Lee Carpenter answers questions about his mixed farming operation, during the Saskaskatchewan Forage Council’s pasture tour near Hanley, Sask.

Saskatchewan producers reap benefits of silage crops

After a dry year, these Hanley-area producers are banking on silage to help winter the herd

Moisture levels through spring and summer were plentiful in some areas of Western Canada, but in south-central Saskatchewan, Mother Nature was stingy with the rain when it was needed the most. That put even more emphasis on potential yields and benefits of silage crops for two Hanley-area operations. Perry Dyck is owner and president of […] Read more

Study shows cattle temperament affects feedlot performance

Study shows cattle temperament affects feedlot performance

Calmer animals perform better in the feedlot and have higher carcass quality and value than their more excitable counterparts

Differences in beef cattle temperament could significantly affect value from the feedlot to the plate, according to a Texas A&M University study. These findings, published in the Journal of Animal Science, show that heifers with calmer temperaments have better feedlot performance and, as a result, higher carcass quality and value than those with more excitable […] Read more


Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures retreat as interim China trade deal delayed

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. lean hog futures retreated on Wednesday, surrendering nearly all of the prior session’s strong gains on worries about U.S. pork exports to China after a senior White House official said a “phase one” trade deal with the world’s top pork consumer could be delayed. The delay followed news that Canada […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc/Getty Images

China to resume imports of Canadian beef and pork

Reuters – China will resume imports of Canadian beef and pork, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday, some four months after Beijing blocked shipments amid an escalating diplomatic feud between the two countries. “Good news for Canadian farmers today: Canadian pork and beef exports to China will resume,” Trudeau tweeted. The Chinese embassy in […] Read more


Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs jump in short-covering, technical bounce

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. lean hog futures rallied on Tuesday in a technical-buying and short-covering bounce from recent lows, underpinned by hopes for accelerated pork sales to China amid surging prices in the world’s largest pork-consuming country, analysts said. Pork prices have surged to record highs in China as African swine fever has decimated […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Steady demand seen for all feeder cattle

Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged.  Yearlings supplies were limited in certain regions which caused buyers to shrug off fleshier characteristics in some cases; however, heavier yearlings over 950 pounds were somewhat softer. Finishing feedlots appeared to be more aggressive on heavier, vaccinated or pre-conditioned calves. Many auction barns […] Read more


Spinning straw into gold

Spinning straw into gold

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

The rumen allows cattle to digest fibre that chickens, pigs and humans can’t, and produce high-quality beef protein from feed and land that otherwise wouldn’t produce food. Understanding the rumen better is the key to improving feed efficiency and improving cattle’s ability to convert fibre to protein. There’s as much energy in straw as grain — […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle climb to new six-month peak on rising cash market

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. live cattle futures scaled a six-month high on Monday, propelled by firming cash cattle and beef prices and strong packer margins, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) December live cattle settled up 0.550 cent at 120.075 cents per pound, its highest level since April 25. February futures gained 0.375 cent […] Read more