The following resolutions were brought forward and voted upon at the 2022 ABP Producer Meetings held throughout January and February. Delegates met in-person for the Annual General Meeting in March, where they heard from members of the ABP executive and staff, and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). In support of ABP’s move to strengthen our producer outreach…
Actively engaging the Government of Canada on the priorities of the Canadian beef industry is a key focus of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). In early December 2021, Bob Lowe, CCA Past President, and Carley Henniger, President of the Young Cattlemen’s Council (YCC), had the unique opportunity to interview the Federal Agriculture Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau,…
Plastics are integral to most of our businesses, whether you are wrapping up bales or covering your silage pit. They are cheap, convenient, and resilient, which makes them useful but also difficult to get rid of. In the past, the most common practice for dealing with used ag plastics was to burn it – a…
Dystocia, otherwise known as a hard calving, is a stressful and painful event for both the cow and her calf. To decrease the risk of dystocia, producers can maintain the cow’s body condition score between 3 and 3.5 and breed for smaller birth weights to reduce the risk of dystocia. However, there is no way…
The Government of Alberta is looking for feedback on the initial phases of the Next Agricultural Policy Framework, in a short survey. Background NPF is a five-year (2023-2028) investment into Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. Initial consultations are underway, on current and potential challenges and opportunities facing agriculture, and prospective priorities and vision for the…
In a new program, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is supporting Canadian beef producers certified by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). “Canadian producers are already expert stewards of the land and livestock, and the beef sector has been a leader in demonstrating their sustainable practices through the CRSB,” said Todd Klink, FCC’s vice-president of…
The majority of trade last week was reported dressed from $288-293/cwt delivered and comparable live trade was reported at $172.50/cwt. Steer prices firming over $1/cwt higher to average $173.42/cwt. Western Canadian fed slaughter for the week ending May 14th was 7% larger than the previous week, totaling 45,376 head. YTD Western fed slaughter volume was…
By Reynold Bergen, BCRC, for the May 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen After last summer’s pasture conditions and last winter’s feed costs, it’s safe to say that many cow-calf producers are facing the upcoming grazing season with some anxiety. Some are looking for new grazing arrangements, opportunities to trim input costs, or both. No single solution…
With the drought last summer and supply chain issues through the winter, producers need to exercise caution when purchasing or selling feed this year. Stories of feed scams and theft continue to make the rounds at coffee shops and in news, and the Alberta RCMP livestock investigation unit has seen a surge in related reports….
It is hard to believe it’s that time of year again! Hopefully these few months feel more like “tagging season” than “calving season.” However, if things don’t go quite as planned, the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) has put together some fantastic resources to help you improve the outcome for any compromised calf that hits…
From Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada As ecological approaches to reduce the impact of human activities on the environment multiply, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Research and Development Centre in Sherbrooke, Quebec, continues to innovate in this area. Scientists are expanding the vast experience of the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre in the valorization of manure…
Ruminant Nutritionist Lynne Girardin provides supplement recommendations to support health in weaning calves. Getting calves off to a healthy start depends on a combination of factors, including good genetics, a healthy heifer, and ample, high quality colostrum. “A healthy cow means healthy milk, and healthy milk means a healthy calf,” suggests Lynne Girardin, ruminant nutritionist…