GFM Network News

More News →

Tag Archives beef cattle

Setting up heifers for success in their first breeding season is crucial to earning back the investment in those animals.
Cow-Calf, Features

Establishing reproductive momentum in replacement heifers

Make sure you take steps to get the most of your investment

By
Developing replacement females is an investment that can take years to earn back, making it essential to set them up early for reproductive success. Kathy Larson, research economist at the University of Saskatchewan, discussed the financial considerations of developing replacement females in a Beef Cattle Research Council webinar, including whether to purchase heifers or retain […] Read more
Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: Hogs dip from two-week high, await trade news

By
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures retreated on Wednesday after four straight sessions of gains in a technical and profit-taking setback from two-week highs as investors awaited new developments in U.S.-China trade negotiations. Cattle futures also fell broadly, although worries about a late-winter snowstorm forecast for the beef cattle-producing U.S. Plains underpinned the […] Read more
If you’re feeding alfalfa hay, you may actually have to restrict intake to prevent your cows from becoming over-conditioned.
Livestock, Nutrition

‘As fed’ or ‘dry matter’ — does it matter?

Nutrition with John McKinnon

By
When I visit with beef producers about their feeding program, I often sense confusion when I talk feed dry matter (DM) values or express intakes on a DM basis. Most producers, when they think of their feeding program, think “as fed” and have difficulty converting to DM. Getting this conversion correct, however, is critical to […] Read more
Major innovations in the packing industry have helped ensure the safety of Canadian beef.
Livestock, Nutrition

In the blink of an eye

Nutrition with John McKinnon

By
Writing this column is somewhat of a reflective event, as it is the last column I will write as a member of the University of Saskatchewan agriculture faculty. I have been blessed to have worked at the U of S for 32 years, the last 26 of which I have served as the Saskatchewan Beef […] Read more
Producers need to ruminate on logistics, pasture conditions and animal welfare as well as feed costs during a shortage.
Features, News

Take-aways from the 2018 beef summit, Part 2

Second instalment of a two-part series highlighting “take-aways” from the 2018 Beef Summit in Calgary that combined the International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare and the UCVM Beef Cattle Conference

By
This is the second instalment of a two-part series highlighting take-aways from the 2018 Beef Summit held this summer in Calgary. This year’s conference combined the International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare and the UCVM Beef Cattle Conference. Topics included applied research findings and emerging animal welfare issues facing the beef cattle industry. Dr. Dan […] Read more
Don Pochylko with calf.
News, Purely purebred

A tribute to Don Pochylko

Purely Purebred with Mike Millar: News about you from the November 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By
Hereford and cattle juniors from all breeds have until December 15 to apply for two $1,500 awards to participate or attend a cattle-related event or learning experience. It is all part of the Beef Cattle Learning Award created by Frances, Lance and Sheri Leachman of Big Gully Farms at Maidstone, Sask., in memory of Buddy […] Read more
Preg-checking identifies fertile cows early but culling early doesn’t always pay.
Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

Does preg-checking cows pay?

Perfection is not possible in the cattle business, but excellence can be achieved

By
It’s a “forever” debate. On one side of the scrum are the naysayers who claim preg-checking is sacrilege foisted on the industry by unscrupulous, profiteering veterinarians. They maintain that open cows in the spring are worth more, can be wintered profitably, they manage what calf crop is on the ground just fine, and that veterinary […] Read more
“We did not see any interaction between cattle RFI ranking and diet quality.” Dr. Hushton Block, Ag Canada, Lacombe, Alta.
Beef Cattle, Livestock

Balancing your nutrients will pay off

Research looked at improving the economic and feed efficiency for beef cattle

By
Dr. Hushton Block, beef cattle nutritionist previously at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Bran­don Research Centre and now currently at Lacombe, is interested in finding ways of improving the economic and feed efficiency for beef cattle. One idea Block looked at deals with how beef cattle with better (lower) residual feed intake (RFI) react with […] Read more
Cow-Calf, Features

Canadian and U.S. calf preconditioning trends

By
Conventional preconditioning programs generally include at minimum — castration, dehorning, vaccination against clostridial and bacterial diseases, parasite control, weaning for a period of 30-plus days, and acclimation to feedstuffs, bunks and water bowls prior to sale. The term itself is not narrowly defined and can mean different things to different people including a combination of […] Read more
Pastures of any sort as well as annual crops can harbour conditions that lead to fog fever.
Livestock, Vet advice

Know the signs of fog fever

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

By
Fog fever is not an uncommon condition in adult beef cattle this time of year. It is often sudden in onset and can be a cause of sudden death affecting a significant number of mature cows. It has nothing to do with “fog,” it is linked to nutrition not infection, and body temperature in affected […] Read more

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending April 18, 2019.

Sponsored By:
More Videos →

Daily Newsletter

You'll receive current daily news every morning free, as well as market updates and special features.