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Cattleman’s Corner

Three generations of the Eppich family take to the ice on a farm pond before the spring thaw arrives.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Foaling begins as calving season ends

There’s always some ups and downs, but fortunately more ‘ups’

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March was a busy month for us with calving. It was still quite cold at night so we were doing night checks at two-hour intervals. Our first heifer calved March 6 and we had to pull the calf. That same afternoon the newest member of Eppich family, Ian, was baptized. It was a beautiful ceremony […] Read more
Cows need their space at calving — even just a few minutes alone so they can properly bond with the calf.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Calving wrapped up in 20 days

We have well-aged manure to spread for fertilizer on pasture

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March 22 This week we started our “fertilizer” project. We have big piles of old manure that Michael sorted out of the other debris when he cleared out the junk and old fallen-down sheds by the corrals. Heifer hill needs fertilizer the most since we haven’t been able to feed cows on it enough for […] Read more
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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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