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Ranchers get farming tips at UFA Cattle College

Ranchers in the area got some tips during a UFA Cattle College that might just make their work a little easier.
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Cattle college! Cattle handler Curt Pate shows farmers and ranchers techniques to wrangling cattle efficiently Tuesday

Ranchers in the area got some tips during a UFA Cattle College that might just make their work a little easier.

The event was held Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre, where three experts gave tips on the industry: livestock analyst Anne Wasko spoke on cattle sales, stockman Curt Pate showed farmers how to wrangle cattle efficiently and weed control expert Kelly Cooley shared his knowledge of dealing with weeds in a pasture.

Jeff Rucci, agrologist with UFA said this was their first time presenting at the ag event centre and the purpose of the Cattle College is “focusing on helping provide different ideas for ranchers to think about.”

Anne Wasko on the livestock market

Producers should expect to see production of pork and poultry to increase in Canada, explained Wasko. She feels that while the cattle market is doing quite well she is unsure what 2015 will bring.

“It all depends on the consumer,” she said in an interview.

She advised producers looking to expand their business should also do their best to prepare for fluctuations in the market. “Do your homework.”

The upward trend in cattle prices does show positive signs for producers though, she added.

Curt Pate shows how to move cattle with little stress

Ranchers received some professional tips from Pate on effective cattle handling. He used live heifers to demonstrate moving cattle from one gate to another or to a cattle trailer.

He showed how cattle react when a person comes close to them and handily separated individual heifers from the herd. Quick, yet unthreatening movements was one technique Pate demonstrated. He gave his audience a chance to understand the different cattle behaviors that could work in a rancher’s favour when corralling them.

Kelly Cooley elaborates on pastures and weed control

Due to the nature of plants and their life cycles, Cooley advocates farmers get to know types of plants in their pastures, especially if they intend to keep them in use for livestock.

He says most weeds on Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s noxious weed list will outperform native or new plants in a pasture. Knowledge of a weed’s lifecycle is something Cooley feels is imperative to proper weed control.

“One-size doesn’t fit all,” stated Cooley in an interview regarding weed control products.

The Cattle College is in its fourth year of operations and Rucci said it is an ideal way to reach out to customers, members and producers to give them tools that make their jobs easier.

He said this is the third year they have brought livestock into the cattle handling presentation.