Graeme Finn could have been happy raising cattle anywhere in the world, so long as there was grass to graze and land to improve. He and his family ended up raising cattle, grazing grass and improving land in the foothill country of western Alberta near the town of Madden.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains a leading health concern in Canadian feedlots. Currently, pen riders quietly surveying thousands of cattle daily are a feedlot’s main defence against this challenging disease.

Feeding hay is often just part of the cattle business, and it's almost an afterthought to some. Habit and routine can sometimes overshadow a piece of your cattle business that deserves further evaluation.

When cattle start rubbing and losing hair in late winter or early spring, lice are often the first suspect. Follow-up checks by producers and veterinarians, however, show the cause is not always that simple.

The skies were clear as the sun flirted with the idea of peeking over the mountains to the east. Despite the cool of the early spring morning, it promised to be a beautiful day.