Bull scrotal size is important to measure before purchasing a beef sire.

Finding ideal scrotal size important in sire purchasing

Animal Health: Be careful not to buy a bull with too large of a scrotal size

If there’s something the market desires, there’s no doubt that purebred beef breeders can make it happen. A few years ago we did notice breed averages for scrotal size coming up a bit, so the minimum accepted scrotal sizes were adjusted up just a bit (one centimetre) in some cases. I think that is about […] Read more

Cyle and Erika Stewart, with daughters Hazel and Resha.

Cyle and Erika Stewart

Outstanding Young Farmers 2024: Efficiency, sustainability and resilience are priorities when ranching during a long dry spell

Cyle and Erika Stewart say developing an efficient beef herd and managing pastures to optimize use of available forage during consecutive years of drought conditions has been the priority for their family-run ranching operation in southern Saskatchewan. The Stewarts, who own and operate Pine Ranch along with Erika’s parents Bill and Terry Strande, say they’ve […] Read more


The Doerksens of Gemstone Grass Fed Beef, from left: Lorin with wife Katie and children Norah, Josie, and Lucy; at centre, Daniel with wife Kim and children Gradey, Kyleah and Bowden; at right, Barry with wife Karla and kids Jake and Stanley.

Lorin, Barry and Daniel Doerksen

Outstanding Young Farmers 2024: The cattle’s performance on grass and forages becomes part of the beef’s story at retail

What started out as a plan to supply a niche market in the beef industry has over the past six years turned into the focus for a fourth-generation southeastern Alberta ranching operation. For the Doerksen brothers of Gemstone Cattle Company at Gem, Alta., about an hour north of Brooks, putting some of the efficient beef […] Read more

Tristan and Aubyn Banwell and their two children, Twain, 6, and Tusi, 4.

Tristan and Aubyn Banwell

Outstanding Young Farmers 2024: How this ranch moved from traditional commercial channels into direct organic meat marketing

Spray Creek Ranch in southwestern B.C. has the land, the livestock, a well-established market and even a new abattoir built on the farm. Now it just needs a butcher. The organic direct-to-consumer meat business that Tristan and Aubyn Banwell have built over the past 10 years on their ranch, near Lillooet, is still flourishing as […] Read more