Carcass yield grades on the decline

Carcass yield grades on the decline

A close look at what’s behind the shift to lower yield grades in recent years and how the industry might reverse the trend

I have kept an annual record of grade and yield statistics since 1993 when a new grading system was introduced. It tells quite a story. I begin with the quality grades. One can see that the percentage of “Canada AAA” carcasses was below 20 per cent in 1993 and that the AA and A grades […] Read more

(File photo by Allan Dawson)

Beef sector aims for new 2030 targets

Organizations involved in Canada's National Beef Strategy have announced new goals for the beef sector for the next decade

The Canadian beef industry has new benchmarks to reach for in the next decade. The organizations involved in Canada’s National Beef Strategy — the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canada Beef Breeds Council, Beef Cattle Research Council, Canada Beef, The National Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Meat Council and Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef have announced new 2030 […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Quality features influence feeder cattle prices

Western Canadian yearling markets have traded in a sideways range over the past couple of weeks; major feedlot operators have been aggressive for 800-pound-plus feeders just off grass because these cattle are most efficient and therefore, most profitable. Grass yearlings were quoted steady to as much as $5 higher this past week. Backgrounded yearlings were […] Read more

Gerald Grand, a staff member at Agolin, a Swiss maker of feed additives based on botanical compounds, works on a mixture of components at Biere, Switzerland on Sept. 26, 2018. (Photo: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

More food companies aim to wrangle cattle emissions

Nestle, Barry Callebaut trying out feed additives

Winnipeg | Reuters — Looking to improve milk production, California farmer John Verwey turned to a Swiss-made feed additive designed to make a cow more efficient while reducing methane emissions from cattle burps. The more a cow belches, the more it spends energy that could be used instead for milk production, Verwey reasoned. So two […] Read more


Cattle prices hold mostly steady

Cattle prices hold mostly steady

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the September 28, 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Good demand, strong cut-out value, steady kill rates and good retail featuring have contributed to mostly steady prices throughout the summer months. However, the start of September brought a seasonally lower move in the cash fed cattle market. Typically, larger front-end supplies lead to longer packer lift times and larger carcass weights. This […] Read more

Ryan, Tania, Jace, Lara and Rana Beierbach live and ranch near Whitewood, Sask.

Mentorship a gateway to greater things

Mentorship can lead to improvements on one’s own operation, as well as adept leadership on industry boards

Mentorship can take many forms from basic and very informal all the way up to formal professional mentorship programs. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Program (CYL), now in its 10th year, is one such program. It has proven to be a valuable addition to the Canadian beef industry scene and especially to those […] Read more



Security camera image of a person sought by RCMP in connection to the disappearance of beef from the JBS plant at Brooks, Alta. (Photo courtesy Brooks RCMP)

U.S.-bound truckload of Alberta beef disappears

Over $230,000 in JBS beef hasn't turned up, RCMP says

A reefer truck loaded with over $230,000 in beef from the JBS plant at Brooks, Alta. is more than two weeks overdue and alleged to be travelling on “fraudulent documents,” RCMP say. Brooks RCMP said Monday they’re investigating after a transport truck that was subcontracted to haul a full load of beef from the JBS […] Read more


Fed-cattle prices moving higher

Fed-cattle prices moving higher

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

Fed cattle Impressive summer slaughter rates coupled with strong wholesale demand have moved fed prices higher after weeks of a steady trading range. The fed steer price in Alberta in mid-August was $136.92/ cwt, which was a jump of $2.81/cwt from the previous week. Cash-to-cash basis is narrow at -$1.47/cwt, which compares to -$3.39/cwt a […] Read more

Some implants are made for use in feedlots, while others are more suitable for pastured cattle.

Proper use of implants for calves

Using the right implant at the right time can fatten the bottom line, but producers must consider everything from the market to production stage before picking an implant

Some cow-calf producers implant calves they plan to sell, and most feedlots use implants to boost growth and feed efficiency. But using them effectively requires knowledge of how implants work, how to implant correctly and potential carcass effects. There are several types of implants containing different hormones. These include three naturally occurring hormones (estradiol, progesterone […] Read more