
Livestock

B.C. orders poultry indoors as avian flu arrives
One more outbreak each also in Alberta, Quebec; 'suspect' wild birds being tested in Manitoba
British Columbia officials are ordering all commercial poultry operations to move their birds indoors after the arrival of avian flu in a flock in that province. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said Thursday it confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza on Wednesday in a commercial poultry flock in the Regional District of North Okanagan, and […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures end lower, hogs higher
Cattle end up off session lows
Chicago | Reuters — Benchmark live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell on Thursday as traders booked profits after a three-session climb and ahead of a long holiday weekend, traders said. U.S. markets, including the CME, will be closed for Good Friday. But cattle futures came off their session lows and hog futures […] Read more

How to win fans and influence consumers
Three people share how they changed their minds about beef, becoming advocates for beef production
David Kleiman’s first visit to a ranch in the southern Alberta foothills was an awe-inspiring experience he’ll never forget. Nature and conservation have been life-long passions for Kleiman, a Calgary-based science teacher. After meeting Kimberly Wachtler of Burke Creek Ranch at a farmers market, Kleiman was eager to learn more about how cattle are raised […] Read more

Avian flu hits flocks in Quebec, another in Ontario
Eleven control zones now in place in Ontario, six in Alberta
Avian influenza has been confirmed at two sites in Quebec and another in Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday. CFIA said it had quarantined two premises in Quebec after confirming an H5 type of avian flu in birds on a commercial poultry farm on Tuesday in the regional municipality (RCM) of Val-Saint-Francois, just […] Read more

CEOs of four large U.S. meatpackers to testify in Congressional hearing
Beef prices up for consumers, down for ranchers
Washington | Reuters — The chief executives of U.S. meatpackers Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS and National Beef Packing have agreed to testify at a Congressional hearing discussing cattle markets and price increases for consumers, House agriculture committee chairman David Scott said Wednesday. “It is very important, very vital, and very urgent that we hear the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle follow broad strength in commodities
June lean hog futures down on day
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange rose on Wednesday for a third straight session, buoyed by broad strength in commodities along with firming cash cattle prices, traders said. A blizzard crossing the northern Plains lent support, raising concern about stress on cattle in the Dakotas, but the storm was […] Read more

Articles to get through a cold calving season
It’s been an unpleasant spring, to say the least, and for young calves, spring blizzards and cold temperatures can be downright dangerous. Whether you’re dealing with frostbite or dehydration linked to hypothermia, we’ve got you covered with the following articles. Calf 911: How to spot dehydration in young or scouring calves: Dehydration may not be […] Read more

A crazy winter, a horrific spring
Nutrition with John McKinnon
From a management perspective, this past winter has been unusual, to say the least! It seems at every turn, beef producers across the country faced unexpected challenges. Examples include the residual effects of flooding in the Abbotsford area, drought in Western Canada, extended periods of extremely cold weather and for some areas, near-record snowfall. All […] Read more

Alberta, Ontario see more avian flu in flocks
One more outbreak confirmed in each province
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in one more commercial poultry flock each in central Alberta and eastern Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday. The agency said it had confirmed on Monday that high-path H5N1 avian flu had infected a poultry flock in Camrose County, southeast of Edmonton, and on Tuesday also […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures climb on firmer cash trade
Lean hogs up on technical buying
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed higher on Tuesday on firmer cash cattle prices compared to last week and broad strength in commodities, analysts said. CME June live cattle futures settled up 1.5 cents at 136.3 cents/lb. after touching 136.675 cents, the contract’s highest since April 1 (all […] Read more