Cattle in pens have been shown to transfer antimicrobial resistant bacteria between them. A water trough quick test could help producers make effective antimicrobial treatment decisions.

Quick test could improve treatment decisions in cattle

Researchers use water troughs to monitor resistant bacteria

Researchers are seeking ways to manage antimicrobial-resistant bacteria on farms, including quicker evaluation of bacteria so treatment can be better targeted. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and University of Saskatchewan veterinary school researchers are studying feedlot water troughs, hoping the water can tell them what sort of anti-microbial resistant bacteria are present. Why it matters: […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

FCC to offer beef heifer replacement loans

Loan program for those wanting to build, maintain herds

Cattle producers wanting to expand or maintain herds — in a time of nationwide herd contraction — are the expected beneficiaries for a new loan program from Farm Credit Canada. FCC on Tuesday announced what it calls the Replacement Heifer Program, consisting of a loan with a maximum loan life of seven years and a […] Read more

Siva Swaminathan, chef, food educator, and owner of Chezsiva, captures a curious dairy cow on video while touring the Elora Dairy Research facility through a Farm and Food Care program that brings food influencers, chefs, and health practitioners to a farm level to improve their understanding of the food value chain.

Bringing food influencers and producers together has benefits

Improving urban understanding of agriculture industry underscores Food and Farm Care tour

Poonam Dattani, a Markham-area registered dietician, now feels better equipped to provide her clients with dairy and beef production facts. She was part of Farm and Food Care Ontario’s September tour of the University of Guelph Elora Dairy and Beef Research facilities and Soil Health Interpretive Centre, which provided registered dieticians, chefs and food influencers […] Read more

Marty Metzger, co-founder of StrongBo Agritech, shows the most recent iteration of the company's 100 per cent automated and portable livestock performance and health monitoring system for use in the barn or the field during Canada's Outdoor Farm Show.

Barn-to-field precision performance system aimed at beef

Strongbo Agritech's portable scale will be available in early 2024

The prototype of Strongbo’s cattle scale drew attention at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show Sept. 12-14 in Woodstock. “Gallagher will be selling these in 2024; they’ve promised them to their customers for Jan. 1,” said Marty Metzger, a veterinarian and co- founder of StrongBo Agritech. “They’ll be selling it through their dealers.” Why it matters: The […] Read more

The North American cattle industry is concerned with what they feel is Brazil’s non-compliance with the BSE standards developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) with respect to atypical cases of the disease.

North American beef leaders urge disease vigilance

President of American industry group sounds alarm over what he says is Brazil’s non-compliance with BSE standards

Glacier FarmMedia – The United States, Canada and Mexico must do more to protect the North American cattle herd from illnesses such as foot-and-mouth disease and BSE that threaten the continent’s multibillion-dollar beef sector, said an American industry leader. Brazil is non-compliant with the BSE standards developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) […] Read more


A microscope-level view of damaged brain tissue from a cow infected with BSE. (USDA photo via U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

U.S. reports case of atypical BSE

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Friday an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), in an older beef cow at a slaughter plant in South Carolina. USDA said the animal never entered slaughter channels and the agency did not expect any trade impacts as a result. It was […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

TruHarvest closes doors on beef processing plant

Plant was one of only three federally inspected options for Ontario producers

TruHarvest Meats, one of three federally inspected beef processing facilities in Ontario, has closed its doors, citing a continued inability to achieve financial goals. “Unfortunately, the ownership paused operation at the end of January for financial reasons,” said TruHarvest vice-president Chuck Oulton, when contacted at the Toronto plant in early March. “It’s tough. The team […] Read more

(RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images)

U.S. beef cow herd falls to lowest level since 1962, USDA says

Last year saw record cull, Rabobank reports

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. beef cow herd dropped to its lowest level since 1962, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed on Tuesday, after a severe drought raised costs for livestock feed. Ranchers increasingly sent cows to slaughter last year, instead of keeping them to reproduce, as dry weather reduced the amount of pasture […] Read more


CME August 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Stronger deferred live cattle support feeder market

Cow-calf operators seen hesitant to expand

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Calf prices were mostly unchanged compared to seven days earlier; however, there were pockets where buyers reported prices up $2-$3 on average. The Alberta calf market appeared to stage a minor recovery after softening over the past month. Manitoba markets […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. livestock: Supply concerns drive CME live cattle to new contract high

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher and reached a new contract high on Wednesday amid concerns about tightening U.S. supplies, brokers said. Strong recent gains have left the market technically overbought and due for a setback, brokers said. “We’ve had a nice rally here,” said Matt Wiegand, commodity broker […] Read more