Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

Klassen: USDA lowers beef production estimates for 2023

Three months needed to clean up the backlog in Canadian feedlots

By Jerry Klassen December 20, 2022

During the third week of November, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $303-$305/cwt f.o.b. the plant for late December delivery. Live prices in Alberta were quoted at $178-$180 f.o.b. the feedlot. Feedlots in Alberta and Saskatchewan are backed up with market-ready supplies of fed cattle. Carcass weights […] Read more

Long time columnist Heather Smith Thomas and husband Lynn, with granddaughter Heather Eppich and great grandchildren.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Canadian visitors head back to Saskatchewan

After nice fall weather, winter shows up in mid November

By Heather Smith Thomas December 16, 2022

October 21 Last Saturday, Andrea checked the water in our ditches and discovered we had none. Another upstream user on the system had diverted all the water to their place. We had no water for the heifers in the orchard and horse pasture, which meant we had to haul water to filled a water tank […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Monitoring the cow herd before winter

A thorough checkup can identify problems early and reduce losses

By Roy Lewis December 9, 2022

Now is the time to do a good inventory of feed sources and whether there is enough for a long, cold winter. I always recommend to be on the lookout for alternative feed sources, as one never knows when you could run short. Feeds ranging from distillers grains to cull potatoes are among alternative sources. […] Read more

As winter arrived in early November the
calves were hauled to a sale in Provost while
the keeper heifers and the cows were
brought home.

Cattleman’s Corner

A quick trip to the States to visit family

Quite a few chores were accomplished before winter arrived

By Heather Eppich December 7, 2022

After finishing harvest Oct. 8, we started making plans to travel to Idaho to see family and friends. A couple of days later we dug our potatoes with the help of the neighbours, Leon and Audrey. October 12 we had one of our Eppich Quarter Horse weanlings go to her new home. As soon as […] Read more

While the fed cattle market has held value, the feeder market has come under pressure.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Prairie feeder outlook bullish in the long term

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Prices are encouraging many Canadian producers to keep replacement heifers

By Jerry Klassen December 5, 2022

During the first half of October, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $300-$305 delivered. Using a 60 per cent grading, this would equate to $180-$183/cwt on a live basis. For March and April delivery, Alberta packers have been forward contracting in the range of $345-$350 cwt on […] Read more

With their mom Heather close by the Eppich boys James and Joseph
visiting their great grandmother's ranch in Idaho are impressed with the
creek. While they have ponds and dug outs on their home farm in
Saskatchewan seeing a creek was somewhat of a novelty.

Cattleman’s Corner, Rancher’s Diary

Good weather persists, but rain needed

Dr. Cope makes one more ranch visit to preg-check cows

By Heather Smith Thomas November 30, 2022

October 4 Last Sunday Andrea’s washing machine quit working and Jim helped her take it out of her house; he hauled it and our old stove to the dump. Thursday Jeff Minor brought his dad back from the hospital in Idaho Falls and got him situated at Discovery care center here in town. He’ll be […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, The Dairy Corner

There’s value in adding biotin to dairy diets

Important to milk production and hoof health, biotin can get lost in the nutrient shuffle

By Peter Vitti November 28, 2022

It’s long been recognized that lactating dairy cows have a specific requirement for biotin which may not be met by natural synthesis in the rumen. Much research in the early 2000s demonstrated biotin supplements to lactating dairy diets yields respectable improvements in hoof health and better milk production. With the advent of many available feed […] Read more

Some producers say it just doesn't make sense to keep any open cows in the herd.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Cull beef cows are pure economics

One producer finds there is no good reason to keep an open cow

By Peter Vitti November 17, 2022

In the fall, when the spring calves are weaned and removed from the cow herd, most producers walk through their herd on pasture or at home and think about which cows they should cull. Once candidates are picked, another decision is made as to whether to sell them immediately or feed them for the next […] Read more

The Fossen family of Rock Creek, B.C. — Doug and Erika and daughters
Adele, Jade and Reine operate Bar 7 Ranch. Their commitment to
sustainable ranching practices earned them recognition with The
Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) presented by the Canadian
Cattle Association.

Cattleman’s Corner, Pasture

Rotational grazing key to ranch success

The plan is to use each pasture only once during the grazing season

By Canadian Cattle Association November 15, 2022

For the Fossen family of south-central British Columbia, applying proper stewardship to forage and water management on their private land as well Crown range pastures not only benefits the environment but ultimately makes good business sense for their ranching operation. As the second and third generation on the Bar 7 Ranch near Rock Creek in […] Read more

Kristian Sorensen, who farms in Western Denmark produces about 4,000 calves for veal calves each year that are marketed to local Danish Crown
abattoir in Holsted.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Beef/dairy crosses fit Danish veal program

Calves are raised under high animal welfare standards

By Chris Mccullough November 10, 2022

More dairy farmers are starting to use sexed beef semen to crossbreed with their herds to produce a calf with added value. And that’s exactly the animal Danish beef farmer Kristian Sorensen wants to purchase for his Tranbjerg Ostergaard farm located near the town of Arre in Jutland, western Denmark. Each year Kristian produces around […] Read more

GFM Network News

Canadian trade data delayed by U.S. government shutdown

Sigurdson applauds Alberta farmers

U.S. grains: Soy, corn dip on farmer selling; U.S.-China trade talks in focus