“Producer perspectives from across the country help ensure the code reflects the diversity of Canadian beef production systems and remains practical for producers who raise cattle,” Canadian Cattle Association president Tyler Fulton said in a news release.

WHY IT MATTERS: The national code serves as a reference point for provincial animal enforcement officers and courts and sets a basic standard of care for beef cattle in Canada, the Canadian Cattle Association says.

The current code of practice was published in 2013. An update began in 2023 with a 15-person committee that includes representatives from the cattle, processor and transport sectors, veterinary and animal welfare experts, researchers, government representatives and others.

The process involves “respectful dialogue, evidence-based decision-making, and shared accountability,” the news release said.

The draft code of practices includes changes such as:

• Added requirements for monitoring cattle “more frequently” during heat waves and cold weather
• Added requirements for natural or man-made shelter from wind in cold weather
• Expanded guidlines around low-stress handling
• Added requirements around not branding cattle on the face or sensitive areas, and use of pain medication when branding cattle under six months old
• An added section on spaying of female cattle — a practice it says isn’t common in Canada
• Expanded requirements and information around euthanizing cattle, including acceptable methods

Public consultation is open until June 12.

The post Public consultation open on national beef code of practice appeared first on Country Guide.

Tessa Thomas, a livestock and feed extension specialist with the Government of Saskatchewan, spoke about biosecurity at the Livestock Happy Hour at AIM on Tuesday, July 16. She said while biosecurity in the beef industry is not as thorough as in other livestock industries, it is just as important.

“Disease spread may not be on top of mind,” she said.

Follow all of our Ag in Motion coverage at the Western Producer.

“You get kind of used to your day-to-day routine, but you never know when disease can strike, and just some of our day-to-day actions can be improved to prevent that spread.”

When certain diseases spread, they can impact the state of Canada’s imports and exports, which means it is important to know what is going on when it comes to disease on an operation.

Thomas recommends having a biosecurity checklist. Many small things can be done, such as:

• Disinfect your boots and trailer.
• Keep animal movement and health records.
• Work with a vet.
• Have a herd health management program.
• Avoid bringing in dairy calves or calves from other farms.
• Isolate new animals.
• Isolate animals showing signs of illness.
• Avoid shared fence lines with other ranches (if possible).
• Have a disease response plan and a plan for disposing of dead livestock.
• Clean drinking facilities and feeders/bunks.
• Have a written biosecurity plan in place.

“There are a lot of small steps that we can take to make our farms just a little bit more biosecure,” Thomas said.

When disinfecting your boots and trailer, using household bleach is good enough, unless the disease is parasitic. She advised using a 1:32 ratio of water to bleach, but if you are concerned about disease, use a 1:10 ratio.

She also highlighted investigating deaths to figure out exactly what may be going on.

“Investigating deaths is something I know some people struggle with. I know there’s no way to save that animal, so sometimes it’s hard to put extra money out when they’re already dead, but it’s key to understand why that animal died, and it could save you a lot of money in the end,” Thomas said.

Though the checklist may seem like it consists of a lot of things, Thomas said the biggest thing with a biosecurity plan is that it doesn’t have to be complicated.

“You don’t have to go out of your way to make a really complicated thing. It’s easier to make something simple that you can follow and follow through with because small changes become habits. With big changes, sometimes it’s hard to follow through with things, so it’s always better to start small.”

The post Ag in Motion speaker highlights need for biosecurity on cattle operations appeared first on Country Guide.

They moved their cow herd and entire ranch operation from British Columbia to Saskatchewan in 2017, successfully navigated droughts, and are now focused on finding new ways to improve the management of their land and herd.

Pine Ranch is a commercial cow-calf and yearling operation in Morse, Sask. Erika and Cyle manage the ranch alongside their three young daughters, working together as a family to produce high-quality, sustainably raised Canadian beef. Pine Ranch is Verified Beef Production Plus and Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef certified.

