This message was originally posted in Alberta Beef Producers’ 2023 Annual Report. You can find the PDF of the report here. It’s a privilege to share my first report as President of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) with beef producers from Alberta. This year has brought many challenges for beef producers across the country. It’s ranged…
Many feedlots have indicated a large percentage of their cattle for the first quarter of this year are contracted and cash numbers will be light. With packers having a large percentage of their cattle procured via contracts, cash leverage has been limited and this trend might continue over the next couple of months. Over the…
The Government of Alberta has announced over $700,000 in funding in an ongoing effort to prevent human-wildlife conflicts in southwestern Alberta. The province says residents of southwestern Alberta have raised concerns regarding the growing grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, and cougar populations, and how they impact local communities and farms. The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association…
Following the first scheduled five-year review, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is pleased to release a fulsome update of the Certified Sustainable Beef Framework (the “Framework”). All components of the Framework were reviewed by a committee representing the whole beef supply chain, with input from stakeholders, subject matter experts, and public consultation. Key…
The calendar flips to January, and suddenly it seems like spring isn’t all that far away. Especially when the winter is as mild as many parts of the Prairies have experienced so far. Looking ahead, it’s easy to wonder what is going to cause headaches for this year. Will it be a lack of rain,…
This article was originally posted on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website on November 15, 2023. In beef production, genetics play a critical role in management and profitability. However, knowing whether you’re on the right track can be challenging. Compared to other livestock species, beef cattle have a long gestation period. Those 283 days, plus…
In Alberta last week, the weighted average price was $219/cwt live, down $1.60/cwt from the previous week. Dressed trade was reported from $362-363/cwt FOB, $3.75-7.00/cwt lower. Heifer trade was too light to establish a weekly trend. Steer carcass weights in the West last week were 983 lb, re-establishing a new all-time high and were two…
At Corns Seeds, they don’t just grow seeds, they also work with the plant breeders who develop those seeds. The Corns family has been farming for four generations. In that time, they’ve always focused on innovating to grow and keep the farm going for the next generation. “Land stewardship has always been a really big…
This message was originally posted in Alberta Beef Producers’ 2023 Annual Report. You can find the PDF of the report here. Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is committed to keeping producers informed and engaged on the issues that affect them. As part of its stakeholder relations portfolio, ABP celebrates producer achievements, encourages producer guidance, and shares relevant…
2023 has been a year of reflection, as well as a prime opportunity to look ahead to the future for the Canadian Cattle Youth Council. The youth council (formerly known as the Young Cattlemen’s Council) was established under the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) in 2013, to give young beef producers an opportunity to learn how…
This article was first published in Volume 3 Issue 4 of ABP Magazine (December 2023). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily. This fall was one for the books as producers saw record-high prices for cattle that headed to town, seeing anywhere from 20-40 per cent increases in prices from last fall. Producers were ecstatic…
This article was originally posted on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website on September 13, 2023. Understanding the cost of developing replacement heifers is crucial for informed decision making. The most significant factor in heifer development cost is the opportunity cost of foregoing revenue from selling calves at weaning. Each heifer kept for the breeding…