Ask most Canadian beef and dairy producers why they got into the business, and you will often hear about a connection to the land, a love for the livestock, and the opportunity to carry on the family tradition. While there is little doubt that farming can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling occupations,…
HOW PAIN MANAGEMENT HELPS The castration of male cattle is nothing new. Historically, bulls were castrated so that the oxen used to pull plows and wagons would have decreased amounts of testosterone in their system. This made it easier to control them. Today, castration is used for a number of reasons ranging from decreasing aggression…
Calving is one of the most critical times for producers. While most births go smoothly, complications can arise during this process. First-calf heifers are the most likely to have a problem when birthing, as less than 2% of calving difficulties occur in mature cows. Of the calves that are lost at birth, approximately 80% are…
Diarrhea occurs when intestinal fluids are not absorbed properly in the intestines. Anything that affects the intestines’ ability to absorb fluid can result in diarrhea. The cause of diarrhea can be both nutritional and infectious. Nutritional causes of diarrhea can include grain overload, cobalt or selenium deficiency, copper toxicity, or in young calves, changes in…
In today’s market, consumers are looking more closely at the ways in which their food is produced. Socially conscious consumers use their purchasing power to try and positively influence the markets around them. They support products and brands that align with their moral values. People base their grocery consumption on their personal values. They usually…
The idea that animals are sentient creatures is not new, in fact, it dates back to the Renaissance period. What is new, is the idea that animals can experience pain and suffering. It was not until the 1980s that veterinarians in the United States were trained that animals can indeed feel pain. Since the idea…
Over the past several decades the definition of animal welfare has broadened. Research has shown that cattle feel pain and it’s not only physical, it’s emotional too. Therefore, animal welfare has evolved from simple avoidance of cruelty to fulfilling basic obligations of care. More recently, it has expanded to include their emotional states as well.…
The Animal Protection Index was created by World Animal Protection to establish the classification of 50 countries worldwide in regards to their commitment to protecting and improving animal welfare through legislation. It measures legislation and policy in each country, as well as whether or not there is education in schools about animal welfare. It then…
Cattle branding has been happening for more than 4,000 years, dating back to the Ancient Egyptians. In fact, a painting in an ancient Egyptian tomb from 2,700 BC is the earliest record of livestock branding. Today, producers brand cattle to mark their property. It’s part of the rich history and culture of cattle farming. Branding…
Disbudding and dehorning cattle are different procedures with the same outcome – no horns on cattle. Disbudding is the process of cauterizing the bud before it grows into horns, and it typically occurs before a calf is three months old. Dehorning is the process of removing a calf’s horns. While there are different methods of…
