No bones about it, bone broth is trending because of the strong demand from today’s consumers who are enjoying it in soups and teas for its savoury, nourishing and healing qualities. Bones are the most nutritious part of the animal. Rich in protein, collagen and gelatin, bone broth has been used for thousands of years…
Whether calving has already started, or you’re months away, it’s a good time to revisit some behaviour and warning signs that a calving cow or heifer may need attention. There are three stages to parturition (calving). Stage one involves cervix dilation, and must be complete before any pull assist; Stage two begins with the fetal…
Even on the coldest January nights, BBQ pit master Mel Chmilar Jr. is still firing it, making tropically inspired meals to chase away the winter blues. He also offers unusual tips (including using welding supplies) to enhance your winter grilling experience. In the November issue, we met Albertan Mel Chmilar Jr., who welds by day…
There’s more than one kind of branding going on at the MGM Cattle Company, and that’s just the way Meghan Marshall likes it. She’s a busy Mom and ranch hand, but throws her own unique enterprise into the mix, to make for a full and varied life she wouldn’t trade with anyone. The family’s livestock…
Across Alberta last fall cattle came off pasture light. This is a serious concern, especially when it comes to preparing for and protecting the health of the next generation. We asked beef nutrition consultant Barry Yaremcio for some recommendations to support pregnant heifers through late gestation and calving. Here is his advice. Recognize unique requirements…
It might be difficult to keep top of mind while pastures and native grassland are frozen this winter but, under the snow, the land that suffered through extreme heat and drought in 2021 is in distress. As we look ahead to the 2022 grazing season, it will be important to engage in pasture rejuvenation strategies…
It’s been a tough year for many cattle producers in Western Canada who have suffered through the worst drought in 70 years. Last summer, I visited some of the hard-hit regions of the Prairies during the peak of the drought. It was heartbreaking to see the sun-scorched fields and to meet farm families forced to…
Barbed wire, nicknamed “the Devil’s rope,” was the first wire technology capable of restraining cattle. Introduced across Canada in the late 19th century, it was seen as an inexpensive way for landowners to fence in large fields and maintain control over their herds. The Devil’s rope has thus far withstood the test of time, still…
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…
In a year of continued challenges due to COVID-19, drought, extreme weather and more, we saw the true strength and resilience of the Agriculture Industry. We saw producers innovate and problem solve as mother nature put them to the test. We saw communities and groups rally together in support of each other and we saw organizers and planners work tirelessly…
The market heading into 2022 looks positive, but unfortunately, high feed costs have taken a bite out of calf and feeder prices. The fall cattle market had its share of challenges. Ample fed supplies kept fed prices relatively flat to start the fourth quarter, cow prices hit some of the lowest prices in over 10…
Connecting producers and retailers to beef consumers is about to get a whole lot easier thanks to a QR-code UPC code-based education portal spearheaded by Canada Beef. The Beef Information Gateway is a new digital ecosystem that aims to put beef education in the hands of consumers and open their minds to new and different…