Canada’s livestock industry in pictures

By Gerhard Uys
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Farmer’s Weekly’s journalist, Gerhard Uys recently visited Canada and got to experience its dynamic livestock industry.

Canada’s livestock industry in pictures
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Uys was part of a media trip organised by Farm Fair International, which is one of Canada’s top international agri shows held in Edmonton.

It attracts more than 100 000 visitors a year.

Although the fair draws members of the public and introduces them to agriculture, there is also a large trade component, with the Inbound Buyer Program facilitating the sale of stud cattle seed and embryos to international breeders who want to expand their country’s genetic base through Canadian genetics.

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Since 2010, the Farm Fair has realised over CAD$10 million (about R110 million) in live cattle and genetics sales to 13 foreign markets.

Here are some of the photos that highlights his experience:

Clinton Phillips and his family run a mixed farming operation in Alberta, Canada. This comprises a 120-head Charolais stud herd and 2 600ha under malting barley, wheat for ethanol production, and canola.
Canada also has communal land where cattle graze. These lands are leased from government and supply summer grazing to those without enough land. Cattle usually graze these lands in May, and are removed mid-October.
According to cattle farmer Barrie Przekop, cattle can handle temperatures of as low as -40˚C as long as they are healthy and don’t get wet.
The cattle industry thrives despite the bitter cold; temperatures can plummet to -40˚C with wind chill.

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Gerhard Uys
Gerhard Uys grew up as a real city lad, but spends his free time hiking and visiting family farms. He learnt the journalism trade as a freelance writer and photographer in the lifestyle industry, but having decided that he will be a cattle farmer by the age of 45 he now indulges his passion for farming by writing about agriculture. He feels Farmer’s Weekly is a platform for both developed and emerging farmers to learn additional farming skills and therefore takes the job of relaying practical information seriously.

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