Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

Quick bacteria test in water troughs could improve livestock treatment decisions

By John Greig February 23, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Researchers are seeking ways to manage antimicrobial-resistant bacteria on farms, including quicker evaluation of bacteria so treatment can be better targeted. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and University of Saskatchewan veterinary school researchers are studying feedlot water troughs, hoping the water can tell them what sort of anti-microbial resistant bacteria are present. Antimicrobial […] Read more

Energy needs of cows for reproduction are low, but milk production and body maintenance create need for more feed.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Reproduction planning necessary for this herd’s breeding success

By Peter Vitti February 23, 2024

Last year, I asked a friend who operates a 400-Simmental x Angus beef cow operation about his No. 1 goal, after all his cows dropped their calves by the end of April. He replied that all his mature and young cows should show a couple of strong heats before they are let out with the […] Read more

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence want to know if bull neck collars that are supposed to alert producers when they detect cows in heat actually work.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Automating heat detection

Researchers test whether monitoring technology will predict reproductive cycles

By Glacier FarmMedia staff, Karen Briere February 21, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Labour challenges on cattle farms could be alleviated by sensors now being tested to help detect females in heat. Dr. Dinesh Dadarwal, a veterinarian and assistant professor in large animal science at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence tests technology so producers can make […] Read more

It’s important that feedlot operators and cow-calf producers are aware of the supply and demand balance for fed cattle.

Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Lessons from last September’s cattle market drop

A small change in cattle numbers can result in a large drop in market value

By Jerry Klassen February 16, 2024

CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) December 2023 live cattle futures made a high of US$199.75 per hundredweight on Sept. 15. The market held at the higher levels until the end of September and then started to trend low, bottoming around $166 on Dec. 7 (all figures US$). There were a few signals stating that the market […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Prairie researchers at work on Johne’s vaccines

By Alex McCuaig February 16, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia – Researchers at the University of Calgary are one step closer to introducing a vaccine that will help cattle producers combat Johne’s disease. The ailment, closely related to tuberculosis, can be found in all ruminants but has particularly high incidence in dairy cattle. That is believed to be connected to herd management techniques […] Read more

Measures to reduce the spread of Johne’s on calving grounds can help manage the disease, as young calves are more susceptible to the disease.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Calculator can analyze Johne’s options

The online tool provides producers with a range of management scenarios for their herds

By Piper Whelan February 16, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — With no treatment or vaccine available, the impact of Johne’s disease on beef herds can be a nightmare. “Johne’s disease is particularly challenging to manage because we have so few options,” says Dr. Cheryl Waldner, professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine. To help beef producers make better […] Read more

After carefully filling in around the well, Dan Mitchell makes a pad for the trough, then works on sloping the hillside behind so that the animals don’t have a drop off.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Securing another water source

Eppich News: A stream 13 feet underground was tapped and will water cattle on the northeast side of the home section

By Heather Eppich February 16, 2024

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! In December our weather continued to be mild. We had a few cold days with a cold wind but for the most part we were still above normal temperatures. The animals are quite happy with the temperatures. On Dec. 15 we had Dan Mitchell from Kerrobert come out with […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner

‘Grimace scale’ could help gauge pain, stress in cattle

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan February 16, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Dr. Maria Camila Ceballos has been researching animal welfare her entire career. Now, she’s a beef cattle welfare assistant professor at the University of Calgary. Along with her PhD student Mostafa Farghal, Ceballos is researching animal welfare by identifying and measuring pain in Angus beef calves. Ceballos says currently, pain in calves […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Use an NSAID for the right reasons

Mitigating pain makes sense in many areas of cattle production

By Roy Lewis February 16, 2024

Pain medication may be accompanied by treatment with antibiotics, but sometimes this is unnecessary. If your veterinarian prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain, he or she may choose one based on label claim, experience in the field, price per treatment, duration of activity, ease of administration, advice of associates or slaughter withdrawal. There are […] Read more

Absent a significant rally in Chicago June and August live cattle, the market for backgrounded cattle is not sustainable moving forward.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Fed cattle market softens

The longer-term outlook remains bright, despite lots of cattle on feed

By Jerry Klassen February 9, 2024

During the first week of January, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $363-$365 per hundredweight delivered. This was down marginally from the price range of $368-$370/cwt. during the week of December. In Kansas and Texas, live prices were US$171/cwt., down US$4/cwt. from 30 days earlier. U.S. packers […] Read more

GFM Network News

CFIA says regulatory changes will cut agricultural red tape

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle hit record high on tight supply, strong cash prices

ICE Canada Weekly: Canola poised to slip below C$600/tonne