COW-CALF FARMING AND RANCHING

All cattle are raised by grazing in the pasture on cow-calf farms and ranches, found across Canada, as our country provides the ideal environment. These dedicated farmers and ranchers maintain a herd of cows that give birth to calves once a year. When a calf is born, it typically weighs 60 to 100 pounds.

Over the next few months, each calf will obtain nutrients from its mother’s milk and over time begins to graze on Canada’s grass pastures. Once calves are ready to be weaned, they weigh around 500 to 800 lbs and will continue to grow while grazing on pastures, or they can be brought into barns or corrals. Farmers and ranchers ensure that cattle have access to water at all times. Farmers and ranchers raise their animals with the goals of ensuring both healthy cattle and a sustainable environment. Grazing cattle are an integral part of the grassland ecosystem and play an important role in nutrient recycling. Pasture lands are important stores of carbon and provide habitat to many species at risk as well as preservation of wetlands that otherwise may be subject to cultivation. As with any food production system, there is an environmental footprint associated with beef production. However, Canadian beef farmers and ranchers take great pride and care to raise cattle using environmentally sustainable practices combined with world-class food safety and quality assurance systems. Beef farming and ranching isn’t just a business, it’s also a way of life.