Livestock News & Views

Beef producers in the Peace region can learn about applying genomics to their herds at two workshops next week.

Tom Lynch-Staunton of the University of Alberta and Livestock Gentec and John Basarab of the Lacombe Research Station are presenting information on how genomics can improve feed efficiency on the farm.

The first workshop is slated for February 21st in Taylor, B.C. To register, call Chris at 250-789-6885 or 250-793-8916. Grimshaw, A.B. is the site of the second workshop on February 22nd. To register for the second workshop call Nora at 780-836-3354 or email npara1@telus.net.

More than 600 delegates from Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia are in Alberta this week for the annual Banff Pork Seminar. Delegates have plenty to chew on with this year’s theme, “Feeding Tomorrow’s World.”

One of the plenary session speakers this year is Greg BeVier. BeVier is responsible for livestock grants at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the focus of his talk was livestock production’s role in lifting people out of poverty and hunger.

Canadian Western Agribition wrapped up in Regina last weekend. For the first time the show featured high school rodeo, an auctioneer completion, and a First Nations pavilion. Visitors also took in Canadian Cowboys Association rodeo events, a large trade show and shopping area, and many other events.

It’s telling that both Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and comedian Rick Mercer were seen in the cattle barns. Despite all the other attractions, the livestock barns are still the heart of Agribition. They’re one the few places where urban people can speak directly with cattle producers and get an idea of what it takes to produce the hamburger they pick up every week at the grocery store. The cattle producers were willing to talk to visitors and explain the finer points of grooming a show animal. It was obvious that they took a lot of pride in their well-bred, well-coifed animals – the show ribbons on display were one indicator of that.

Last week, I joined over two hundred farm journalists in Ontario, to attend the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ Congress.  The Congress offered a rare opportunity to measure the pulse of agricultural journalism in Canada and abroad.

While at the Congress, I met a reporter from South Africa, who told me that the government is poised to adopt legislation squashing freedom of the press.  The phone hacking scandal that enveloped Rupert Murdoch’s media empire shows that journalists in the rest of the world still face challenges.  

On Monday, I attended a presentation that examined trends in livestock production. I was struck by how rapidly the science of agriculture is advancing. I was also struck by the immense challenges we face when it comes to feeding the world.

Each year there are another 80 million people for farmers to feed, said Aidan Connolly, vice president of Alltech. Our global population is set to reach over nine billion by 2050, yet one billion people already go to bed hungry each night.