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Cattleman’s Corner

It takes time and management, 
but young orphaned calves can be bottle fed until they are ready to eat grass and hay on their own.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Getting orphaned calves adopted

If no foster mother is available, proper feed is vital

By
Many ranchers have raised calves on bottles (a twin, a heifer’s calf that isn’t accepted by its mother, or a calf whose mother died) and it’s very easy with a newborn or young calf. The main thing is to make sure the calf had colostrum within the first hours (from its own mother or another […] Read more
Allowing May/June calves to run with their mothers until mid-winter (February and March) is considered a more natural weaning cycle.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Wintering calves with their mothers

Most cows and calves will naturally wean themselves by February

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Many beef producers are calving later in the year (April, May or June) rather than early, to be more in tune with nature. They have green grass at calving and less need for harvested forage when the cow’s nutritional needs peak during lactation. Along with later calving comes the necessity for later weaning. Some choose […] Read more
Joseph helps Grandpa John with birthday cake duties.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Year begins with roller-coaster temperatures

Hopefully weather will hold for late-February start of calving season

By
January started with a mild temperature that allowed us to do a few more out-of-season projects. Early in the new year, Gregory and John worked on the holding corral at the Landis pasture. Later we used the 4450 tractor and the post hole auger to put in nine more railroad ties for the back corral. […] Read more
While calves can be given a preventative treatment against coccidiosis, cows can be given a coccidiostat such as rumensin or monensin in the feed before calving to reduce shedding of the infective eggs onto the ground.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Coccidiosis still a threat to be monitored

Animal Health with Roy Lewis: Important to control internal and external parasites

By
Coccidiosis and internal parasitism are two clinical syndromes I thought we had rid from the cattle sector. But although they just about disappeared, they are on the comeback trail. It is important to know why along with new strategies to keep them at bay. Clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment must be periodically reviewed. Direct communication […] Read more
Don’t wait until the third trimester to improve 
condition and nutrition status of the cow.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Don’t delay on proper mineral feeding program

Important for the new calf as well as the next breeding season

By
The entire nine months of a beef cow’s pregnancy can be broken up into three stages; early, mid- and last trimester of gestation. During these first two stages, her unborn calf doesn’t require a lot of nutrients, so it doesn’t put a lot of pressure on the cow. However, this all changes in the last […] Read more
In this line of work, offspring are welcome on the job site.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

A job interview for a cow

It is important to find out who is working for whom

By
I have heard the statement “My cows need to work for me.” This leads to the somewhat logical question of “If a cow works for me, what should a job interview look like?” and further what answers I should hope to hear. Knowing that cow depreciation and cow herd maintenance are the two biggest costs […] Read more
It takes a bit of time to understand the supply and demand influences 
on fed cattle.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Back to Economics 101 for feeder cattle

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Look for key market numbers that help determine prices

By
I receive many inquiries about the cattle market throughout the year, and in many cases, I realize the producer does not have a good handle on the fundamentals for beef or cattle. Supply-and-demand projections appear to be a foreign subject for many. For example, I’ve received many calls asking why the cattle price has to […] Read more
There is no simple test to be able to identify what causes scours in calves.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Causes of calf scours can be difficult to identify

There is no simple test to be able to identify what causes scours in calves

By
Scours is the most common illness and cause of death in young calves. Some years are worse than others for scours outbreaks, and there are many causes including certain kinds of bacteria, viruses or protozoa. Whether calves get sick depends on many factors including exposure (contact with pathogens, either by coming in contact with a […] Read more
This Greek cattle feeder prefers to take Belgian Blue bull calves to finish.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Greek beef feeder favours Romanian ‘Blues’

Farm aims for improved efficiency in a competitive market


By
Consumers in Greece love their beef, creating a high year-round demand for the protein source. To feed this demand there are a number of larger beef-fattening units set up around the country, supplying the meat to both private customers and wholesalers. However, Greek beef farmers say the recent financial crisis in the country has hurt […] Read more
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Larger beef production weighs on cattle prices

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: More head and heavier cattle heading to packing plant

By
During the first week of February Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $157 to $159 delivered, which was down from early-January highs of $165 to $168. U.S. first-quarter beef production is coming in larger than expected. The U.S. weekly slaughter has been six to seven per cent above year-ago levels. In […] Read more

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