The ranch spans 5,440 continuous acres of 85 per cent native grasses. Their steers are sold each fall, and the heifers are backgrounded until spring or kept as herd replacements. After extended drought conditions in recent years, the family’s herd size has been reduced to 200 cows and 100 yearling heifers, but they are working to build up their numbers. They are also harnessing new methods of pasture management and improving the biodiversity of their land to help them expand and become more resilient.

Their willingness to transform and adapt is one of the many reasons they were awarded the 2024 Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers award, and they were happy to share their outlook on agriculture, leadership and what it means to find and leverage your “unfair advantage.”

CG: How long have you been farming, and what’s changed since you started?

Cyle: Erika returned to the family ranch in 2012, and I joined in 2014. We used the opportunity to flip our management style when we moved from B.C. in 2017, and we’ve made some major changes again in recent years based on everything we’ve learned since the move.

Dealing with a new ranching environment in Saskatchewan, and especially drought, was new for us, so we are constantly changing. I think we’ve found our groove now, but we’re always open and willing to change and pivot when we need to. No matter what, soil health, cattle nutrition and low stress handling are integral components to our operation.

Erika: There have been plenty of changes outside of our ranch over the years too, like higher costs for everything, including the cost of inputs and equipment. At the same time, cattle prices have gone up.

Consumer perception has changed as well. The consumption of beef continues to stay strong despite higher prices, or the cost to consumers, so it’s great to see their support and demand for Canadian beef. It also appears that consumer trust of what we do and how we raise our beef is on the rise too. But I believe that while consumer support is strong, we still have work to do to bridge the gap between farmers and ranchers and Canadian consumers.

CG: Tell us about your Outstanding Young Farmers experience.

Erika: What a unique experience! It’s not very often that you get to spend time with people from across the country who represent such a wide range of agricultural sectors. Despite the differences in our operations, we were all like-minded and it was amazing to see how much we all had in common. We all have similar struggles and issues, like policy, labour, urban pressure and the rising cost of inputs.

We realized that while we are all different in what we do, we are all trying to innovate and become more efficient. The importance of soil health was a common concern for most of us, and we were able to articulate what we are all doing to make an impact on improving soil health in a positive way. 

CG: In your opinion, what makes a good leader?

Cyle: A good leader demonstrates a balance of integrity and adaptability. They must be strong enough to go after goals but be willing to adapt to change to achieve them. 

Erika: I believe a successful leader gives others confidence and encourages others. We’ve made it a priority to learn from other leaders, especially through mentorships. Mentorship is huge for me. I’ve had a lot of good mentorship opportunities that have been impactful, like encouraging me to try new things and inspiring new ways of thinking. 

There are plenty of industry programs that support leadership and knowledge sharing, and a great example is the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) Beef Researcher Mentorship Program that we’ve participated in. Three years ago, we were partnered with a researcher to help show them our side of the industry as producers, but we ended up learning from each other. It was a fun experience that continues to generate conversations. 

We are both focused on continuous education to improve our management skills and maintain biodiversity on the ranch, and part of that education comes from connections, conversations and learning from other leaders.

CG: How do you think your approach to farming is different from previous generations?

Erika: The accessibility of information is a major differentiating factor and advantage for our generation. Older generations tended to stick to their way of doing things because that’s the information they had available. Today, we are inundated with information. We can hear of a new idea, research it, watch a webinar or YouTube video and implement it — it’s that easy to get information.

The availability of information has made it easier for our generation to make big changes on the farm, too.

Cyle: Thanks to technology we are all easily connected. So, in addition to the ability to access unlimited information, we also have a network of people we turn to for advice or to bounce ideas off through countless communications channels. 

CG: What does farming look like today compared to when you started out?

Erika: So much has changed for us. A different province, farm management and production practices to name a few. Another change has been the shift from working on the business, not just in the business. It’s not perfect, but we’re trying to make more time to plan and think about the bigger picture. We’ve changed our approach to an emphasis on our goals and values, things that weren’t really discussed before that are now a big part of what we do. We also budget continuing education into our business so we can learn and bring new ideas back to the operation.

