
Livestock

Mentorship program leads Manitoba producer to regenerative ag
After participating in the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program, Brett McRae rejigged his mixed farm to abide by the five principles of soil health
Brett McRae is a fifth-generation rancher in southwest Manitoba, near Brandon, but not the fifth generation on the same ranch. “I was born and raised here and my parents are still actively farming. I farm next to them; we farm separately but share equipment, labour, facilities and ideas. It’s the best of both worlds; we […] Read more

Dairy farmers press feds on compensation promises, again
Canada’s dairy farmers are again calling on the federal government to make good on its promise to compensate producers, after giving up market share of the supply-managed industry to more foreign competitors through trade pacts. The Liberal government, most recently in its Sept. 23 speech from the throne, has told Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit lowest price since June under supply pressure
December lean hogs close up off recent low
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Monday, with the most-active contract touching its lowest price since June under pressure from a larger-than-expected number of cattle on feed in the United States, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a monthly report issued after the markets closed on Friday, said 11.7 […] Read more

McMillin: Cattle prices come under pressure
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the November 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed Cattle Larger carcass weights and falling live cattle futures made way for lower fed cattle prices by mid-October. Slaughter rates remain solid while packers work through the remaining backlog. However, carcass weights have crept up in recent weeks in Canada, sounding a cautionary tone as feedlots become less current and more pounds must work […] Read more

Canadian producer builds pasture-to-plate beef business in Mongolia
Blending modern feedlot practices with tradition is opening new doors for a small feedlot in Mongolia
When Jeremy and Roxy Thiessen first served their home-finished beef to friends, their guests declared they’d never tasted anything like it. While this is often how stories of direct-marketing success begin, the Thiessens had a distinct advantage based on their location and market demands, providing a unique opportunity for this family. At first glance, the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog, live cattle futures up on bargain buying
USDA Cattle on Feed data tops expectations
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog and live cattle futures rose on Friday on some bargain buying ahead of the weekend. Hog futures snapped a three-session losing streak, the longest for the December contract in five weeks, while live cattle rebounded from its lowest since June 29. CME December lean hogs rose […] Read more

Barley market outlook
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
The recent rally in the barley market has caught many cattle producers by surprise. For a brief period in midsummer, Lethbridge-area feedlots saw barley prices drop under $200/mt delivered; however, at the time of writing this article in mid-September, feed barley delivered to southern Alberta was trading in the range of $220/mt to $230/mt. Canadian […] Read more

Shutdown urged for Quebec pork plant after COVID-19 death
Union calls on Olymel to close site for at least two weeks
The union for over 1,000 workers at a major Quebec hog slaughter plant is calling on the owner to temporarily close the facility against a COVID-19 outbreak now blamed for the death of an employee. Le Syndicat des travailleurs d’Olymel Vallee-Jonction-CSN said Wednesday the death of a worker earlier this week led it to demand […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures fall for third day in a row
USDA report expected to show more cattle on feed
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for the third day in a row on Thursday, with traders saying they expected the recent surge of Chinese demand for pork to fade as the world’s top consumer rebuilds its decimated hog herd. “I increasingly see more attention paid to deteriorating long-term export […] Read more

Much to learn about foot-and-mouth disease: Part 2
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious, acute, viral disease affecting cloven-hooved animals including pigs, cattle, sheep and goats. Controlling FMD in countries previously free of the disease and wishing to re-establish freedom is a sophisticated process requiring technical expertise, persistence and tough decisions. The disease is characterized by formation of vesicles and erosions inside […] Read more