Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

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

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

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Second-quarter beef production to affect market

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Tighter U.S. supplies will continue until April, then the tide will turn

By Jerry Klassen November 7, 2019

Alberta fed cattle prices were trading in the range of $136 to $139 during the war half of September, while in mid- to late October Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $143 to $145. Although fed cattle prices have ratcheted higher, yearling and calf markets are relatively unchanged. In central Alberta, […] Read more

Silage corn grown during drought can lead to feed quality and safety issues.

Cattleman’s Corner, Corn, Livestock

Drought-stricken corn can make dangerous silage

High nitrate levels, moulds and toxins might prevail 

By Peter Vitti November 5, 2019

Much of this year’s corn crop across the southern Prairies has been once again hit by drought. My photograph of a southern Manitoba cornfield in mid-August shows one of the worst cornfields I have ever seen. It tasselled out early with curled grey leaves and no visible cobs on its stalk. Most whole plants were […] Read more

Checking bulls after breeding season can help determine if they just need rest or perhaps should be culled.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Putting bulls through a post-season checklist

Find the ones you want to keep, and help them to recover

By Roy Lewis October 30, 2019

Planning and good observations are necessary when pulling bulls. They may give us a clue as to how the breeding season went. Because bulls are stressed during breeding season and have lost lots of weight, they are in a way a sentinel animal for disease and both external and internal parasites. Bulls are now going […] Read more

All hands were on deck to get crop harvested between rain showers.

Cattleman’s Corner, Crops

September rain interrupts harvest plans

Eppich News: It was a multitasking month with harvest, hay and cattle

By Heather Eppich October 23, 2019

September started with about half an inch of rain Sept. 2. There was service work to be done on the combines before we could start harvest however, so it didn’t hold up work. By Sept. 4 Gregory and John slowly started cutting ditches and swathing crop again. On mid-afternoon Sept. 6 we started combining. There […] Read more

Some odds and ends and a few new pieces came together to build this pasture watering system.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

A pasture-watering system that won’t break the bank

The practice of never throwing anything away helps with small projects

By Debbie Chikousky October 21, 2019

In our area of the Interlake in Manitoba, the summer of 2018 was dry but many livestock producers had a surplus of feed left over from 2017. This year was worse. Sloughs were drying for the first time in recent memory. In the Shoal Lake area producers had to repair fence lines across sloughs for […] Read more

While yearling prices have been very strong, calf prices are trading $10 to $15 lower than a year ago.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Calf prices below year-ago levels

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Seek price protection if you're backgrounding calves this winter

By Jerry Klassen October 18, 2019

Western Canadian feedlot margins have hovered in negative territory throughout the summer and early fall. In late September, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $231 to $232; live bids were quoted from $136 to $139. Recent prices are about $15 to $20 below break-even pen closeout values. […] Read more

There are now many products used to reduce pain and they have been adopted by cattlemen wholeheartedly.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Beef industry is meeting new challenges

Animal Health: New technology and regulations help producers do a better job

By Roy Lewis October 16, 2019

The beef producer has always been resilient and the last few years have seen many new challenges. Under the guidance of the Canadian Cattleman’s Association and Alberta Beef Producers the cattle industry has responded to these issues very well. The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle, which has been out […] Read more

Daily Network News

CBOT Weekly: USDA predicts declines in planting intentions

Protein Industries Canada funds Saskatchewan pulse ingredient project

February canola crush up from 2025, StatCan reports

Cattleman’s Corner