U.S. livestock: Hog futures mixed after hitting three-month high

U.S. livestock: Hog futures mixed after hitting three-month high

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures were mixed on Wednesday, with the front-month contract easing on profit-taking after rallying to a three-month high while deferred contracts rose on expectations of tight supplies, traders said. Live cattle contracts were firm following two straight days of declines with concerns about a massive U.S. storm system […] Read more

Managing a mineral program for cattle

Managing a mineral program for cattle

Nutrition with John McKinnon

Last month I wrote on the importance of a mineral feeding program and focused on some of the more common questions producers have on this topic. As we move through calving and into the breeding season, ensuring that your cattle have access to the right minerals is only one part of a successful mineral feeding […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Hogs extend win streak on short-covering, firm cash

U.S. livestock: Hogs extend win streak on short-covering, firm cash

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rallied to two-month high on Tuesday, their third straight day of gains, as investors scrambled to cover shorts amid concerns about supplies and signs of cash market strength, traders said. Live cattle futures were weaker, with abundant supplies continuing to weigh on the market. Concerns about African […] Read more

CME April 2019 live cattle, with August 2019 live cattle in brown. (Barchart)

Klassen: Feeder market holds value

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Buying interest for yearlings was somewhat stronger while calves in the eastern Prairie regions were softer. Moderate temperatures are in the seven-day forecast for most of Western Canada, so the risk discount due to adverse weather has evaporated. Barley jumped an additional […] Read more



Rafael Ramírez González judges the President’s Classic Show during Canadian Western Agribition in 2018.

Mexican beef producer finds top genetics in Canada

Producers in Mexico appreciate high quality of Canadian cattle herds

Canadian beef producers frequently brave winter weather to attend bull sales and cattle shows. In the stalls and by the sales rings, breeders learn about each other’s operations in the hopes of starting partnerships, finding new genetics and sending their best into other herds. A western Canadian ranch or cattle show is also the perfect […] Read more



University of Saskatchewan scientists investigating effects of sulphates on cattle health

University of Saskatchewan scientists investigating effects of sulphates on cattle health

Research: News Roundup from the March 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

University of Saskatchewan researchers are studying the effects of high sulphate levels in the drinking water of cattle. When cattle drink water with high sulphate levels, the sulphates bind trace minerals in the animals’ rumens, preventing them from absorbing necessary minerals. Potential effects include diarrhea, reduced fertility and milk production, slow growth, a depressed immune […] Read more



Cattle grazing at Glanton Farms.

Local producer groups take reins of guest instructor opportunity at Assiniboine Community College

Associations: News Roundup from the March 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Students studying forage and pasture management at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Man., are getting a little more mud on their boots and some real-life experiences rolled into their course curriculum this winter session. Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) and Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI) have designed a guest-instructor schedule from the excellent […] Read more