Health & Production

Farm infrastructure and feedstock fires can be devastating. Careful planning reduces the risk. Prairie summers bring heat, thunderstorms, and bugs, but unfortunately, the season also comes with the risk of forest, grass, and farmyard fires. Brad Andres, Director of Emergency Management Services at Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation explains the standard three steps of ‘Personal Preparedness’:…

This article was originally posted on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website on February 22, 2024. Alternative or non-conventional feeds, such as grain screenings, cull potatoes or distillers’ grains, can be an economical means for beef cattle producers to supplement forage and grain inventories while continuing to meet animal nutritional requirements. However, due to variability…

In a concerted effort to safeguard natural ecosystems, the Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS) is hosting National Invasive Species Action Week (NISAW). This annual event, running May 12-18 this year, aims to raise awareness and promote action against invasive species across Canada. Invasive species pose a significant threat to our environment, agriculture, and communities….

This article was originally posted on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website on May 9, 2023. Rejuvenation of a forage stand, whether hay or pasture, involves using one or a combination of methods to increase productivity with a shift towards higher yielding forage species that provide improved nutritional value for livestock.  If an assessment of…

With a smaller cow herd in both Canada and the United States, the demand for calves in the fall of 2024 will be high. Reducing the number of open cows could have financial benefits. Breeding season starts approximately 81 days after calving. At this point in time, cows are just past peak lactation (56 days…

Lost ear tags are a costly and frustrating reality on Canadian cattle ranches. Yet, tags play an integral role in in disease outbreak investigations, as well as in maintaining the credibility of Canada’s traceability system. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) both examines and investigates reports of retention issues on an ongoing basis. Most of…

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) has decided to refer to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV). Although caused by the same virus as HPAI, the disease presents differently in cattle compared to poultry, which is why the AABP has requested the name change. In the letter, the…