Cow-calf operation Archives | Canadian Cattlemen

Beef Industry Innovation and Sustainability Award recipients

NewsMakers from the May 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Staff May 27, 2019

Jordan Dahmer and Leonard Retzlaff are two of the young people enrolled in the 2018-19 Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Program. Jordan Dahmer hails from a small cow-calf operation near Brookdale, Man. She developed a passion for the beef industry at a young age, and spent six years in local beef and horse 4-H clubs. Dahmer completed […] Read more

The quality seen in the North American beef supply continues to improve.

Markets, News, Prime cuts

North American beef quality sets industries apart

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

By Steve Kay March 26, 2019

The Canadian and U.S. beef industries have made great strides over the past 20 years in improving the quality of the beef they produce. That is paying excellent dividends in both their domestic and export markets. While Brazil is the world’s largest beef exporter, beef from North America is sought after globally and attracts a […] Read more

The choice of which macro mineral ratio best suits your operation often depends on the type of forage being fed.

Cow-Calf, Livestock, Nutrition

Finding the right minerals for your cow-calf operation

Nutrition with John McKinnon

By John McKinnon February 26, 2019

As this column goes to press, the 2019 calving season will be starting for some while for others it will unfold over the next three to four months. In this column we have stressed the importance of proper nutrition during this period, both for the health of the cow and calf and for the success […] Read more

Whiskey Creek Ranch runs 150 head of Simmental/Angus cows, which calve out in March.

Cow-Calf, Features

Rotating pastures to reduce scours in calves

Whiskey Creek Ranch uses ’tried-and-true’ pasture-rotation system that sees calving in February and March

By Mona Howe January 16, 2019

Solid herd management practices mitigate the threat of a scours outbreak. While rotating calves through pastures is less common than some of the more obvious measures taken, those who do use it swear by its effectiveness. One such cow-calf operation is Whiskey Creek Ranch, owned by Clay and Jesse Williams. Jesse is a past Cattlemen’s […] Read more

Preg-checking identifies fertile cows early but culling early doesn’t always pay.

Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

Does preg-checking cows pay?

Perfection is not possible in the cattle business, but excellence can be achieved

By Dr. Ron Clarke November 13, 2018

It’s a “forever” debate. On one side of the scrum are the naysayers who claim preg-checking is sacrilege foisted on the industry by unscrupulous, profiteering veterinarians. They maintain that open cows in the spring are worth more, can be wintered profitably, they manage what calf crop is on the ground just fine, and that veterinary […] Read more

Higher feed costs are expected to have an impact on all types of winter feeding systems.

News, News Roundup

Don’t let high winter feed costs stall reproductive momentum

Management: News Roundup from the October 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Beef Cattle Research Council October 10, 2018

Across Canada dry conditions are contributing to a poor hay crop and uncertain feed grain production. Consequently, winter feed costs for cows are moving higher. Planning now for winter feeding provides an opportunity to utilize available feed resources most efficiently. Pregnancy-checking and assessing body condition of cows can help you make the best use of […] Read more

Most of the attention for antibiotic use in the beef industry is focused on the feedlot sector, but antibiotic use at the cow-calf level is also important.

Cow-Calf, Research

Antibiotic use on Canadian cow-calf operations

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen September 26, 2018

Antibiotic use records are important for producers who want to track the effectiveness of the antibiotics they use. Industry groups need antibiotic use data to refute misleading claims about our production practices. Even restaurant chains and meat companies marketing “antibiotic-free” beef need records to keep treated animals out of their “never-ever” supply stream. When it […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Features

Improving livestock traceability key to higher profits

More feedback needed to build better herds

By Lois Harris February 27, 2018

Dave Milliner thinks the upcoming changes to federal regulations on livestock traceability are good but don’t go far enough. He contends that much more could be done in the beef industry to improve the quality of the meat, the productivity of the animals, returns for farmers and choices for consumers. “There’s no feedback loop — […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Livestock

The challenge with Ontario calves

By John Greig June 12, 2017

Calves from Ontario generally continue to miss the quality mark for larger feedlots in the province which continue to rely on cattle from Western Canada for the uniform lots of vaccinated cattle they need.“We need 200, 300, 400 head together because that’s our pen size,” says Steve Eby, who runs a feedlot near Kincardine. They […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Forages, Research

Making dollars out of sense

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen June 7, 2017

Aside from price insurance (in provinces where it is available), cow-calf producers can’t do much to control the price they receive for their calves, so managing input costs is often the biggest opportunity to improve profitability. The Western Beef Development Centre has found that annual production costs differ by at least $100 per cow between […] Read more

AGI buys ag business management software muscle

Alberta’s Crop Management Network expands reach

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs firm on winter weather woes

GFM Network News