Issues & Insights

Wow, have you looked at the price of a steak lately? Canadian retail beef prices are at the highest level in history, inflating over 20% a year. A good steak or roast can cost $25-50 in the store; can you believe it? That is for an unbranded commodity product sold from a largely undifferentiated commodity…

Supply chain issues are affecting many products, including livestock identification devices. Shortage of raw material and staff absenteeism at manufacturing plants are now creating some noticeable delays. CDMV (CCIA’s distributor) is receiving some shipments periodically, but as the busy calving season is upon us, demand is exceeding availability for some products. It is important to…

According to the Canadian Meat Council (CMC), there are currently over 150 loads of Canadian beef unable to pass the Coutts/Sweetgrass border crossing. “The longer this takes, it will cause more supply chain issues and this will affect everyone from producer to consumer,” said a CMC statement on Monday. “The beef industry is aware of…

Livestock producers in Alberta now have the option of using video technology for ante-mortem inspections. The province’s Video Ante-Mortem Inspection Program (VAMI) gives livestock producers the option to offer a humane death and ante-mortem inspection for animals that cannot be transported to a provincially-regulated abattoir. VAMI can be used if an animal is unfit for…

As you walk across a drought-stricken perennial forage stand, you’ll hear the crunch of dry grass, and   see the cracking of soils, eager for more rain. There may be enough grass to inspire hope, to catch snow, and to offer a quick start to next year’s grazing season. Or, there may not. Perhaps this…

By Lisa Guenther, Editor, Canadian Cattlemen The recent article in Time proclaiming cows as the new coal must have been discouraging to ranchers and beef farmers, never mind the segment on CBC’s The Current that included cutting red meat as a way to fight climate change. At one point on The Current, Lloyd Alter, who has a background as an architect and…

Supporting bred heifer nutrition presents unique challenges. How can producers ensure bred heifers get high health scores, breed and rebreed successfully going into winter after a dry year? We spoke to ruminant nutritionist Lynne Girardin to collect some helpful advice. When it comes to bred heifers, meeting nutritional requirements throughout gestation and beyond is primary….

Auction markets are where buyers and sellers meet in the cattle business. They remain relevant and busy, and this year, are on the frontlines of drought’s impact on producers.  Fears exist about another widescale reduction in the Alberta cow herd because of the hardships caused by the lack of rain. While it hasn’t fully materialized…

On Thursday, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau, launched the AgriCommunication Initiative with up to $8 million over three years “to support projects that promote consumer awareness of the strengths of the agriculture sector.” “Consumers have a growing interest in learning more about where homegrown agricultural products come from and how they’re made,” said…

Consumers really do eat up the idea of cattle consuming food waste. So much so, that a recent survey showed that consumers across the country seemed to warm up to the idea of beef production practices in Canada when they were related to a challenge they undertake in their homes everyday.  The survey, conducted by…