Health & Production

If the holiday season and planning for the year ahead seem exceptionally daunting, know that you are not alone. The holiday season and winter bring a unique set of additional stressors for producers that can significantly impact mental health. While this time of year is often viewed as a period of celebration and family gatherings,…

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) uses a three-tiered categorization system for evaluating bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk including negligible, controlled, and undetermined risk. According to Dr. Penny Greenwood, National Manager of Prion and Equine Programs for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the system is designed to reflect current knowledge and understanding of…

This year the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) celebrates a decade of its Beef Researcher Mentorship Program, which has connected more than 40 mentees with countless beef producer and industry mentors to bridge the gap between science and industry.  Launched in 2014, the program was inspired by the need for stronger connections between researchers and industry….

A new campaign is urging Albertans to continue their efforts in keeping the province rat-free. For over 70-years, Alberta has successfully prevented rats from establishing a permanent population, thanks to the diligent work of the Rat Control Program staff and the vigilance of its residents. The campaign, funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable…

Are you planning to expand or build a new confined feeding operation (CFO), manure storage facility, or manure collection area? If so, be sure your consultant is aware of the guidance for conducting subsoil investigations. Failure to follow this guidance could delay or otherwise impact your ability to obtain a permit under the Agricultural Operation…

This article was originally posted on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website on October 9, 2024. Often hidden hazards in beef cattle diets, mycotoxins can create a variety of problems including impaired immune response which can lead to secondary infections, compromised growth rates, reduced reproductive performance, lameness and gangrene. Illnesses caused by mycotoxins can be difficult to…

This article was originally posted on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website on October 31, 2022. If starch (from grain) is the fuel in a feedlot diet, fiber (from a roughage like silage) is the engine governor that slows digestion. A backgrounding diet might contain 60 per cent silage to moderate animal growth so that…