GFM Network News

More News →

Cattleman’s Corner

With hot and dry conditions it has been a challenge to keep water supplied to cattle on some of the summer ranges.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Grass tetany claims a young cow

Rancher’s Diary: Dry conditions, forest fires and a brush with a rattlesnake

By
July 1 Last Thursday the water tank on the hill pasture was nearly empty so Andrea, Lynn and I took the pump and hoses up there and pumped from the ditch across the road and filled it again for the six pairs grazing up there. That afternoon I helped Andrea finish putting up electric fence […] Read more
Under dry growing conditions dry corn - corn under 60 per cent moisture — can be a challenge to properly ensile, but it can be done.
Cattleman’s Corner, The Dairy Corner

Working dry corn silage into dairy diets

It's important to have it tested, regardless of feed moisture levels

By
I live in Manitoba and continuous flooding rains since our heavy snows melted have delayed corn planting to the point that much of our corn silage this fall will be wet and immature. However, I travel to other parts of the Prairies and many dairy farms need rain. I suspect that much of these corn […] Read more
Dave and Lynne Longshore of Bar-E-L Angus have worked with Bullseye services for years to make sure their cattle have proper nutrition at all stages of the production cycle leading to healthy, fertile bulls, and cows that produce vigorous and robust calves.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Nutrition key to optimizing purebred performance

It’s all about fertile females and bulls with breeding soundness

By
Dave Longshore doesn’t take any shortcuts when it comes to proper nutrition for his purebred Black Angus operation in central Alberta. It’s important to produce healthy, sound and fertile bulls that will be offered as breeding stock, and if cows and heifers aren’t fed a well-balanced ration with proper mineral supplements, that will also mean […] Read more
The cattle market will move through a transition phase in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

U.S. cattle herd continues to contract

Market Update: Lower feed grain prices this fall will improve feeder margins

By
During the first half of August, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis in the range of $173-$176 FOB the feedlot in southern Alberta. Fed cattle prices have been relatively flat over the past month as the U.S. market contends with a sizeable year-over-year increase in fed cattle supplies. Alberta basis levels […] Read more
Keeping alleyways as clean as possible and using disinfectant foot baths are a couple measures that reduce the risk of dairy cattle developing hairy heel warts.
Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Revisiting hairy heel warts in dairy cows

Proper nutrition and good sanitation in the barn help to reduce disease risk

By
About five years ago I worked with a 350-dairy cow operation with a significant hairy heel wart (HHW) problem. At the time, this dairy manager often had a series of lame lactating dairy cows at different stages of this disease. The foot problem was affecting feed consumption, milk production, reproduction and the general well-being of […] Read more
Braden Madsen, left, with Greentech Enviro Solutions loads chemical into the 100 gallon tank on the UTV field sprayer built by Greentech general manager Jeremiah Kanderka. These compact sprayer units are ideal for applying chemicals to smaller fields and for range and pasture land use.
Cattleman’s Corner, Equipment, Machinery

Small sprayers great for range and pasture…

A more compact machine is an ideal fit for smaller fields

By
When it comes to field-spraying projects, Jeremiah Kanderka has found that bigger isn’t necessarily better. The general manager for Alberta-based Greentech Environmental Solutions says that in the past year they have moved away from using high-clearance 120-foot wide TerraGator field sprayers to much more compact units. For the 2022 growing season they are providing weed […] Read more
Put thought into whether to treat or salvage
Cattleman’s Corner

Put thought into whether to treat or salvage

There are several questions to be asked when considering culling, slaughter or disposal

By
As with your beef herds, in a veterinary practice many decisions need to be made regarding the treatment and welfare of our livestock. One must always ask if the problem requires treatment with antibiotics, and if so, is there still a possibility of shipping or on-farm butchering? There are many examples where the quick run […] Read more
In those parts of the Prairies that have had quite a bit of moisture this spring, there is a risk of cattle being infected with liver fluke parasites that can affect overall animal performance.
Cattleman’s Corner

Beware of liver fluke invasion on wet pastures

Parasite infection can result in animal weight loss and reduced body condition

By
Most of the high water across the eastern Prairies will recede in the upcoming weeks, if they haven’t already. When cattle can be returned to these once-flooded pastures, the ground will probably be soaked, which will likely expand the territories of many cattle parasites such as the common deer liver fluke. To combat this invasive […] Read more
Figure 1. The fencer pushes out electric pulses, the cow connects the current through the earth and back through the ground rods to the fencer.
Cattleman’s Corner

Zapping your way to improved pastures

Electric fencing is an important tool to improved pasture and grazing management

By
In the last while I have taken an increasing number of calls about electric fencing. I think this is largely due to lack of rainfall in a lot of areas, but also a renewed interest in adding productivity to pastures and forage. Another big reason is that electric fence can be significantly cheaper to install […] Read more

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Sept. 5, 2025

Sponsored By:
More Videos →

Cyber-Savvy Farmer

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast

Latest Market News

More Market News →