By Rebecca Zandbergen, CBC News Ross Butler of Woodstock, Ont., first came to prominence as a livestock painter in the 1930s when a number of Canadian horse and cattle breed committees hired him to paint their idea of a perfect specimen. “For several years, he was known as the world’s leading livestock artist, which was a…
50 years! The cattle feeding industry has faced many high and lows, from record-high prices to BSE, and the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA) has been here through it all. February 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of ACFA being the voice of Alberta cattle feeders. Cattle feeding was just getting started in the late 1960s…
When you aim to produce the ‘best beef in a better world,’ you’ve got a lot on your plate. But Sean McGrath tackles the target bite by bite. McGrath also appreciates that the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) process emphasizes principles and is adaptable on practices. “I know ranchers don’t like being told what…
From their highs in late June, fed cattle prices have declined $12/cwt. The leverage shift from cattle feeder to packer is seasonally occurring, reflected in softer prices and weaker basis levels. That said, fed prices for July will average around $240/cwt, the second-highest monthly price on record. Dressed sales were reported at mostly $395/cwt delivered….
By Dr. Rebecca Purc-Stephenson for the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network We’ve all felt anxious at one point or another in our lives. It’s a very normal reaction to stress. It’s feeling worried, panicked, fearful, and uneasy about a future concern. We might even feel faint, sweaty like our heart is racing, or we have…
Another Calgary Stampede is in the books, and Alberta Beef Producers was excited to be part of the action! Here’s a brief roundup of a few of the activities we took part in this year: Alberta Beef Industry Stampede Summit Along with other beef industry organizations, ABP welcomed provincial and federal politicians to our second…
A familiar face is taking up the federal agriculture portfolio as part of Wednesday’s cabinet shuffle. Lawrence MacAulay was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, reprising the position he held from 2015-2019. ABP would like to thank outgoing Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau for her dedication to Canadian agriculture, and to congratulate her on her…
Feedlot production is an essential part of our industry. It provides an avenue for cow-calf producers to sell and finish their calves, ultimately producing the nutritious beef that we all enjoy. With fluctuating costs and tight margins, feedlot producers are constantly innovating and working with some of best service providers to seek solutions for increased…
Western Canadian fed cattle prices continued to soften as we head into the dog days of summer. This is not unusual; between June and August, fed steer prices have softened in seven of the last ten years, and 13 of the last 20 years. Steers eased $1.50/cwt lower to $238/cwt, and heifers were down $1/cwt…
By Paula Duhatschek, CBC Calgary Inside an agricultural exhibition building at the Calgary Stampede, kids practise rotating cattle through different areas of pasture, earning “carbon points” as they go if they can avoid under- or overgrazing the land. They’re playing Guardians of the Grasslands, a computer game that was produced with funding from a government grant program, the charitable arm…
Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is standing with the Canadian Pork Council, the Canadian Cattle Association, and the Canadian Meat Council in opposition to the Government of Canada’s agreement to include the United Kingdom (UK) in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Under current trade agreements, the UK does not accept Canada’s animal…
Producers can get The Dish on the challenges and opportunities of perennial risk management August 1 at AgSmart in Olds, AB. The Dish is a special informational event hosted by Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC) and AgSmart. Attendees will gain insights into the opportunities and challenges related to perennial risk management in both Canada and the…