Bulls Can Be A Headache

JUNE 1 The cows were happy for green grass when we moved them into a portion of the field below the lane. The grass is finally growing, now that the weather has warmed up. Lynn took our tractor and post-pounder to the upper place and helped Michael set posts to repair and add onto the […] Read more

Take Early Action With Cancer Eye

Cancerous eyes are a regular occurrence in most western Canadian beef herds and must be dealt with in the appropriate manner. Early detection and treatment alleviate the pain and suffering which occurs in advanced cases. Producers will also receive much greater financial benefits with early intervention. Just as with pinkeye, cattle with white pigment around […] Read more


Wolves Disturbing The Cattle

APRIL 23 Last week Andrea, Lynn and Rick worked on the new fence nearly every day. On Wednesday it started to snow. They were soon soaked and cold, and had to quit for the day. It was snowing hard by afternoon. Maggie (a nine-year-old cow) was calving, and we put her in the barn to […] Read more

Livestock Congress In August

Mark your calen- dars for the annual International Livestock Congress (ILC) being held August 10 in conjunction with the Canadian Cattleman’s Association Semi Annual Meeting in Calgary. The CCA meeting runs August 8-12, with an excellent one-day ILC program offered in the middle. Both events are at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino, just off the […] Read more


Panama Trip Was Boyhood Dream

SUNDAY, APR. 3, 2011 I just got back from a two-week trip through the Panama Canal. It has been snowing and storming ever since yesterday morning. It is one of the heaviest winter snowfalls I have ever seen over the years. This storm will be hard on newborn calves. While the storm continues, I will […] Read more

Old Horses Reunite In Retirement

MARCH 25 We had a lot of wet, stormy weather last week. We left one cow and new calf in the open-front barn a couple days so they’d be out of the wet snow and wind, then put them in one of the outdoor pens where there’s a windbreak. Last weekend Andrea’s friend Rick helped […] Read more


Importance Of Disposition

Temperament is an important part of the mix when it comes to selecting cattle. You don’t want heifers that are hard to manage, if they will be staying in your herd or going to someone else’s herd as replacements. You want cows that are easy to handle. “We feel there’s a hereditary factor in disposition […] Read more

Cattle Prices Levelling Off

Cattle prices appear to be consolidating at the higher levels as demand wanes. Retail beef prices have made new record highs over the past month and consumer purchases are starting to slow. Despite slower domestic consumption, offshore exports continue to increase with U.S. sales to South Korea sharply higher over year ago levels. Alberta fed […] Read more


Mud Can Compromise Cattle Health

Six months of snow and windchill can make the hardiest lover of winter dream of spring on the Prairies. As our days become longer and temperatures rise, snow drifts eventually disappear into puddles and mud in cattle pens and pastures. To say that mud is cattle-unfriendly is one of the biggest understatements of spring. It’s […] Read more

Veterinarian Role Is Changing

Over my 24 years as a veterinarian, the biggest change in practice has been the shift from the 911/fire engine practice to one involving herd health -related procedures. The progressive farm owner nowadays utilizes a lot of preventative health practices, which eliminate a large percentage of emergency calls. No one is happy in an unplanned […] Read more