The 200th calf born on the Ramsey ranch in January 2021.

Withstanding extreme cold while winter calving

While many producers prefer spring calving, Matthew Ramsey shifted his calving season to January to avoid Manitoba’s wet April weather

Matthew Ramsey would much rather calve in January than in April. At least in January, he says, you know what you’re getting into. “We got to the point where April sucked every year,” he says.  “Eventually, we came to the conclusion that we weren’t happy with April, we’re either going to go earlier or later […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end firm on tight supplies, lower weights

Hogs mixed on weak cash prices, higher cutout

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended mostly firm on Friday, underpinned by tight supplies and as harsh winter weather in recent weeks lowered cattle slaughter weights and limited beef production, traders said. Live cattle futures prices remained bound in a recent trading range as cash cattle prices at Plains feedlot […] Read more


A variety of alternative growth promoters have been marketed as natural replacements for conventional productivity-enhancing technologies.

Can we replace growth promotants?

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

Hormone implants and feed additives such as ionophores (e.g. monensin/Rumensin), beta-agonists (e.g. ractopamine/Optaflexx) and MGA (to suppress heat in heifers) have allowed Canada’s feedlot sector to dramatically improve growth rates, feed efficiency and environmental performance. In-feed antimicrobials to prevent liver abscesses (e.g. tylosin) also have an indirect benefit because healthy cattle grow better. While consumers […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs end mixed, cattle mostly lower

Corn's rally put pressure on feeder cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended mixed on Thursday, with actively traded nearby months down on weak pork prices and dull demand, while deferred contracts rose on expectations for tighter supplies in coming months, traders said. The February hog contract was down for the 10th time in 11 sessions and […] Read more


CME February 2023 lean hogs with 20-day moving average (pink line) and CME cash lean hog index (purple line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs drop as pork cutout sinks to near two-year low

Cattle futures also follow beef values lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell on Wednesday for the ninth time in 10 sessions as weak cash hog prices and lower pork values dragged the market to a fresh three-month low, traders said. Pork packer margins have eroded and the closely followed cash wholesale pork cutout value fell on […] Read more

SVY Mayfield 30H.

Agribition Supreme champions

Purely Purebred, news from the January 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Congratulations to the 2022 Canadian Western Agribition Beef Supreme Champion Bull and Female, presented by CN Railway.  The Supreme Champion Bull was SVY Mayfield 30H, exhibited by Cays Cattle, Kinistino, Sask. (photo above) The Supreme Champion Female was EF Primrose 925. Calf at side is EF Oattes Primrose 2234. Exhibited by Enright Farms, Renfrew, Ont. (photo […] Read more


Highlights from Farmfair International

Purely Purebred, news from the January 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Farmfair International was held in Edmonton, Alta., from November 9 to 12, with perhaps the largest prize money payout in North America (over $300,000). The quality of cattle did not disappoint.  Here are some highlights from the show results: 

CME February 2023 lean hogs with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs sink to three-month low on weak pork prices

Live cattle steady to higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell on Tuesday for the eighth time in nine sessions on concerns about pork demand and slumping pork prices, traders said. The actively traded February lean hog contract dropped to a three-month low as packer margins eroded and the pork cutout price slid to the […] Read more


Anchor D Garren’s Krush 524K.

News from the Canadian Simmental Association

Purely Purebred, news from the January 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Friends of Canadian Simmental Foundation scholarships valued at $3,000 each, were awarded to Ariel Wilcox of Treherne, Man., and Brodyn LaBatte of Gladmar, Sask. Wilcox is currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba to obtain her master’s degree of nursing and LaBatte is attending Olds College in Alberta, taking agriculture management with a major production.  […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market looks upward

Quality of available cattle contributes to volatility

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable. Compared to three weeks ago, Alberta prices were steady to $2/cwt higher while in Saskatchewan, prices were $8-$10/cwt higher on average with lighter-weight cattle jumping as much as $15. For example, in central Alberta, higher-quality 800-lb. steers were trading from $230 to $235 and 600-pounders were valued […] Read more