The Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network works with vet schools, private vets and 175 cow-calf producers to quantify health and management challenges and opportunities from coast to coast.

Record collectors unite: There’s power in numbers

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

Ranching without records is like travelling without a map. Records tell you where you’ve been and where you are. Connecting those dots tells you where you’re heading. If you don’t like that destination, records can help you decide how to adjust your management. When producer records are combined, you can tell where you are with […] Read more

‘Feedlots are back in the black on cash sales for the first time in a long time.’ – Nathan Phinney

CCA reports: CCA undertakes trade mission to Japan, advocates for free trade

From the June 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Optimism is the key motivation that keeps many of us going through the tough times. It’s human nature to focus our thoughts on the challenges and adversity that face beef producers across the country — whether it is extreme weather, trade irritants affecting our ability to export our product to global markets or hearing about […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef

Fed, feeder cattle prices in record-high range

Prepared by the staff of Canfax and Canfax Research Services, divisions of the Canadian Cattle Association

Fed cattle found substantial tailwinds, making new record-high prices in March 2023. Feeder prices in the first quarter of 2023 are approaching the record highs from 2015. Strong cattle prices are being supported by tighter North American supplies. Following two years of drier conditions, Canadian and U.S. cattle inventories were lower to begin 2023. Fed […] Read more

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


Shipping records are key to protecting food safety and meeting animal care standards.

Preparing to ship cattle safely during the fall run

Using the VBP+ Shipping Record to maintain food safety, animal care and public trust

The fall run is not just a busy time of year for auction marts. For cow-calf and feedlot producers, fall is a mad dash of buying and selling. At times like this, it becomes hard to remember some key points related to food safety and animal care that become relevant when shipping calves or other […] Read more



By wintering with their mothers, calves learn skills such as bale grazing.

Wintering calves with the cow herd

Keeping calves on the cows over winter offers many benefits, these ranchers say, but producers may need to adjust their herd genetics and management practices

Winter feeding is one of the highest costs of raising cattle. Some ranchers who keep calves over winter are finding they can winter those calves more efficiently by leaving them on the cows, while also reducing illness and stress in the calves. Canadian Cattlemen talked to two ranchers to find out what it takes to […] Read more

Brenna Grant, manager of CanFax Research Services, is leading a nationwide effort to set benchmarks for the cow-calf industry.

Cost of production network set to make its mark on cow-calf industry

CCA-backed project to find benchmarks that make the most sense to individual producers

Benchmarking has become a major part of running a business today. Whether it’s comparing this year’s performance to past performance or looking at your profitability compared to similar operations in your region or province, it’s considered an essential tool for setting production goals. But finding the best benchmarks can be tricky. There are hundreds of […] Read more


Jay Cross of Okotoks, Alta. is Sendero’s founding chair and Virgil Lowe of Nanton, Alta., is the company’s CEO.

Sendero seeks continuous improvement across supply chain

New program offers improved efficiency and profitability by improving data flow through the beef value chain

Continuous improvement opens the doors to greater possibilities, as the cattle producers behind Sendero Limited know well. By working to improve efficiency at each stage of production, this innovative new program offers tools to increase profitability across the beef supply chain. “All of our founders have been in the business for generations, and we’ve always […] Read more