Innovation & Technology

A new partnership is bringing beef DNA testing back to Canada. The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN) have announced a new strategic partnership to deliver DNA testing and analysis services, giving Canadian beef producers an alternative to sending samples abroad. Bringing testing…

Ear tags can be used for much more than just the identity of an animal these days. One of the newer technology entries to the Canadian cattle market is SenseHub® Livestock Monitoring from Merck Animal Health, which can provide both feedlot operators and cow-calf producers some helpful management insights. The illuminating electronic SenseHub® Cow Calf…

Ever wondered what the information on the label of beef means? There’s much to know! Here’s some guidance on the basics. We like to call it anatomy of a label. So much info on this tiny sticker! (a) The Name: This is the official beef cut name. The official name, tells you if the cut is…

This story was brought to you in partnership with Olds College of Agriculture and Technology. The Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has recently piloted the use of two different virtual fencing collars, Gallagher’s eShepherd and Nofence, marking a significant advancement in grazing management. This innovative technology…

This article was first published in Volume 4 Issue 3 of ABP Magazine (September 2024). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily. With the prospect of high prices in the future, it can be tempting to background. However, factors including current calf prices, cost of gain and projected feeder prices can impact profitability. Additionally, operation-specific…

Cattle management is often limited by labor and time resources. Drone technology is helping relieve these pressures for farmers and ranchers. “Temple Grandin always says, ‘We manage what we measure,’” says John Church, Associate Professor in the Natural Resource Science Department at Thompson Rivers University. “Drones are one of our most efficient ways to observe,…

A two-year research study examines how virtual fencing technology might fit the Canadian landscape. European and U.S. cattle industries experienced an influx of livestock-based technologies lately including virtual fencing. While it appears successful in warmer climates, will this technology hold up in colder, Canadian regions to become a fixture of cattle management? Alexandra Harland, a…