Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Grazed standing corn will need supplements

A great feed source, but added protein may be needed as winter progresses

By Peter Vitti January 8, 2020

Putting beef cows out to tramp through the snow to graze standing corn has become more popular in the last few years. It’s relatively low-cost forage which can make up a sizeable portion of a pregnant cow’s overwinter diet because whole corn plants (with ears) can provide a significant amount of dietary energy and protein. […] Read more

Many farms across Western Canada will likely be dealing with a certain amount of mouldy feed that can be fed in small amounts if blended off with better quality feed.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Vitti: Options for including mouldy feed in rations

Know what you have and blend it off with the good stuff 

By Peter Vitti December 28, 2019

This year, not many people harvested and stored good-quality hay on the northern Prairies. A cool spring and droughty summer capped by a couple of feet of autumn snow forced many producers to harvest thousands of mouldy hay bales. For many, this is their only forage supply to overwinter beef cows. Fortunately, we can set […] Read more

Ergot can be found on a number of “grass” species and not just rye. The fungal disease can develop on timothy grass as well as most cereal grains.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cereals, Livestock

Watch closely for ergot-infected feeds

Several grasses and some grain crops can be susceptible 

By Debbie Chikousky December 23, 2019

Last spring, auction mart chat turned a problem with ergot in grasses. The conversation pointed towards lame cattle resulting from feeding timothy straw. My curiosity piqued because a high percentage of cattle producers have been feeding everything from timothy straw to pea straw, to canola straw and bakery waste for the last few years, so […] Read more

It is simpler for feeding and watering to have all cows and heifers together in one area.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Harvest and haying are finally finished

Eppich News: Combining and last of the haying were a race against the weather

By Heather Eppich December 19, 2019

During the middle of October we were harvesting as much as we could. For the fields that were swathed we usually drove every grain truck and trailer out to the field in the morning, got the machines serviced, and then Gregory, John, and Joseph and I would drive the three combines. On Oct. 16 we […] Read more

This diagram put together by Doug Colwell a research scientist at the Lethbridge Research Centre, shows the zones on an animal were lice are most likely to concentrate and be visible. Colwell is internationally recognized for his studies on the interactions between insect parasites and their animal hosts.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Late fall better for lice and parasite control in cattle

Animal Health with Roy Lewis: A two-pronged approach to deal with internal and external pests

By Roy Lewis December 17, 2019

There has been lots of talk and questions from producers and large-animal veterinarians regarding the strategy needed for more effective lice and internal parasite control. I the last couple of years there has been a large increase in the incidence of lice in Western Canada. Producers are searching to find ways to control lice that […] Read more

In southern Alberta, Simmental based steers weighing 510 pounds were quoted at $230 in mid-November while black heifers were valued at $195. It’s looking like feast-or-famine beef production in early 2020.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Markets

Calf prices will be sideways into 2020

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Both the U.S. and Canada produced smaller calf crops in 2019

By Jerry Klassen December 5, 2019

Alberta packers were paying $142 to $144 on a live basis in mid-November, relatively unchanged from last month’s average price. While Alberta prices have traded in a sideways range, fed cattle values south of the border have been percolating higher. In Nebraska, fed cattle were trading in the range of $114 to $116, up from […] Read more

What was once a thin patch of grass rebounded nicely after pastured poultry added nutrients to the soil.

Cattleman’s Corner, Features

Natural ways to improve soil quality

Cover crops may be more practical than molasses and milk

By Debbie Chikousky December 2, 2019

For many years there has been growing public concern that food is declining in nutrition. Dr. Arden Anderson, a favourite researcher, has studied the correlation between soil health and feed nutrition. His research has shown that the nutrient content of foods today compared to half a century ago ranges from 15 to 75 per cent […] Read more

It’s unfortunate but not uncommon for older “banded” calves to succumb to tetanus.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Tips on managing clostridial disease in cattle

Animal Health: Proper timing of proper vaccines can prevent a costly wreck

By Roy Lewis November 27, 2019

There’s a great need for routine vaccinations to prevent the multiple ways cattle can get clostridial diseases such as scours, blackleg and tetanus. They’re relatively cheap and cost-effective. Here are some tips and comments. Vaccines offer good protection as long as one recognizes the need to booster-vaccinate. A single vaccination with most clostridial vaccines does […] Read more

Late fall pasture may fill cows up but are they getting enough protein?

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Pregnant cows need their protein

Molasses lick-tubs can help maintain cow condition and keep fetuses growing

By Peter Vitti November 15, 2019

I was recently driving west through the southern Prairies and saw a beef cow herd grazing late-autumn straw-coloured pasture. I suspected the calves were probably just weaned, which simply puts these dams at their lowest dietary requirements. I believe that these particular cows were getting plenty to eat, but they were probably not getting enough […] Read more

At least Joseph appreciated the October snow that held up harvest.

Cattleman’s Corner, Crops

Harvest continued through October, but slowly

The hailed-out hay and crop will make fall and winter feed

By Heather Eppich November 8, 2019

The end of September brought rain and then snow. Gregory and John managed to get all but two fields swathed before the snow. We had about five inches or more of snow, which Joseph loved. As it slowly started melting over the next few days, he was quite disappointed and was always wanting to go […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy futures set six-week low as China buys Argentine cargoes, snubs U.S.

U.S. livestock: Hogs rally ahead of USDA report

Canadian Barley Research Coalition pledges $1.8 million to USask Crop Development Centre

GFM Network News