Dried distiller grains are an excellent source of crude protein and intermediate to excellent sources of energy.

Are byproduct feeds the answer to a limited feed supply?

Nutrition with John McKinnon

In my last column, I addressed the use of low-quality roughages in wintering rations. That column was prompted by widespread drought across Western and Central Canada. Recent rains have helped alleviate dry conditions; however, they have not mitigated impending feed shortages. As a result, producers continue to scramble for winter feed, with many looking to […] Read more



Once breeding season ends, it’s important to get breeding bulls back in shape.

Managing bulls after breeding season

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Breeding bulls serve two primary purposes they enhance overall reproductive traits of the breeding herd and transmit long-term desirable herd genetics via offspring. Bull purchasing and management decisions before, during and after breeding season have an impact on both calf crop and herd genetics. Bull management can be divided into the following seasons: pre-breeding or […] Read more

Rejean Nadeau. (Photo courtesy Olymel)

Olymel CEO dies of ‘sudden’ cancer

Rejean Nadeau died Thursday at 71

The CEO of Canadian pork and poultry packer Olymel has died of a “sudden and virulent cancer” at age 71, his company reported Friday morning. Rejean Nadeau, the CEO of Sollio Co-operative’s meatpacking and processing arm since 1996, died Thursday at his home at Rougemont, Que., about 25 km south of St-Hyacinthe, Olymel said in […] Read more


CME January 2022 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures mixed

Hogs rise on short-covering

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures fell on Friday, pressured by rising corn prices, while live cattle futures inched up as traders anticipated seeing the cash trade improve, traders said. Meanwhile, lean hog futures rose on short-covering ahead of the weekend. The cattle market has been battered by boxed beef prices […] Read more

How does your feed measure up? This livestock nutritionist decodes the numbers.

A closer look at your feed test

A ruminant nutritionist provides us with an in-depth look at a real-life feed test for hay

In a year like this, feed testing is “prudent,” says Courtney O’Keefe, ruminant nutritionist with Blue Rock Animal Nutrition at Innisfail, Alta. “It’s going to help you make those decisions and balance that ration accordingly.” O’Keefe takes us through a recent feed test (see example below) for mixed grass-legume hay, noting that nutritionists tend to […] Read more


CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Chicago cattle firm on export demand

CME hog futures fall on meaty supply

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures firmed on Thursday, as relatively steady cash cattle prices offset higher feed costs weighing on the feeder market, traders said. Meanwhile, lean hog futures continued to slide on a seasonal trend of robust supplies, even as hog slaughter rates showed signs of slowing. […] Read more

CME December 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs near three-week low amid ample supply

Chicago cattle futures also lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell to their lowest prices in about three weeks on Wednesday amid pressure from plentiful supplies, analysts said. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures also finished lower at CME. Hog supplies tend to increase in the autumn, pushing more pork on the market and weighing […] Read more


VIDEO: Breeding corn for cows, not combines

VIDEO: Breeding corn for cows, not combines

Driving down the road you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish the difference between a grain or silage corn crop, but your cow surely knows the difference when it comes to nutrition and digestibility. In this video, Tyler Russell of NorthStar Genetics talks about what traits are important to cattle and to the producers who harvest the […] Read more

CME December 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down on raised beef production forecasts

Pork supply expectations drag on CME December hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended lower on Tuesday, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture slightly increased its forecasts for beef production this year and next year. USDA, in a monthly report, raised its 2021 estimate by 0.3 per cent from September because of higher cow slaughtering and heavier average […] Read more