CME March 2023 feeder cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle highest since 2015 as corn sags

Live cattle mixed, hogs mostly higher

Chicago | Reuters — Front-month feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange hit the highest in nearly 7-1/2 years on Wednesday as falling prices for corn signaled cheaper feed costs, traders said. CME April feeder cattle futures settled up 1.4 cents at 200.075 cents/lb. after setting a life-of-contract high of 200.225 cents (all figures […] Read more

Dystocia, C-sections, dead calves, artificially induced labour and even vitamin and mineral deficiencies all increase the risk of retained placentas.

Dealing with retained placentas in beef cows

Strive to prevent retained placentas as much as possible, says a large animal vet

Spring calving preparations normally include gathering tools, repairing equipment and gates, and buying medications, hygienic and other treatment supplies. Once those items are checked off the list, most farmers and ranchers feel ready for the calving rush. Fortunately, most deliveries proceed normally but occasionally complications such as retained placentas occur, which demand additional preparations. Labour […] Read more


CME April 2023 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle climb to another contract high

April live cattle lower, lean hogs up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures reached a contract high for a second consecutive session on Tuesday, while live cattle futures retreated from a contract high set a day earlier, brokers said. Reduced U.S. herd sizes due to drought have propelled futures higher recently, though some brokers said supply concerns have […] Read more

Left to right: Raelynn Blumhagen, Carling Matejka, and Dr. Calvin Booker.

New Cattle Young Leaders, new chair for Sask. Cattlemen’s Association

NewsMakers from the March 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Canadian Cattle Young Leaders  Raelynn Blumhagen was born and raised in Jaffray, B.C., where her family has been running a cow-calf operation for five generations. Blumhagen briefly left the ranch to attend college, majoring in business finance. She now lives on the ranch with her husband Dale and her two daughters, working alongside her parents […] Read more


CME April 2023 feeder cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle set contract high on tightening supplies

Chicago live cattle also up, lean hogs down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures jumped to a new contract high on Monday on firm cash prices and increasing concerns about reduced U.S. herd numbers, analysts said. Traders focused on tighter cattle supplies as demand from meatpackers for livestock to slaughter remained strong. Ranchers have reduced herd sizes due to […] Read more

A cow in good condition. Maintaining a body condition score of three right up to calving helps ensure a healthier, more productive calf.

Cow body condition and animal performance

How much fat a cow is carrying through the winter affects everything from her ability to maintain her body temperature to the development of her unborn calf

Nutrients provided in the ration influence animal performance. Animals will either lose, maintain, or gain weight. The nutrition program not only affects the cow but also the unborn calf. Visual evaluation of animal condition can be misleading, especially with a winter haircoat. A more objective, hands-on method to evaluate how the cows are managing is […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with 10-day moving average and Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs rally on strong outside markets

Weather forecast also supportive

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog and cattle futures rose sharply on Friday, as gains in outside markets bolstered optimism about the economy and consumer demand for beef and pork, traders said. Concerns that a late winter storm forecast for the U.S. Midwest this weekend could disrupt supply chains added support to livestock […] Read more

While experience and training improve your ability to eyeball a cow’s body condition score, looks can still be deceiving.

Thin cows cost money

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Any discussion about getting ready for calving season should start with an evaluation of the body condition of pregnant cows and heifers. There are also significant economic factors to consider.  Several issues recently shifted priorities away from routine body condition scoring, such as beef supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and sudden swings in cattle. […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with 10-, 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs ease on weak exports

Boxed beef prices seen firm

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle and hog futures fell on Thursday, with signs of weakening export demand for beef and pork pressuring prices. Traders also said the cattle market was still ripe for profit taking even after falling on Wednesday. The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday morning export sales of beef […] Read more

Dr. Mike Krystolovich.

Young vets share challenges and joys of rural practice

Anything from winter weather to community dynamics can affect a new vet’s experience living and working in a rural area

The large animal vet shortage in Canada probably isn’t news to you. You may have seen a decline or rapid turnover of vets in your area. The landscape of large animal medicine is changing. What makes large animal medicine appealing to new graduates? And more importantly, what makes vets leave?  Establishing roots “It’s a very […] Read more