cattle in a feedlot in Canada

Feeder cattle outside finishing feedlots

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

The feeder cattle market has been trading near or at historical highs over the past couple of months. The higher prices have caused many cattle producers to question the number of feeder cattle that will be available later in spring. Canadian feedlot operators have experienced favourable margins throughout the winter which has enhanced demand for […] Read more


A bull elk near Prince Albert, Sask. Wildlife such as deer and elk can spread bovine TB between farms, making it difficult to trace.

What ranchers need to know about bovine tuberculosis investigations in Canada

From surveillance to testing to restocking, two experts outline how an investigation works

From surveillance to testing to restocking, two experts outline how an investigation works

A case of bovine tuberculosis was detected in a cow at slaughter in Alberta. It was traced back to a farm in Saskatchewan, where more positive animals were detected, leading to the launch of a vigorous eradication and investigation process by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. But many producers don’t know what this process looks […] Read more

cattle in a feedlot

Total Canadian cattle, calf numbers shrink again

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

As the cattle herd shrinks, leverage has shifted from the retailer through the supply chain to the cow-calf sector. Heavier Canadian steer carcass weights supported fed production in 2024, offsetting smaller slaughter volumes. Fed and feeder cattle prices moved to record highs in the first quarter of 2025, building on momentum from the fourth quarter […] Read more


A restaurant-goer snaps a photo of a dish featuring beef. Certified sustainable beef is gaining traction in the market place, but a supply crunch makes it tough for restaurants and retailers to meet demand.

Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef faces supply crunch

As demand has increased for beef from certified-sustainable farms and ranches, supply has fallen behind

It’s been over 10 years since the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef was established, and though the roundtable has made progress, it has also run into challenges. While producer uptake in the program was strong at the start, it has petered off, causing concern. The roundtable’s goal is to encourage sustainable beef production in Canada, […] Read more

calf and cow in a green pasture

DNA testing can have value in commercial beef sector

Assessing the genetic potential for a number of factors can be helpful to producers

There is growing interest in the commercial beef industry around using DNA to inform selection decisions. While traditionally the realm of the seedstock industry, commercial DNA testing and changes in the way we manage cattle have led to some big changes in how we think about genetic selection. DNA testing, in broad terms, means using […] Read more


a plant worker washing a beef carcass

Canadian beef exporters breathe a sigh of relief

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

I could almost hear the huge sighs of relief coming from Canadian livestock and meat producers on April 2 when U.S. President Trump announced he was imposing a new 10 per cent tariff on all imports. That’s because goods that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are expected to be exempt from the new tariffs. […] Read more

Tyler Fulton is president of the Canadian Cattle Association.

New CCA president focuses on managing U.S. trade risks to Canadian beef producers

CCA Reports, from the May 2025 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

I am writing this article almost two weeks after becoming the new president of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). I am honoured to step into this role and continue having conversations about the Canada-U.S. trade relationship and to advocate for the continued integration of the North American live cattle and beef supply chain and improvements […] Read more


Acidosis prevention is especially critical during the transition to high-grain diets when cattle enter the finishing phase in the feedlot.

Rethinking transition diets for finishing cattle

Feed additive shows promise for accelerating dietary transitions in feedlot cattle

Among the most prevalent diseases in feedlot cattle, ruminal acidosis ranks second only to respiratory diseases in contributing to morbidity, mortality and economic losses. Given its effect on animal welfare and profitability, preventing acidosis remains a key focus in feedlot cattle research. In this month’s column, we want to discuss the role of transition diets […] Read more

assorted green grasses on a prairie

Icebergs and native forages: What you can’t see can sink you

Research On the Record with Reynold Bergen

In April 1912, the RMS Titanic sank off Newfoundland’s coast after an iceberg tore a hole in her hull 25 feet below the waterline. Only a tenth of an iceberg is visible above the water; most lurks beneath the surface. Forage plants are similar; how things look on the soil surface may not reflect what’s […] Read more