
Cow-calf

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures tumble on demand worries
Corn values also weigh on feeder cattle, hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures tumbled on Thursday on worries about demand for beef and pork as soaring coronavirus infections across the country threatened more restaurant and food service closures and forced more Americans to shelter at home. Investors also fear a repeat of the livestock processing disruptions seen in the […] Read more

Whither the wind: How to decide on windbreaks
Find out what your options are for protecting your herd from wind and snow this winter
Find out what your options are for protecting your herd from wind and snow this winter
If beef producers want to have healthy, productive herds, making sure they’re protected from the wind is crucial, says Jenifer Heyden. “We want the cattle to be able to maintain condition on cold, windy days,” says the livestock and feed extension specialist with the Government of Saskatchewan. While beef cattle are tough, and can handle […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures retreat as COVID surge stokes demand worries
CME lean hog futures end mixed
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures fell on Wednesday as rising coronavirus infection rates stoked concerns about potential supply-chain disruptions and reduced demand for beef as health restrictions shutter restaurants and discourage travel. U.S. stocks dove on Wednesday as investors weighed surging COVID-19 infections and mounting shutdowns against encouraging vaccine developments. An April plunge […] Read more

Klassen: Calf prices ratcheting higher
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; mid-weight calves were also unchanged while lighter calves traded steady to as much as $6 higher. Alberta and Saskatchewan have experienced adverse weather over the past couple of weeks; however, feedlots in southern Alberta appeared to be more aggressive for […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb with cash market, beef prices
Lean hog futures up on short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose for a second straight session on Tuesday, lifted by higher cash beef prices and signs that cash cattle at feedlot auctions would trade at steady to higher prices this week. Consumer demand for beef has remained solid despite rising coronavirus infection rates that have triggered lockdowns […] Read more

Bridging the rural-urban media divide
I’ve had a couple of conversations with producers recently about criticism of the beef industry in urban media and public perceptions of beef production. I’m also on a virtual ag media panel for the Advancing Women in Ag conference slated for Nov. 24 to 25, and one of the questions we were asked to cover […] Read more

Don’t stick yourself — take care when injecting
Knowing proper injection techniques can save you from discomfort and harm, vet says
Knowing proper injection techniques can save you from discomfort and harm, says vet
No one giving injections to cattle wants to accidentally get stuck with a needle; most producers will do everything in their power not to. And yet it happens, and the results can be deadly. Just ask Dr. Cody Creelman. “A producer was treating a sick calf from the cab of his truck. He was filling […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up as Wall Street rallies
COVID-19 worries remain in picture
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures ended mostly higher on Monday on spillover support from soaring equities markets, although gains were limited by worries about rising coronavirus infections and likely restaurant closures. News of a second promising COVID-19 vaccine lifted both the S+P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average to record highs on […] Read more

Telus’ farm and food sector acquisitions take new shape
Canadian telco giant launches new Telus Agriculture unit
Canadian telco and info tech giant Telus has consolidated its recent — and ongoing — acquisitions in farm tech, ag data management and supply chain management into a single new business unit. The Vancouver company, one of Canada’s “big five” telecommunications firms, on Thursday formally launched Telus Agriculture, billed as “a new business unit dedicated […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag as COVID surge threatens meat demand
Demand uncertainty also weighs on hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. livestock futures slumped on Friday as soaring coronavirus cases raised expectations for lockdowns on commerce that will hurt demand for meat from restaurants, hotels and other venues, analysts said. Cities and states across the country have moved to re-impose restrictions to tame new spikes in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. Additional […] Read more