Bringing more technology to ranch country

Dec 30, 2024

When cow-calf producers head out to buy a young bull at auction — an animal crucial to the herd’s success for years to come — they really don’t know what they’re getting.

Knowing the bull’s genomic information is critically important because, on average, 75 per cent of a calf crop’s genetics come from bulls used in the last two generations, 50 per cent from the current sire, and 25 per cent from the maternal grandsire.

Dr. Bart Lardner (PhD) thinks it’s time to apply better technology so producers can make informed decisions about the future of their herds.

“For years, they’ve made that decision based on visual assessment,” said Lardner, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program Chair in Cow-Calf and Forage Systems, in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

“Producers go in the back and visually assess the bulls on offer, kick the tires, check out feet and legs, girth, all kinds of things they look at.”

But that hardly guarantees a reproductively sound young bull once relocated to the farm or ranch.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.