All Ways
To
Raise
Where Land Meets Legacy
For 150 years, Alberta’s beef producers like John and Cherie have been proud to demonstrate that they’re a part of the solution, modernizing tradition and stewarding our lands.
John is a third-generation rancher at Quarter Circle X Ranch, where he continues to maintain the grazing lands with his cattle. He understands that to look after the animals, you must look after the landscape.
Cherie is a fourth-generation rancher at C.L. Ranches. She is passionate about the positive impact that her cattle can bring to the landscape and managing the natural cycle of the grazing lands.
Thousands of years ago, these lands were grazed and taken care of by the bison, keeping them in the best shape possible. By understanding that role, John, Cherie and other ranchers now fill that ecological need by grazing on the lands with their cattle, balancing the growth of the grasslands and converting rough forage into food, maintaining the area’s natural cycle. Ranchers look after the landscape, taking part in a tradition older than ranching itself to deliver high-quality beef while renewing the lands and their shared Albertan legacy.
Learn more about how beef producers contribute to Alberta’s landscapes.
How are Cattle Raised in Alberta?
Environmental stewardship is a tradition that dates to the first ranchers in what is now Alberta, and it informs how we raise our cattle today.
Care is in everything we do, from ensuring the safety and well-being of our animals to taking measures to enhance our environmental stewardship. While each farm, ranch, or feedlot is unique in their practices, producers strive to manage and enhance environmental stewardship to the best of their abilities.
Not only are beef producers working to take good care of the environment, but cattle play a vital role in caring for these lands, too. Cattle on the landscape can help protect native and tame grasslands, forests, and wetlands from the effects of land-use changes. They also provide wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and by grazing, they reduce fire hazards.
Much of Alberta’s natural landscape evolved alongside the bison, which kept native grasslands healthy by grazing them and using their hooves as a natural disturbance to promote the growth of grasses and other plants. Just like the bison, cattle keep these endangered landscapes healthy, and they often share these lands with wildlife.
The land that is used to raise cattle in Alberta also acts as a carbon sink. Land used for beef cattle production in Canada stores about 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon. If this land is lost to urban development, those vast quantities of carbon would be released into the atmosphere, and the plants and wildlife that share this land with cattle would be lost, including many species at risk.
We understand and interact with the environment every day, and we have an important role to play in making sure the ecosystems on which we live and work are healthy and functioning.
What Are Hormones and Why Are They Used in Beef Production?
All plants and animals produce hormones naturally, including humans. Beef producers use hormone implants in cattle to enhance the hormone production already taking place in the animal. These implants direct growth towards muscle and away from fat, speeding growth and reducing the amount of feed an animal needs.
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Why Use Antibiotics in Beef?
All animals, including cattle, can get sick, just like humans do. Providing care to sick cattle, including using antibiotics when appropriate, is the humane thing to do. Antibiotics help limit the spread of disease between animals. Using the right antibiotics early can reduce the need to use more powerful antibiotics further down the line.
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Will Eating Less Beef Reduce my Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Maybe, but not as much as you’d think! In fact, Canadian beef production only accounts for 2.4% of Canada’s GHG emissions, and only 0.04% of global emissions.
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