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Tag Archives Calves

Calves being backgrounded over the winter on a ranch. Researchers at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine are studying why some producers choose to precondition their calves.
Animal Health, News Roundup

University delves into motivations behind preconditioning calves

"Different strategies, different management"

By
How do preconditioned calves perform when mixed with auction animals? That question sparked a study in 2020 at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. Researchers found that preconditioned calves still outperform auction animals when mixed, and even when mixed at different ratios, such as 50/50, or three to one. “This data was extremely […] Read more
File photo of cattle in an Alberta feedlot. (Geralyn Wichers photo)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market falters at record highs

Risk premiums in market seen eroding

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Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2 to as much as $8 lower on average. Calf markets were relatively unchanged to $10 lower. There was moderate demand for top quality grass yearlings but plainer types experienced softer buying interest. Pre-conditioned calves held value but unweaned bawlers appear to set back $5-$10. Seasonally, […] Read more
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Comment/Columns, Nutrition

Can byproduct feeds play a role in growing calf programs?

You'll need to know their nutritional content and digestibility

By
This column is the last in a three-part series focusing on factors influencing the profitability of backgrounding cattle. To this point, we have covered economic and management issues related to this sector as well as the concept of formulating diets to match specific program objectives such as overwintering lightweight calves for grass and backgrounding medium- […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex

Major feedlots seen aggressive on quality calves

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Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Calf markets were steady to $5 higher on average, with stronger buying interest on preconditioned weaned steer calves. Light calves weighing under 500 lbs. appeared to jump $10-$20 in certain regions. This past week, focus of finishing feedlots switched from […] Read more
Producers vaccinating calves before weaning.
Research on the Record

M. bovis, repeat offender

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Police describe the suspect as being in his twenties with shaggy brown hair, wearing a black hoodie, white sneakers, blue jeans and a green backpack. He is known to associate with members of a criminal gang. If that was me, I’d be quick to cut my hair short, dye it gray, grow a distracting moustache […] Read more
Livestock nutritionist John McKinnon examines three scenarios at how byproduct feeds can be used in cattle feeding programs.
Cow-Calf, Livestock, Nutrition

Using byproduct feeds to influence profitability of backgrounded calves

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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In my last column, I wrote about some of the challenges facing producers who background cattle, both from a marketing and production perspective. Concerning marketing, emphasis was placed on differences between custom and owner-operated businesses. From a production perspective, both knowledge of cost of production and identifying goals of the nutrition program were stressed. Concerning […] Read more
CME April 2024 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Stronger live cattle futures enhance feeder demand

Feeder cattle supplies look to be lower than anticipated

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Compared to last week, western Canadian grass yearling prices were unchanged to $3/cwt lower on average. Steers held value but heifers had a softer tone. Calf prices were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. However, weaker barley prices and stronger deferred live cattle prices limited any slippage. The calf market continues to be in price […] Read more
Producers vaccinating calves before weaning.
Marketing

The economics of preconditioning

Why aren’t more producers preconditioning calves? Kathy Larson dives into the research

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Does preconditioning your calves pay? It has been a long-studied and debated topic. When it comes to preconditioning cattle, “every operation is different,” says Kathy Larson, research associate for the department of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Saskatchewan. Larson says there is opportunity for profit in preconditioning every year but it’s variable. […] Read more
Photo: Canada Beef
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market continues to consolidate

U.S. feeder cattle supplies seen tighter than expected

By ,
Compared to last week, western Canadian grass yearling prices were relatively unchanged. Yearlings over 800 lbs. on light grain rations or on diets mixed with silage were priced at $5 to as much as $20 discount to those cattle coming straight off pasture. Larger groups of uniform quality continue to trade at a minor premium […] Read more
Cull bulls in a feedlot. Pain mitigation has become standard practice when castrating older animals, and researchers are looking at whether it reduces disease in other stressful situations.
Features

Research into pain management and animal health

North American researchers are studying how pain mitigation affects the health and performance of calves, as well as the economics

By
Castration, and to a lesser extent dehorning, are routine and necessary procedures on cattle farms, ranches and feedlots across the nation. These stressful events deliver varying levels of concentrated pain to their recipients which fade over time but in doing so, also create extended ripples of influences throughout an animal’s life. Dr. Michael Jelinski of […] Read more

Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field

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AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Aug. 22, 2025

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