If you’re tired of hearing about carbon credits or carbon offsets, let’s switch gears and talk carbon insets. A carbon inset credit is equal to a carbon offset — a metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent is either reduced or stored. The key difference, explains Dr. Sara Place, is that an offset is bought by… Read More
Category: Cattle
Extreme high temperatures are hitting many parts of central North America, increasing the potential for heat stress in cattle, warns Karl Hoppe, North Dakota State University livestock systems specialist. “One day of heat stress is uncomfortable, but two or more days back to back without night cooling can be deadly for livestock,” says Hoppe. “Signs… Read More
Through the pandemic numerous food perspectives were subject to a shift, with more people cooking at home and grocery scarcity showing up for the first time for many. Just ahead of the pandemic, Beyond Meat, a plant-based protein company, went public to much fanfare. The Canadian Meat Council has, of course, been watching the plant-based… Read More
Elanco Animal Health Canada is introducing a new feed additive to the marketplace. Experior is a new product designed to help beef producers lead the charge towards a greener future. It is the first and only Health Canada-approved feed additive to reduce ammonia gas emissions in feedlot cattle and their waste. It is a flexible… Read More
Discussions are underway on whether or not a new beef packing facility would be viable in Saskatchewan. The industry has sustained healthy margins over the past two-and-a-half years and with Saskatchewan being the literal breeding ground for upwards of one million cows, it’s no wonder the province is up for consideration. Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association… Read More
From drought conditions, poor market prices, high input costs, and on-going costs for health maintenance, many western Canadian cattle producers are starting to question how much longer they can stay afloat. Some producers who are in drought-ridden areas are looking at selling off a portion of their herd out of necessity as their pastureland can no… Read More
Although ground meat, such as beef or pork, is a single-ingredient food product, proposed regulation changes by Health Canada could require front-of-package labelling warning of the food’s saturated fat content. Single-ingredient foods, such as eggs, vegetables, and fruit, are usually exempt from some labelling requirements, under Health Canada. Other countries that have implemented front-of-package regulations… Read More
Drought conditions are adding insult to injury for some cattle producers who considering tough decisions if pasture conditions don’t improve soon. Producers Jocelyn and Travis Wasko, who own XTC Ranches and Bar 4 Bar Ranches near Eastend Sask., are going into their third year of drought conditions and say they continue to employ a “take… Read More
Ranchers who employ multi-paddock grazing for cattle do so for many reasons, but a new study from the University of Alberta suggests the practice doesn’t significantly improve plant diversity on the land. A research team led by Jessica Grenke, PhD candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences, compared adaptive multi-paddock grazing, called AMP, with other… Read More
A private member’s bill aimed at reducing the risks of biosecurity breaches and trespassing on farms was re-introduced in the House of Commons on May 30. Bill C-275 was brought forward by Foothills MP and Conservative shadow minister for agriculture, John Barlow. Like Barlow’s previous Bill C-205, the new bill would amend the Health of… Read More
After a string of storms tore through parts of Saskatchewan early this spring, many cattle producers sustained losses which severely impacted their bottom line. The current eligibility requirements for disaster relief programs has left some producers with no relief at all. The Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) provides assistance to residents, small businesses, agricultural operations, First… Read More
The international organization that tracks global animal disease outbreaks and works to improve animal health has rebranded itself with an acronym that aligns with its full name in English. The World Organisation for Animal Health has been commonly known as the OIE dating back to its founding in 1924 as the Office International des Épizooties. As… Read More
Canadian beef producers who are certified through the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), are now eligible to receive an incentive payment from Farm Credit Canada (FCC) of up to $2,000. Curtis Granger, director of lending products and sustainability programs with FCC, says the main motivation behind the incentive payment is to increase certification for FCC customers…. Read More
A probiotic developed at the University of Alberta is showing promise in improving the health of dairy calves in the first weeks of life. Normally, the young animals’ undeveloped immune systems leave them susceptible to common ailments like diarrhea, which can stunt growth or even result in death. When fed a cocktail of four strains… Read More
Canada has once again been approved to export not only live cattle, but also beef products, to Brazil, who shut the doors on Canadian beef exports after Canada confirmed a case of BSE in 2003. Based on Canada’s BSE controlled risk status, live cattle have been approved for export to Brazil since July 2018, however,… Read More