Backed by a business plan

Former Alberta Agriculture risk management specialist Bruce Viney spoke with heart at the Western Canadian Feedlot Management School earlier this year telling about his own experiences in cattle feeding as he covered points from his new publication, Business Fundamentals for Better Feeding Agreements. He got his start as a cattle feeder when he leveraged scholarship […] Read more

Yo-Yo diet strategies

Yo-Yo diet strategies

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

Getting weaned calves on feed can be a challenge. This is often attributed to the change from a forage-based diet to unfamiliar feedlot rations and feed bunks, distress from recent weaning, illness, etc. To compensate for this, some feeders use a relatively high-energy receiving diet, the rationale being that if they’re not going to eat […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle mostly lower as beef prices ease

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures were mostly lower on Monday, pressured by weaker beef prices and expectations that cash cattle at Plains feedlot markets would trade at lower prices this week, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle ended steady at 120.575 cents, while actively traded February futures fell for a […] Read more



The economics behind bale grazing

The economics behind bale grazing

Grazing with Steve Kenyon

I started bale grazing in 1999 and have had many producers over the years thank me for sharing my bale grazing information with them. The usual comment is that they will never go back to the traditional method of feeding cattle. For me, bale grazing was a no-brainer once I looked at the cost savings. […] Read more




The not-so sexy side of genomics

The not-so sexy side of genomics

Breeding: News Roundup from the October 23, 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

New technologies are sexy if they meet three criteria: they open doors to new and wonderful things, they are disruptive, and they are profitable. Genomics is proving to be one of the sexiest technologies in history. All living things are based on DNA and so genomics, the study and manipulation of that DNA, can have […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures mixed on spreading, cash declines

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. livestock futures were widely mixed on Thursday, with nearby live cattle and lean hog contracts hitting multi-week lows in bear-spreading as traders moved into deferred positions. Worries of weaker prices in cash markets for cattle and hogs further weighed on front-month contracts while the third of the five-day Standard & […] Read more

Finally, a shirt-pocket tag reader that talks to your smartphone

Finally, a shirt-pocket tag reader that talks to your smartphone

Identification: "Herdly" iPhone app aims to be available for the 2018 calving season

A smartphone tag reader and app that the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has had bubbling on the back burner for several years is being field-tested and could become commercially available next year. Mark Klassen, the CCA technical director, says CCA has partnered with software developer Cannon Smith of Synergy Farm Solutions, Hill Spring, Alta., to take […] Read more