Newly weaned calves need to be housed in a clean, dry environment and have sufficient space to lay down and move around without feeling undue stress due to overcrowding.

Minimize stress on arrival the key to starting calves on feed

Nutrition with John McKinnon

In my September column entitled The Fall Run Has Started, I discussed the relationship between stress, feed intake and health status of newly weaned calves. To summarize that discussion, calves that are highly stressed due to weaning, transportation, mixing and processing typically have low dry matter intakes (DMI) and are susceptible to disease, particularly bovine […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Live cattle bounce from two-week low in most-active contract

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished higher on Thursday in the most-active contract, after shaking off a two-week low hit earlier in the session, traders said. Other contracts ended mixed, as the market took a breather following a recent rally in cash cattle prices, brokers said. Cash cattle on Thursday […] Read more


A man on horseback works cattle near Livingston, Montana. Vence’s virtual fencing systems have been used in Montana and other parts of the U.S., but in 2023, the systems will be trialed for the first time in Canada near Big River, Sask.

Virtual fencing pilot coming to Saskatchewan

Project to explore whether new technology is feasible for Canadian producers

Given how time-consuming and expensive fencing can be, it’s little wonder that virtual fencing has piqued the interest of farmers and ranchers in Canada and beyond. But is the juice worth the squeeze? One cattle group in Saskatchewan aims to find out. Chad MacPherson, the general manager of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA), says […] Read more

Silage is more than “just” fibre, but not all fibre is created equal when it comes to cattle feeding.

Silage: more than just filler

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

If starch (from grain) is the fuel in a feedlot diet, fibre (from a roughage such as silage) is the engine governor that slows digestion. A backgrounding diet might contain 60 per cent silage to moderate animal growth so that they grow frame and muscle without over-fattening. In finishing diets, grain levels are increased to […] Read more


Interpreting a silage feed test

Interpreting a silage feed test

A ruminant nutritionist unpacks the numbers from a real feed test

If you want to know the nutrient quality of forage, you must have it analyzed. It always pays to test dry forages, but it’s also worth testing silages, grains and water. When comparing different feeds, always compare the values on a “dry basis” to remove the moisture effect of results. Barry Yaremcio of Yaremcio Ag […] Read more

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U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag on long liquidation; cash trade awaited

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed lower in range-bound trade on Tuesday as speculators exited long positions amid a lack of supportive news, traders said. CME December live cattle LCZ2 settled down 0.525 cent at 151.950 cents per lb but stayed inside of Monday’s trading range. January feeder cattle FCF3 finished […] Read more



Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences weather volatility 

Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices traded $3 to $4 on either side of side of unchanged while calves traded $5 lower to as much as $6 higher. The calf market tends to experience a seasonal bounce every November. In certain cases, buyers appeared to step forward more aggressively last week in anticipation […] Read more


When it comes to storing forage crops, not all storage methods are created equal.

How do you store your hay?

Direction and spacing are two key things to consider

The hay is baled. But do you give much thought to how it’s placed in storage? With hay prices skyrocketing over the past year or so, weathering or loss in the stack are thoughts on more people’s minds than in years past. While there might not be an actual “right” way to store your hay, […] Read more

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U.S. livestock: Lean hogs bounce back from steep losses

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures settled higher on Friday in a recovery from sharp losses recorded in the previous session, while live cattle futures weakened for a second consecutive day. December lean hog futures LHZ2 ended up 0.975 cent at 86.100 cents per lb. The contract bounced after sinking by 3.375 cents […] Read more