cows Archives | Canadian Cattlemen

Setting a calf on a healthy path to the feedlot starts with the cow, says Dr. Greg Dimmers.

Feedlot health starts with the cow

While the industry has gotten better at managing disease, cow-calf producers can reduce even more health issues in feedlot cattle

By Lilian Schaer September 21, 2020

Some of the biggest health challenges in finishing cattle can be minimized or even prevented long before the animals arrive at the feedlot. In fact, calves can be set on a path to better health before birth, according to veterinarian Dr. Greg Dimmers of Metzger Veterinary Services in Linwood, Ont., to help address what he […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Extreme variability characterizes feeder market

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 10, 2020

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were extremely variable over the past week which made the market hard to define. Compared to last week, yearling prices were quoted $2 to as much $6 lower while calves traded $2 lower as much as $5 higher. While some auction crowds were caught up with the negative news coverage, […] Read more

Livestock, Markets

Cattle inventories continue to decline, StatsCan says

Canada's hog herd also down on year

By MarketsFarm, GFM Network News February 25, 2020

MarketsFarm — Canada’s cattle herd in 2019 continued on its generally consistent path of declining numbers, according to new data Statistics Canada released Tuesday. Aside from a few slight increases in 2012, 2013 and 2018, Canadian cattle inventories have moved lower since 2005. At 11.2 million head, the reported number of cattle on farms in […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Livestock, Reuters, Weather

Dorian swept swimming cows two miles to North Carolina beach

By Jonathan Drake November 14, 2019

Cape Lookout National Seashore, N.C. | Reuters — Three cows have been spotted beachcombing on a remote barrier island on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, swept to an unlikely grazing spot when Hurricane Dorian whipped waves powerful enough to carry them two miles from their home. One of the bovine bodysurfers was seen soon after the […] 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

A 60-day breeding season is an ideal goal to shoot for.

Cow-Calf, News, News Roundup

Keep your cattle breeding season short

Breeding: News Roundup from the June 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By John F. Grimes July 4, 2018

It is my experience that there is no single best calving season for all operations. Each is unique in terms of labour, facilities, feedstuffs, and ultimately, the selection should be determined by the likelihood of achieving the highest conception rates and calf crop percentage weaned with your available resources. Regardless of when you calve, there is […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Features

Preventing reproductive wrecks in cow-calf operations

Breeding: There are four important management practices to improve reproductive efficiency

By Dr. Ron Clarke April 5, 2018

Reproduction remains one of the most important factors affecting the success of cow-calf operations. The Beef Cattle Research Council’s (BCRC) recent webinar on Preventing Reproductive Wrecks served as an important reminder that the reproductive capacity of beef herds remains paramount to economic prosperity in cow-calf herds. In the words of Dr. Dan Posey, Texas A […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Features

Treat individual cows to raise the reproductive rate

Ensure good uterine health to help prepare cows for re-breeding

By Roy Lewis Dvm March 5, 2018

As herds get bigger and electronic ID tags get used more for record-keeping, more attention can be given to individual cow medicine. We can learn lots from our colleagues in dairy production about looking after individual cows. Health and fertility go hand in hand. If by paying attention and potentially treating cows with everything from […] Read more

Cow-Calf, News, News Roundup

The economics of preg-checking

Research: News Roundup from the October 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Beef Cattle Research Council October 18, 2017

The major economic benefit of preg-checking is the money saved by not wintering open cows. However, it has been noted that preg-checking is not always worthwhile, as the increased revenue due to higher prices for cows in the spring and the additional weights put on in the winter could more than offset winter feeding costs. […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market in price-discovery phase

Ontario backs ‘horse experience’ businesses for horse upkeep

China’s 2020 corn, wheat imports reach record highs

GFM Network News