Health & Production

Ensuring a transition of optimal health and feed efficiency Alberta provides some of the best rangeland in the world – rolling native grasslands, wide-open spaces, and water – all crucial to raising healthy, profitable, world-class, Alberta beef. As cattle come back from summer pastures and into their fall and winter-feeding routines however, it is important…

Three years after winning Farmer of the Year, and starting to speak publicly about personal experiences with depression, Peter (Pete) and Paula Hynes had a conversation that led to the start of a global initiative. It was during Farm Safety Week, when the Hynes duo realized Ireland loses more farmers to suicide than farm accidents….

Beat costs and boost yields with bale grazing From the Beef Cattle Research Council Many Canadian producers have taken steps to extend their grazing period and provide forage for cattle outside of confinement and away from corrals. Well planned extensive wintering systems have obvious benefits for reducing on-farm labour and yardage costs, but extended grazing…

We have been experiencing some beautiful fall weather lately, but by now I think most of us have also had a good frost or two (you know, the kind that kicks us into high gear scrambling to get all of the things we need to get done before winter, done?). Of course, the shorter days…

By Beef Cattle Research Council Many cow-calf producers from B.C. through Ontario are planning to wean and sell their calves earlier this year. Others are reluctant to sell lightweight calves into a flooded market so are thinking about retaining ownership, putting extra pounds onto lightweight calves, and selling into a more promising feeder market in early 2022.    Many factors need to be considered when preparing to feed lightweight calves  Calves face…

Do not use ivermectin in an attempt to prevent or treat COVID-19. Human formulations of ivermectin should only be used for specific parasitic worm infections, and only under the supervision of a health provider. There are growing concerns of the unauthorized use of ivermectin to try to prevent or treat COVID-19. In a safety alert,…

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of monthly columns by Melissa Downing, Alberta’s Provincial Coordinator with VBP+. Find previous articles on ABP Daily. This time of year, many of us are gearing up to ship our calves, yearlings, or cull cattle off the farm. Given the current pasture and feed situation in most…

The Do More Agriculture Foundation (Do More Ag) is offering mental health professionals a chance to learn about the unique challenges facing people in agriculture. According to Healthy Minds Healthy Farms, a 2020 study led by Farm Management Canada (FMC), farmers are more likely to participate in support programs offered by providers familiar with agriculture,…

A relatively new tapeworm is catching researchers by surprise in Alberta, and emphasizing the importance of zoonotic diseases. “It’s really too soon to predict where this might go, but there are several reasons to think that there will be more cases diagnosed in the future,” says Dr. Stan Houston, infectious disease expert at the University…

From the Beef Cattle Research Council Many farmers truly enjoy working cattle but for some producers (and perhaps their family members) sorting and processing cattle may not bring out the best in everyone. The good news is reducing stress is entirely possible. In many cases, inexpensive changes or tweaks can benefit herd – and family…