Livestock , Latest & Featured - Canadian Cattlemen

FILE PHOTO: A team from the Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Marine Megafauna at the Federal University of Rio Grande (ECOMEGA) collects organic material from a dead porpoise on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, during an outbreak of Bird Flu, in Sao Jose do Norte, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo

Bird flu strain raises alarm as virus kills South American wildlife

Mammal-to-mammal transmission of virus likely but unconfirmed, scientists say

By Jake Spring, Reuters, GFM Network News March 13, 2024

The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus has spread more aggressively than ever before in wild birds and marine mammals since arriving in South America in 2022, raising the risk of it evolving into a bigger threat to humans, according to interviews with eight scientists.

Cow-Calf, Livestock

How to evaluate newborn calves using the calf VIGOR scoring system

By Beef Cattle Research Council March 12, 2024

Ideally, after a calf is born, things go well, and the cow and newborn calf thrive. However, it is important for producers to know how to assess calves for subtle signs of distress or trauma that can occur due to a difficult calving. Good vigor is a vital characteristic. A vigorous newborn calf has the best chance […] Read more

Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Yearling price trend stalls while calves ratchet higher

Larger players aggressively securing lightweight calves on expectations of low yearling supplies

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 12, 2024

Western Canadian feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers for the time being and feeding margins remain deep in red ink on unhedged cattle. Secondly, carcass weights are sharply above year-ago levels and Alberta finishing lots are backed up with market-ready supplies.

General, Livestock, Reuters

Tyson Foods to close Iowa pork plant with 1,200 workers

Packer's pork business saw loss of $128 million in last fiscal year

By Reuters, Tom Polansek, GFM Network News March 11, 2024

Tyson Foods will permanently close a pork plant in Perry, Iowa, the meatpacker said on Monday, eliminating jobs for about 1,200 workers.

The constellation of prices is when the deferred live cattle futures behave and move in tandem with the nearby contract.

Beef Cattle, Market talk, Markets

Constellation of cattle futures prices and futures markets spreads

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

By Jerry Klassen March 8, 2024

The live and feeder cattle futures markets experienced sharp downward price behaviour during the final quarter of 2024. Although the price weakness was being influenced by the nearby fundamentals, the deferred live and feeder cattle contracts were also trending lower. In this article, I’m going to discuss market behaviour referred to as the “constellation of […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Markets

Auction mart report for the week of March 8, 2024

Regional market analysis from Manitoba, courtesy of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada members.

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff March 7, 2024

Western Manitoba, courtesy of Heartland Livestock Services Virden saw 650 cattle through the ring over this snow week. Half of those cattle were bred cows, 30 per cent butcher cattle and the remaining 20 per cent feeders. Local buyers purchased 20 per cent of those animals, eastern buyers another 20 per cent, American buyers 10 […] Read more

Calving, Livestock

Tips for monitoring newborn beef calves

Whether the calf was pulled or born without intervention, this resource can help you decide what to do next

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan March 6, 2024

Halley Adams, Lynn Thiessen and Meaghan Nawrot have many things in common, but the most prevalent one is their passion for cattle. As students at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine, that is an important priority. It has brought them together from across the world to Calgary, Alta., to pursue this passion. Adams […] Read more

Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Grassers and herd rebuilding confidence keeps feeders elevated

Major grazing regions of Western Canada receive more than double of normal precipitation in last month

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 5, 2024

The major grazing regions of Western Canada have received over 200 per cent of normal precipitation over the past 30 days. Grassers were red hot. Demand has also increased for herd building heifers which has diminished supplies for finishing feedlots.

Work with your veterinarian to make sure that your vaccination program includes all the core vaccines and other important diseases facing your herd.

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Research on the Record

Livestock vaccines: An ounce of prevention

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen March 4, 2024

Vaccines are an important tool to help minimize pre-weaning calf illness and death early in life, reduce the risk of reproductive failure in the breeding herd and help improve colostrum’s ability to protect next year’s calf crop when it hits the ground. Vaccine technology, programs and practices are constantly evolving. All the options can be […] Read more

Pascal Houle, Chief Executive Officer of Sollio Cooperative Group at its 2024 annual general meeting. (CNW Group/Sollio Cooperative Group)

General, Livestock

Olymel parent company posts profit after plant closures

The company closed plants in Ontario, Quebec, and slowed production in the west in 2023

By Geralyn Wichers, GFM Network News March 4, 2024

Sollio Cooperative Group, parent company of meat processor Olymel, says it’s back in the black after a period of losses led to closures and cut-backs.

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle rebound on technical buying

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall as rapid harvest overshadows China trade hopes

Good weather pushes Alberta harvest along

Livestock

Bird flu strain raises alarm as virus kills South American wildlife

How to evaluate newborn calves using the calf VIGOR scoring system

Klassen: Yearling price trend stalls while calves ratchet higher

Tyson Foods to close Iowa pork plant with 1,200 workers

Constellation of cattle futures prices and futures markets spreads

Auction mart report for the week of March 8, 2024

Tips for monitoring newborn beef calves

Klassen: Grassers and herd rebuilding confidence keeps feeders elevated

Livestock vaccines: An ounce of prevention

Olymel parent company posts profit after plant closures

Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field

Blogs

Cows ain’t coal

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Sept. 5, 2025

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