Lois and Tim Andrew of Andrew Ranches Limousin at Ag in Motion, near Langham, Sask.

Livestock handling demos yield stockmanship insight at Ag in Motion

Rancher, livestock equipment reps share their thoughts and tips on low-stress cattle handling

The demos involving cattle are big hits at Ag in Motion, but part of what makes them so successful is the implementation of low-stress cattle handling. While most of Ag in Motion’s exhibitors focus on the grain side of the industry — machinery, small crop plots — there is a lively livestock area, as well. […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise on technical buying, economic news

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose and feeder cattle touched a two-month high on Friday on technical trading, with stronger-than-expected September jobs data indicating good consumer demand, analysts said. Hog futures touched their highest level in four months before retreating. Benchmark CME December live cattle futures LCZ24 settled up 0.600 cent at […] Read more


Look for a slow rebuild of the U.S. cattle herd

Look for a slow rebuild of the U.S. cattle herd

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

The U.S. beef cattle industry is smaller than needed and signals for rebuilding will continue in the coming months. But herd rebuilding is likely to be slow to start and proceed quite slowly initially. So says Oklahoma State University’s Derrell Peel in his latest analysis of the prospects for herd expansion. Meanwhile, a CoBank report […] Read more

A tugboat passes shipping containers being unloaded and stacked on a pier at Port Newark, New Jersey, U.S., November 19, 2021.
 Photo: Reuters/Mike Segar/File

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures fall as U.S. port strike continues

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures fell on technical trading as the session ended on Thursday, according to analysts, after trading both sides earlier in the day. Benchmark CME December live cattle futures LCZ24 settled down 1.300 cents at 186.400 cents per pound. CME November feeder cattle futures FCX24 ended down 0.425 cent at 248.125 cents […] Read more





(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Western Canadian calf markets percolate higher

Strength in the deferred live cattle futures has spilt over into the feeder complex. Alberta and Saskatchewan placements in the lighter weight categories are down from year-ago levels which is resulting in stronger Alberta fed cattle basis levels for next spring.  These are the main factors influencing the calf markets in Western Canada.  




Calves creep feeding on a commercial beef operation in the U.S. Producers with fall-calving herds may want to consider creep feeding calves.

Creep feeding when fall calving

For producers who are fall calving, creep feeding might be a viable option to supplement the diet of nursing calves

For cattle producers who are fall calving, supplementing the calves’ diets is often important, given the state of forages at that time. This is where creep feeding comes into play. For some cattle producers, while their grain-producing neighbours are in the fields taking the crops off, they are walking on foot through their pastures, searching […] Read more