Cyle: We’ve both changed, too. We’re more confident and involved in the industry. Getting involved in organizations and industry opportunities has helped us add to our confidence and learn, while opening new networks. Now we’re in a position to give back to the industry and associations who have helped us get to where we are today. And participating in Outstanding Young Farmers is another way to network, learn from each other and give back to the industry.

CG: What is your best advice for young farmers or those coming into “the game”?

Cyle: Find your “unfair advantage” and use it. Your unfair advantage is whatever makes you different from your neighbours or competitors and can be as simple as doing something differently, your farm location or how you approach a challenge. For us, our unfair advantage is that all our land is in one continuous and connected block and that makes investing in infrastructure easier. We bale graze so we don’t have wildlife issues, and we have native grasses that help us mitigate challenges like drought.

Determine your unfair advantage and use it as your perspective when you make changes. Let it help guide your decisions and leverage what you have to be successful.

The post Adapting, innovating and thriving in Saskatchewan agriculture appeared first on Country Guide.

In central Alberta, Simmental based steers weighing 900 pounds on barley and silage diet with full processing data were valued at $405/cwt fob farm. In east central Alberta, black wide frame Limousin based steers averaging 825 pounds supposedly sold for $460/cwt.

The Killarney market report in Manitoba had red heifers weighing just under 900 pounds selling for $391/cwt. At the Ste Rose sale, a smaller package of red heifers with a mean weight of 795 pounds were marked at $425/cwt.

The Ponoka market report had a handful of red mixed steers evaluated at 709 pounds on hay and silage diet with full preconditioning data moving through the ring at $500/cwt. At the same sale, tan heifers scaled at 700 pounds on a diet of silage and pellets with full processing data dropped the gavel at $486/cwt.

At the Westlock sale, a smaller package of Angus Simmental cross 650 pound heifers on hay and barley diet with full processing records sold for $467/cwt. At the Ste Rose sale, the market report had black heifers averaging 616 pounds trading for $512/cwt.  In the Calgary region, a smaller package of Charolais weaned steers weighing just over 600 pounds were quoted at $573/cwt.

The Ste Rose Auction market report had Charolais steers averaging 555 pounds moving through the ring at $610/cwt. A buyer in central Alberta reported that Angus cross weaned heifers on the card at 560 pounds sold for $530.

The USDA estimated U.S. fourth quarter beef production at 6.650 billion pounds, down from the 2024 final quarter output of 6.882 billion pounds. If the U.S. border stays closed to Mexican feeders for an extended period, U.S. fourth quarter beef production forecasts would likely drop to 6.400 billion pounds. This would drive the December live cattle futures higher and support the yearling market during July and August.

The post Klassen: Feeding margin uncertainty weighs on feeder cattle market appeared first on Country Guide.

Together with their parents, families and employees, the Doerksen brothers — Daniel, Lorin and Barry — run Gemstone Cattle Company and Gemstone Grass Fed Beef. Managing a large commercial cow herd and purebred Hereford and Red Angus herds, they finish all their animals through both a conventional feedlot and grass-fed program, and manage more than 3,000 irrigated acres of grazing and winter forages.

The family is focused on raising their cattle using regenerative farming practices aimed at improving the health of their land, cattle and the families they feed. They also market all their beef through a pasture-to-table-business model that includes an artisan butcher shop, online orders and a farm-to-table kitchen at the Calgary Farmers’ Market.

Winners of the 2024 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) as well as the Alberta Outstanding Young Farmers’ award, the Doerksen brothers shared with Country Guide their experiences, motivations and forward-thinking outlooks on farming, regenerative agriculture and what it means to be a young farmer.

Country Guide: How long have you been farming, and what’s changed since you started?

Daniel: When I came home after school 22 years ago, we were a conventional cash crop farm that also raised feed for our cow herd and sold our calves. We were price takers in the traditional sense. As my brothers began to return home to the farm, we realized we needed to find new avenues of revenue to support our growing families.

Lorin: That’s why we started finishing some of our cattle on grass rather than the feedlot. In 2018 we made the shift to market our grass-fed beef through an online store, shipping throughout Alberta. In 2022 we opened the butcher shop and restaurant kitchen in the Calgary Farmers’ Market that embraces the “nose to tail” principle.

