathology service and expanded diagnostic testing options, offering Alberta livestock producers enhanced veterinary-supported disease investigation and surveillance. “This is a very positive development for our industry here in Alberta,” says Karin Schmid, Beef Production and Extension Lead with Alberta Beef Prodcuers. “Having more…