Cicer milkvetch at the Siklenka farm. The forage is becoming increasingly popular with producers, despite the long establishment time.

Forage seed producers hold steady in changing industry

With nearly 40 years producing forage seed, the Siklenka family has seen some varieties fall in and out of favour, but other things remain the same

Forage seed production may not receive the attention of many other parts of the beef industry, but it plays a crucial role. Nathan Siklenka and his father, Darrel Siklenka, own and operate Siklenka Seed Farm together near Glaslyn, Sask. The farm has been in operation since 1985. Siklenka Seed Farm is well known for its […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle experience weather market

For the week ending May 4, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable and the market was hard to define. Alberta and certain regions of Saskatchewan received snow, which caused the market to trade $3 to $5 lower. However, in Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 higher.

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures mixed, hog futures lower, amid demand questions

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures ended Monday mixed, after conflicting market signals sent feeder cattle futures lower and nearby live cattle contracts slightly higher. Lean hog futures eased, as market participants wrestled with growing uncertainty over consumer demand for meat as the U.S. enters into the traditional summer grilling season. In […] Read more


Livestock producers have several options for water systems, and the Beef Cattle Research Council has a free online tool to help them evaluate those options.

Water systems for cattle operations

A water system can help beef producers make the best use possible of their resources

In Western Canada, the land aches for water. Drought has plagued parts of the Prairies for years now. Water levels in rivers, lakes and producers’ dugouts have dropped. Grass in the summer looks the same as it does in the fall — brown, crunchy and dead. The concern lingers going into the growing and calving […] Read more

The USDA is still performing two other safety studies on beef related to H5N1 but says meat supplies are safe.  Photo: File

U.S. livestock: CME cattle stabilize after bird flu roils markets

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures stabilized on Friday after U.S. testing of ground beef samples for H5N1 bird flu fuelled wild swings, but markets still closed lower for the week. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures had rallied on Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the samples from retail […] Read more


Canada, U.S. cattle inventories further decline

Canada, U.S. cattle inventories further decline

BeefWatch is prepared by the staff of Canfax and Canfax Research Services, divisions of the Canadian Cattle Association

All eyes are on moisture conditions this spring, as a snow drought covered a large portion of the Canadian Prairies this winter. Some of the highest (nominal) feeder prices in history last fall were combined with heifers being sent into feedlots. Feeder prices moved higher this spring to make new record highs on lower feed […] Read more

Health Canada had previously decided that gene edited crops are safe, so, in most cases they will be treated the same as crops developed through traditional plant breeding methods.  Photo: File

CFIA declares gene editing safe for livestock feed

Glacier FarmMedia – Leaders in Canada’s grain industry are praising the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for confirming gene edited crops are safe to use as livestock feed. Today, the Canola Council of Canada, the Canada Grains Council and Cereals Canada “applauded” the CFIA for its new guidance on gene editing. “This is a ground-breaking day […] Read more