Beef Prices Reach Record High

Jul 14, 2015

You may have noticed a higher grocery bill lately when it comes to buying beef.

That's because this spring, the price of Alberta beef rose to its highest on record, reaching $192.90 per 100 pounds in May.

"Across Canada and North America the prices are high right now," says Manitoba Beef Producers president, Heinz Reimer. "One of the biggest issues is cattle inventory. The number of cattle that are around in North America is about similar to the 1950s, so it's the lowest inventory we've had in, I guess, 60 years now."

Part of the problem stems from drought out west. Pastures in Saskatchewan and Alberta aren't producing enough feed for the livestock, so some producers are struggling to find ways to feed their cattle.

Some areas in western Manitoba are also looking fairly dry. Manitoba Agriculture's total accumulated precipitation map from May 1 to July 5 shows that areas around Brandon have only received between 90 and 120mm of rain.

Source : PortageOnline

Video: Sow Welfare and Group Housing Systems - Dr. Laya Alves

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Translating welfare requirements into daily farm routines without compromising economic sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges faced by producers globally today."

Meet the guest: Dr. Laya Alves / laya-kannan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on animal welfare in pig production, including pain management, euthanasia, and economic decision making. Her work integrates welfare science with practical farm management and sustainability. She collaborates globally to develop applied tools for producers.