To us, (regenerative agriculture) means improving soil health and reducing our inputs. I brought this concept back to the farm and that’s one of the things that’s led us to finish most of our cattle on the land and deliver wholesome, grass-fed beef. Genetics also plays a huge role in what we do and how the animals finish. We even serve a new beef genetics market selling forage-developed bulls and bred heifers that can be productive on a strictly forage diet.

Barry: I’ve been back on the farm since 2022 and I’m proud to say we now have a direct line to consumers and end-users of our beef. And we have control over every step — from the day the calves are born through to the steaks at the meat counter.

What’s changed the most is the demand for grass-finished beef and consumer interest in how the animals are raised and where their food comes from. Today, we’re raising beef for flavour, nutrient density and quality.

We’ve grown our business around solving problems, like how to make our beef more accessible, realize more value and be more sustainable. I don’t believe this opportunity existed 20 years ago.

CG: Tell us about your Outstanding Young Farmers’ experience.

Lorin: It’s been an amazing opportunity to meet fellow like-minded farmers, connect and learn from each other.

Daniel: It’s been a great experience for all of us and we appreciate being recognized.

CG: In your opinion, what makes a good leader?

Lorin: A good leader motivates people to get involved and move in the same direction. We’ve learned to focus our leadership by following a vision for our farm and family. We talk about our vision; we identify skill sets that are needed to achieve it and we work with people who share our values.

Barry: I think a good leader surrounds themselves with people who are smarter to fill in the gaps where they’re not strong. And having a vision that people can get behind and contribute their complimentary skills makes a good leadership team.

CG: How do you think your approach to farming is different from previous generations?

Barry: The biggest difference is that we’re not raising cattle anymore, we’re raising beef. We have opportunities now that didn’t exist in the past, we can sell directly to consumers who are more knowledgeable about what they are eating and have more access to information.

Lorin: Our approach is integrated into everything we do. We’re creating a healthy, quality product while raising our beef in a low-stress environment and applying the principles of regenerative agriculture. And we’re doing all this while we share our story with our customers. I’ve learned that consumers really just want to know that our interests are aligned with theirs, like we’re all doing our best by feeding our kids healthy, nutritious beef.

CG: What does farming look like today compared to when you started out?

Daniel: I think we’re fortunate we got into farming when we did. It’s a tough industry to get into these days. We all entered at different times, and while we always thought about working together, we realized we had to create opportunities to farm and ranch together. We also wouldn’t be where we are today by ourselves. There’s tremendous value in working together.

Lorin: We’ve learned a lot along the way, especially the entrepreneurial side of our direct marketing business. The greatest thing about farming is that we have a diverse and unlimited set of resources. It’s almost like “the sky’s the limit” on what we can do on our land, and we are choosing to make a living for our families while feeding people and caring for the land itself.

CG: Where do you see the agricultural industry going in the future?

Daniel: As the cost of producing food goes up, we need to find new ways to do more with less. That could mean doing things differently, like polycropping, regenerative methods or finding more direct ways to market our products.

Lorin: We are fortunate and blessed to be born into this amazing lifestyle and there’s no better time to be in agriculture. We are still a “frontier” industry and there are so many opportunities that make farming and ranching an exciting place to be. Programs like COYF are a great example of exciting opportunities, and we are grateful for the experience and the people we’ve met.

The post Alberta farmers map out sustainability of their farm’s future appeared first on Country Guide.

In central Alberta, larger frame Simmental cross steers carrying lighter butter on light grain and silage diet with full processing data averaging 900 pounds traded for $375. In the same region, medium to larger frame, black mixed heifers weighing 865 pounds with some fleshier types included, supposedly traded for $340.

North of Saskatoon, mixed steers carrying medium flesh levels weighing 875 pounds coming off backgrounding grain diet with full processing records supposedly traded for $377 fob farm. At the St Rose Auction in Manitoba, the market report had Charolais steers weighing 846 pounds selling for $385.

