Beef cattle & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Beef cattle, Livestock, Livestock Markets

U.S. cattle herd at 61-year low

By Theopolis Waters February 12, 2013

Reuters / The U.S. cattle herd shrunk for a sixth straight year in 2012 due to high feed costs tied to drought and that should mean consumers will continue paying record-high prices for beef. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Feb. 1 said the U.S. cattle herd as of January 1 was 89.30 million head, down

Beef cattle, Livestock, News, Poultry

New rules aimed at preventing nationwide border ban

February 6, 2013

winnipeg / reuters / Canada and the U.S. have agreed to maintain livestock and meat trade during animal disease outbreaks using a new system that targets trade bans more precisely by region. The new system, which won’t take effect until after consultation with industry groups and details are worked out, would prevent a full border

Beef cattle, Livestock, Other livestock

Horsemeat found in British burgers

February 6, 2013

Burger King, one of the most popular fast-food chains in Britain and Ireland, said Jan. 24 it had stopped using one of the firms caught up in the scandal of supplying grocers with beef that contained horsemeat. The British food industry has been rocked by the revelation last week that retailers including market leader Tesco

Beef cattle, Livestock, Livestock Markets, News

Hitting the sweet spot

By Laura Rance-Unger February 6, 2013

If Calvin Vaags has his way, Manitoba will have a federally inspected ruminant slaughter plant capable of handling 1,000 head per week up and running within a year. After three years of preparation, work has started on a $13-million expansion at Plains Processors, a small processing plant with a capacity of 80 head per week

Beef cattle, Forages, Livestock, News

Quick and easy is the name of the feeding game for Dugald rancher

By Daniel Winters February 6, 2013

Ken Vaags would put a short-order cook to shame. The Dugald rancher uses his skidsteer loader and a specially designed self-feeder that controls access to a huge bag of silage. Two rollers operated by a hand crank wind up the top and bottom lips of the bag, while bars in front create a manger that

Beef cattle, Livestock

Japan opens door wider for Canadian beef

By Alex Binkley February 5, 2013

Japan, the No. 4 customer for Canadian beef, has agreed to accept meat from animals 30 months or younger as of Feb. 1. Shipments had been restricted to meat from cattle 21 months and younger, a safeguard against BSE. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Martin Unrau, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, told a news

Beef cattle, Livestock, News

Beef Food Industry Summit brings key players together

By Victoria Paterson February 5, 2013

Representatives at a meeting on the state of the Canadian beef industry last November agreed that the status quo is not acceptable, but that more work is needed to bring the industry together. “The hard part is coming up next,” said Gordon Cove, CEO and president of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency. ALMA organized

Beef cattle, Livestock, Opinion

Beef packing and Manitoba

By Laura Rance-Unger February 1, 2013

Calvin Vaags was up front in saying the decision to host a “media” event Jan. 26 at the Plains Processors facility near Carman was about credibility. After three years of planning, lining up finances and preparation, he wanted people to see for themselves that the earth has started to move to make way for the

Beef cattle, Livestock, News

Cargill to idle its Plainview, Texas, beef plant

January 29, 2013

chicago / reuters / U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill Inc. said Jan. 17 it will idle its Plainview, Texas, beef-processing plant on Feb. 1 due to tight U.S. cattle supplies brought on by years of drought in the Southern Plains states. “The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest level since 1952. Increased feed costs resulting

Beef cattle, Cereals, Livestock, News

Still-potent U.S. drought robs cattle ranchers of wheat pasture

By Theopolis Waters January 29, 2013

Oklahoma rancher Kent Donica has given up. The drought that has ravaged pastures on his ranch and throughout the region has won. Since last September, Donica has sold nearly all of his 800 cattle because there is no pasture to feed them and he now works as a ranch hand nearby to make ends meet

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Beef cattle