cattle « Food and Farming Canada

Keeping tabs on where the cows are

RFID tags are placed in an animal's ear

Many modern-day pet owners microchip their four-legged companions.

This is to help identify them should they become lost, injured or otherwise harmed in some way.

Farmers are doing a similar thing with their beef cattle.

They’re using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to keep track of their animals as they move from farm to farm at various points in their lives.

These tags, which are placed in the ear, store information about each animal, such as its farm of origin, age and identification numbers, to help farmers and processors maintain and promote food safety and traceability. Continue reading Keeping tabs on where the cows are

As cows live and eat

Here’s the third in a series of guest posts I’ve been writing for the Canadian Beef Blog.

Last month, I described some of the different cattle breeds and how to tell the difference between a dairy cow (one that gives milk) and a beef cow (one that is raised for meat).

Now we’re going to take a quick look at how and where cattle are raised and what they eat.

Beef cows and calves typically live outside on pasture in the spring, summer and fall months – which is why it’s not uncommon to see cows grazing in fields if you find yourself out enjoying the Canadian countryside. Continue reading As cows live and eat

Cows of many colours

Here’s another guest blog I wrote for Canadian Beef Blog recently:

A cow is a cow is a cow, right? Not exactly.

Yes, they’re all the same type of animal but there are many different breeds. For example, even though they’re both dogs, there aren’t a lot of similarities between a small white Bichon Frise and a large German Sheppard! The same principles apply to cattle.

To complicate things further, did you know that different breeds are used for different things on the farm? Continue reading Cows of many colours

Testing key to knowing what’s in your water – and protecting your farm

Water testing has long been part and parcel of buying and selling agricultural properties. But knowing exactly what’s in your soil and well water is becoming increasingly important to safeguard both human health and property values.

E.coli O157:H7 is one pathogen that can have serious human health implications but that many people don’t realize may be present in their rural environments. A campaign is now underway in Alberta to raise awareness and to encourage farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners to test their soil and water for the presence of this bacterium. Continue reading Testing key to knowing what’s in your water – and protecting your farm

Measuring agriculture’s economic footprint in Ontario

Farming affects the daily lives of all Ontarians – what we eat, where we live and what we do to earn a living.

Now, a newly released report spells out in stark detail the economic impact of the agricultural sector as well as the punishing effects of long term farm income losses on the Ontario economy.

The results are staggering. Continue reading Measuring agriculture’s economic footprint in Ontario

Plea from farmers: Save our farms

Ontario’s farmers are using a town hall meeting in Stratford today to reach out to the public. The Save our Farms forum will focus on the beleaguered state of Ontario’s farming sector and on what the future of an Ontario without farming could look like down the road if nothing is done. Continue reading Plea from farmers: Save our farms

Farmer faces fine over cow attack

Here’s one for the “you’ve got to be kidding me!” file…

I read this article on the website of Farmers Weekly, an agricultural publication in the United Kingdom.

According to the story, a UK dairy farmer has been found liable for injuries suffered by a walker who was attacked by his cattle while walking across his fields in 2003. Continue reading Farmer faces fine over cow attack

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