Don’t put away calf creep feeders just yet

A cool spring coupled with good rains throughout the summer grazing season has kept most pastures across Western Canada lush and many cows milking so well, their calves haven’t been eating much creep feed. But as most pastures rapidly mature by September, autumn-creep can help increase pre-wean weight gains on calves. At a time when […] Read more




Tips to avoid premature culling of good cows

Many dairy producers have experienced this situation at some point. A particular cow comes into early lactation with a lot of potential for good milk production. She may have come into the barn in a little thin, but starts literarily pouring out milk. Within a couple of weeks, she starts to falter in milk production and […] Read more


Lower feed grain prices improve cattle outlook

The North American cattle industry is poised for positive economics over the coming year with stronger feeder cattle prices and a rebuilding of feedlot equity, as the two-year reign of historically high corn and barley prices comes to an end. The U.S. and Canada will replenish coarse grain stocks during the 2013-14 crop year allowing […] Read more

Tama launches improved bale wrap system

John Deere and bale wrap manufacturer Tama are launching a new product this fall, which they say will elevate the quality of round bale wrap to that of indoor storage. John Deere will be the exclusive distributor of the B-Wrap system that will include an almost solid layer of material in each bale covering to better protect […] Read more



Cattle market looking positive

The cattle and beef markets appear to have many factors working in favour of higher values in the latter half of 2013. Low feedlot inventories and contracting meat production will occur while the U.S. economy moves into full-fledged expansion which should result in stronger prices for fed cattle. Feedlots are currently carrying feeder cattle that […] Read more


Holstein steers aren’t average beef

Holstein steers are no longer fed as a sideline for the beef market in Western Canada. With the advent of rising feeder and corresponding fat prices for all beef animals in the last few years, the interest of raising Holstein steers has taken onto full-scale proportions by many cattle feeders. These people have pencilled out […] Read more

Tips for managing milk fever

Back in the day when people farmed to feed themselves as well as make a living, everyone had a milk cow. As little as 20 years ago people were still shipping cream from as few as five cows to help with the monthly bills. Then big business got involved. Now the people with a burning […] Read more