Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

The first profit driver for many operations is to increase yields of biodiverse forages.

Looking at key ranch profit drivers

Beef production is a bit more involved than having cattle eat grass, but putting efforts into management produces the best return

By Sean McGrath June 3, 2023

I often think that the ranching business is very simple until you get humans involved. At the most basic level, sun and rain grow forage, cows consume forage and reproduce and ranchers sell the offspring. Pretty simple, until it’s not. Fundamentally, this simple picture does provide some insight into what drives profit on most cow-calf […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner

Ideas for extended fall and winter grazing

Annual crops and protein supplements are among the options

By Heather Smith Thomas June 2, 2023

There are many ways to extend the grazing season on most farms and ranches. In years with not enough rain in regions without irrigation, native pastures and hay aftermath don’t produce as much forage as normal, One option to increase forage production is seeding and grazing annual crops, which may include cereals and brassicas. Extending […] Read more

Later calving was supposed to avoid the snow, but winter just didn't want to give up this year with a heavy snowfall in late March.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Weather didn’t co-operate for calving beef cows

Rancher's Diary: After a short labour, a new great-granddaughter is welcomed into the family

By Heather Smith Thomas May 16, 2023

March 22 We’re about to start calving. Andrea put boards over gaps at the bottom of the barn wall where critters have been crawling into the barn —to block their access and stop the wind. There were sheets of ice where water ran into the barn when snow fell off the roof, melted and ran […] Read more

Grocery store spending is up from last year but the rally in retail beef prices has come to a halt.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Fed cattle market sets new record high

Market Update: Good moisture should get pastures growing this spring, while calf prices are expected to trend higher until fall

By Jerry Klassen May 12, 2023

During the third week of April, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis in the range of $222-$225/cwt delivered, which was a record high. Tighter market-ready supplies on both sides of the border along with a sharp year-over-year increase in demand have resulted a higher price structure. During March, U.S. restaurant sales […] Read more

These two Black Angus bulls are used on the writer's ranch in Idaho as easy calving heifer bulls.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Females figure strongly in maternal bull selection

Look at calves, heifers and cows to get a better idea of maternal traits

By Heather Smith Thomas May 8, 2023

There are several factors to consider when selecting a bull to sire replacement females. The bull makes a lasting contribution to the herd (good or bad). The quickest way to change genetics of a herd is through sire selection. You want that contribution to be beneficial, moving the herd in the best direction to meet […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Training a horse to load in a trailer

Start by exposing the foal to a range of experiences around the yard – Part 4 of a 4 part series

By Heather Eppich May 5, 2023

In this last part of the four-part series, I’ll cover one more key area of training that helps turn a foal into a useful partner and companion for farm, ranch or recreational use. After teaching a foal to lead, pick up his feet and tie, we teach him to load in the trailer. Most of […] Read more

Built in the 1970s this calf shelter still works today to provide calves with a dry place to bed down away from the wind, snow and rain.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Winter shelters have saved calves

Having protection from wet and wind made a difference, even under extreme weather and low temperatures

By Heather Smith Thomas May 4, 2023

Ranchers who calve early know the value of shelter for baby calves. When my husband Lynn and I started ranching in 1967, our cows were calving in March and April and we had terrible scours, especially when the weather was wet. The pastures on this place were contaminated with scour “bugs” after intensive cattle use […] Read more

It reduces stress and the impact on calves if they have two to three weeks to adjust to life after weaning before being trucked.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

What makes the difference during calf transportation?

Is it the trucking itself, or are there other factors that affect the health and well-being of calves?

By Bruce Derksen May 2, 2023

Transportation is an important and inevitable component of marketing cattle through different sectors of the beef industry, but how does that trucking experience affect the health and well being of livestock? Dr. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, principal research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Station, says whether it’s calves or backgrounders moving to feedlots for […] Read more

U.S. and Canadian beef cow slaughter has been higher than expected throughout the first quarter of 2023, but this is expected to change.

Cattleman’s Corner, Feed markets, Markets

Feeder cattle prices to peak this November

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: The fall of 2023 is not a good time to think about backgrounding calves

By Jerry Klassen April 28, 2023

U.S. and Canadian feeder cattle prices have been trending higher over the past year. As of late March, quality genetic steers with medium to lower flesh, averaging 950 pounds were valued at $244 in Central Alberta. Higher quality heifers with lower flesh were trading at an $18-$20 discount to steers. Calf prices were also nearing […] Read more

If there are wet conditions during the growing season, producers should think about have alfalfa hay tested for nitrate levels.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Include high-quality alfalfa in a balanced dairy ration

Dairy Corner: Test for nitrates if the crop was produced under high-moisture conditions

By Peter Vitti April 25, 2023

High-quality alfalfa has not escaped the high cost of other dairy feeds, and thus significantly contributes to the record-setting cost of producing milk. And last year’s foul growing season, with wet conditions in some areas across the Prairies, was not kind to some alfalfa crops, resulting in some sprouting. This resulted in a few cases […] Read more

Daily Network News

Trump tells farmers that tractor companies should lower prices

Get farmers in on federal water security strategy planning, CFA says

U.S. finalizes biofuel blending quotas for 2026-27, cuts RINS for foreign feedstocks