East of Edmonton, a small package of Angus blended heifers carrying medium flesh averaging 800 pounds sold for $355. South of Edmonton, black, wide frame Limousin based heifers evaluated at 800 pounds with lower flesh levels were last bid at $367.

Southeast of Calgary, Charolais cross steers weighing 680 pounds apparently traded for $455. At the Ponoka sale on March 12, red mixed steers with a mean weight just under 600 pounds notched the board at $506. North of Calgary, red mixed heifers averaging 630 pounds supposedly settled at $431.

At the Lloydminster sale, a smaller package of black steers weighing 516 pounds silenced the crowd at $571. In southern Manitoba, a smaller package of black mixed steers weighing 507 pounds reportedly moved through the ring at $505. Northwest of Winnipeg, red mixed steers weighing 460 pounds apparently dropped the gavel at $582.

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $450-$455/cwt delivered, up $5-$20/cwt from the week ending March 8. Feeding margins continue to hover in positive territory which is supportive for the feeder complex. In the short-term, feedlot operators have a bullish outlook for fed cattle. This is barring no U.S. tariffs of course.

The post Klassen: Feeder cattle market jumps back to historical highs appeared first on Country Guide.

Travis and Brad Hopcott are third generation British Columbia beef producers, processors and retailers, and grow cranberries for Ocean Spray. They were also a 2023 winner of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers. Country Guide caught up with them just before their win to chat about managing it all, identifying opportunities and how they feel about the progress they’ve made.

The post VIDEO: Summer Series: Travis and Brad Hopcott appeared first on Country Guide.

All of the livestock on the farm were culled, the disease control and prevention centre of Yanggu county in Shandong said in a statement on WeChat.

Five farm workers with direct contact with the infected animals were diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax and are undergoing treatment in isolation, it said.

“Cutaneous anthrax is a zoonotic infectious disease that is preventable, controllable and treatable, and transmission between humans is rare,” the centre wrote.

Anthrax is a bacteria found naturally in soil and commonly affects animals that come in contract with spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.

It mostly infects susceptible herbivores, such as cattle, mules, sheep, horses, and donkeys.

Anthrax is not contagious and humans can only get infected by ingesting the bacteria.

—Reporting for Reuters by Mei Mei Chu

The post China shuts cattle farm after anthrax outbreak, five human infections appeared first on Country Guide.

“Canadian beef has earned a top spot on the world stage because of the commitment to quality and sustainability that our producers hold themselves to,” said agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay in a news release today.

Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) are receiving up to $5,865,110 and $453,364 respectively for marketing activities such as advertising, trade missions, technical training and educational seminars.

“By continuing to promote Canadian beef in key foreign markets, we can make the sector more competitive, put more money in the pockets of producers and drive demand for our world-class Canadian beef,” MacAulay said.

Expanding and opening new markets requires proactive relationship-building, said Canadian Cattle Association president Nathan Phinney in the release.

“These local, national and international relationships open doors to trade and collaboration and the AgriMarketing program support will help to ensure Canadian beef producers are represented at these global tables.”

“This funding will support initiatives that increase awareness of the value proposition of Canadian beef and veal exports in international markets vital to the success of Canada’s beef industry,” said Eric Bienvenue, president of Canada Beef.

The funding comes via the AgriMarketing Program, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP). The initiative is intended to increase and diversify exports to international markets and seize domestic market opportunities.

The post Feds announce $6 million beef marketing boost appeared first on Country Guide.

The National Farm Animal Care Council is involved, and the update will be in line with the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Code Development practice.

The Code Development process will begin with a survey to capture welfare concerns from all stakeholders. Results from the surveys will help the Code Committee understand the issues stakeholders want to see in the update. Everyone can participate in the survey.

The Code update will bring the industry into alignment with responsible practices, many of which have already been implemented by producers, said Nathan Phinney, President of the Canadian Cattle Association.

Canada’s Codes of Practice provide guidance for the care and handling of farm animals. They serve as educational tools, reference materials for regulations, and the foundation for farm animal care assessment programs. Five Codes of Practice are being updated. They include beef cattle, equine, pig, sheep, and poultry. The Code for pullet and layer Codes are also being amended.

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