GFM Network News

More News →

Cattleman’s Corner

A macrophage (immune response) cell in early stages of infection with African swine fever virus, magnified about 1,000x. (Keith Weller photo courtesy ARS/USDA)
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Sheep/Goats

Be prepared for an animal disease outbreak

Hopefully, infectious diseases don’t appear in Canada but the industry needs to have a plan in place

By

Hopefully, infectious diseases don’t appear in Canada but the industry needs to have a plan in place

If there ever is a foreign animal disease outbreak in Canada, we all know it could be devastating to the industry. Contagious pathogens such as foot and mouth in bovines, sheep and swine, or African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs, can cost individual producers in lost production and animal deaths, as well as closing the […] Read more
Cow-calf producers should be aggressive and stock up on light weight calves.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

U.S. feeder cattle supplies to tighten

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Canadian calves will be in demand as U.S. feeder numbers could be down by nearly one million head by late 2022

By
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $274-$276 during the third week of April. The Alberta fed market has been relatively flat over the past month. We mentioned in earlier issues that Alberta is contending with a severe backlog of market-ready supplies due to the year-over-year increase in […] Read more
Look for opportunities to supply calves with certain carcass or production characteristics that fit a certain branded beef marketing program. Selecting a bull with desirable traits might help a producer to tap into higher value markets.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Select herd sires to meet end-use objectives

Are you breeding for meat production or replacement heifers? A program could be a combination of live service as well as AI

By
Sire selection depends on the producer’s goals, how the offspring will be marketed and/or if heifers will be retained as replacements. The genetics and phenotypical traits of the cow herd will be a factor in trying to select bulls that complement those cows and ultimately produce the best calves possible to meet those goals. Often […] Read more
While lush, green pastures might only be wishful thinking some years, it is important for producers to actually write out a drought management plan. It may not be followed exactly, but it helps to bring into focus some of the issues a producer may have to deal with during a dry year.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Make a drought plan in writing

Putting it on paper helps clarify the options and takes some of the emotion out of tough decisions

By
I firmly believe in having a written drought plan. Droughts are nearly always extremely dynamic and can change rapidly, so while the plan will not be followed exactly, it does provide a focus to ensure accountable and proactive management. It also helps us focus on the things we can control rather than the things we […] Read more
What to make of the Cattle on Feed report
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

What to make of the Cattle on Feed report

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: An Economics 101 look at what the numbers are really telling us

By
The most recent USDA Cattle on Feed report released in January showed the total number at the beginning of the year at 12.037 million head, up one per cent from Jan. 1, 2021. Initial media and analytical reports were calling the report bearish. This is the second-highest Jan. 1 inventory since the series began in […] Read more
Dairy producers need to ensure that rations include adequate zinc levels as it performs so many different functions in dairy cows, in so many different ways.
Cattleman’s Corner

Don’t overlook zinc in a well-balanced dairy cattle diet

It’s a mineral that plays an important role in so many aspects of livestock production and growth

By
Zinc is one of about a dozen trace minerals essential to the good life and productivity of dairy cattle. Yet unlike some of the other essential trace minerals, zinc is not easily forgotten in a well-balanced dairy diet because it performs so many different functions in dairy cows, and in so many different ways. Much […] Read more
'It is important for producers to encourage and work with female vets… I have met many that can definitely do anything that I did in practice.' – Roy Lewis.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Creative ideas on accessing veterinary care

Animal Health: A few thoughts on how producers can perhaps help fewer veterinarians reach more animals

By
With a lot of talk about the shortage of veterinarians, especially large-animal practitioners but also small-animal and emergency veterinarians, steps are being taken to increase veterinary school graduates. It was recently announced that the University of Calgary vet school will expand from the current 50 students as of two years ago to 100 students within […] Read more
By early March calving was well underway with two or three new calves every day.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

The Eppich family welcomes a baby boy

Eppich News: Babies are arriving on all fronts, so not much sleep these days

By
February was an exciting month for our family. The weather continued to be a roller coaster with freezing rain followed by days of -40 C with a bitterly cold wind. We did a little bit of work on our bull corral, moved quite a bit of snow around and Gregory did quite a bit of […] Read more
The Flokk hand held transponder reads the electronic ear tag, but also can hold a wide range of information about each animal in the herd.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

New herd record-keeping technology being tested

A simple hand-held device collects on-the-go information

By
Modern technology has provided some easy methods for keeping accurate track of cattle. Flokk is one new system for beef herd management and traceability reporting, and is currently undergoing initial testing. It’s designed for the cow-calf producer — large or small. Bill Leask, a rancher near Dog Pound and Mark Olson of Carstairs, two communities […] 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 →