Beef Cattle , Latest & Featured | Canadian Cattlemen

Calving date shifting in Ontario

The onset of calving season often depends on the individual operation, says an Ontario cow-calf producer

By Lois Harris 1 day ago

The vast majority of Ontario producers calve their cows either in the barn or very close to it early in the year, but the current trend is toward later calving dates on grass, according to Craig McLaughlin, a Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) board director and cow-calf producer in Renfrew County. A survey conducted in […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Reuters

Namibia looks to import cattle as drought decimates herds

By Reuters 1 day ago

Windhoek | Reuters — Namibian state-owned meat processing and marketing firm Meatco is in talks with neighbour Botswana to import cattle, as severe drought decimates local herds and threatens beef export deals with China and European countries. The southern African desert nation moved closer to famine last month after dam levels fell below 20 per […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Large feedlot inventories lower feeder demand

By Jerry Klassen 2 days ago

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged and mid-weight feeders (600-850 lbs.) were steady to $2 lower, but calves under 600 lbs. were unchanged to as much as $10 lower. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies, which made the market hard to define. The market appeared […] Read more

Colostrum from the dam, or another cow from the same herd, is the best option for a calf.

Cow-Calf, Features

The importance of getting quality colostrum

While colostrum from the dam is best, there are other options for emergencies

By Heather Smith Thomas January 15, 2020

The cow’s first milk is vital to the newborn calf’s survival. Calves that obtain adequate colostrum soon after birth stay healthier than calves that are slow to suckle or don’t get enough. “I have been working with many critical-care newborns and this is why I am interested in colostrum,” says Dr. Lisa Gamsjaeger. Gamsjaeger is […] Read more

Canada is currently considered a bovine TB-free country, but incidences arose as recently as 2016 in Alberta, when six cases were found, and in 2018 when four cases were detected in British Columbia.

Beef Cattle, Features, Livestock

Battling bovine tuberculosis

Canadian researchers are working on TB vaccines and developing strategies to manage the disease in wild animals

By Lois Harris January 14, 2020

Research is underway in Canada to develop a vaccine aimed at eliminating the threat of bovine tuberculosis (TB). If successful, the results will mean better health for cattle and humans around the world. “When we say bovine TB, sometimes it can also be TB that’s found in humans,” says Dr. Jeff Chen, explaining that Mycobacterium […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market starts 2020 on steady tone

By Jerry Klassen January 14, 2020

Compared to last week, short-keep replacement cattle and feeders in the mid-weight categories were steady to $3 lower on average; feeder cattle under 600 lbs. traded $2 lower to as much as $5 higher. Featherlight calves remain strong trading at similar levels to late December. Most auction markets resumed their regular sales schedules last week. […] Read more

Cattle bale grazing in central Saskatchewan.

Beef Cattle, News, News Roundup

Tips for bale grazing

Feeding: News Roundup from the January 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Staff January 13, 2020

Bale grazing not only helps keep cows fat and sassy over the winter, but can also improve areas with low fertility and reduce yardage costs. Research studies in Saskatchewan and Alberta have found higher forage production on bale-grazed sites than control sites with no bale grazing, the Beef Cattle Research Council notes in Extended Grazing, […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Fed cattle market underpins feeder cattle prices

By Jerry Klassen January 7, 2020

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $275 delivered, which equates to $165 on a live basis. Fed cattle prices are now at 52-week highs and feeding margins are in the range of $50 to $70 per head. Strength in the cash fed cattle market was supportive […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Markets

Good beef demand in 2019 supports fed cattle prices

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the January 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Debbie McMillin January 6, 2020

Fed Cattle Demand has been key in 2019. Good beef demand in both Canada and the U.S. has supported fed cattle prices throughout the year. Fed prices rallied again in November and early December in Western Canada. Support coming from tighter front-end supply and growing holiday demand led to a 13 per cent increase in […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Hogs, Livestock

Amended CUSMA pact includes anti-COOL clause

By Dave Bedard January 3, 2020

The new Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a free trade deal set to replace NAFTA, includes language meant to block any future bids at a trade-disrupting country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law. The new clause would, in theory, checkmate a move made last summer by some Democrat members of the U.S. House of Representatives to have a new North […] Read more

Starbucks to add more plant-based food in latest green push

U.S. grains: Corn, soy fall as traders await Chinese buying

U.S. livestock: Hogs, cattle ease amid uncertain Chinese demand

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