Managing a herd of cows can be much like managing a sport team, as explained by Sean McGrath of Ranching Systems Ltd.
Cattleman’s Corner
Teamwork from a cow’s perspective
Costs of Production: How are you as a herd manager hitting the salary cap and identifying players that don’t fit?
Mastering elastic band castration: techniques for a stress-free procedure
Manitoba rancher Jodi Suchoplas offers expert advice on the preferred castration method for cow-calf operations
When done properly, elastration is quick, requires minimal restraint, is less invasive than surgical methods, and eliminates the need for stitches. It’s also simply less stressful for both the animal and the handler.
Cattle markets try to adjust to tariffs
The Markets: There continue to be tight supplies for cattle that are ready to market, keeping prices high
There continue to be tight supplies for cattle that are ready to market, keeping prices high, despite tariff uncertainly in North America, analyst Jerry Klassen says.
Keep on top of pain this calving season
Controlling pain during calving can help keep both calf and mother healthy and lead to better outcomes
A more comfortable delivery generally jumpstarts the odds of a healthy cow and a calf that will pair well and start nursing without issue.
Reframing the view on heifer retention
Expanded screening tools can take the guesswork out of choosing replacement heifers
Replacing heifers based on visual phenotype and genetic merit, rather than early screening, leaves potential long-term herd retention on the table, University of Missouri animal scientist Jordan Thomas says.
How to manage Salmonella dublin on a cow-calf operation
Animal Health: The salmonella strain has become more common in Canada
Salmonella dublin is adapted to live in cattle, which remain the most important reservoir of this strain of the bacteria. It is also a strain of salmonella that’s very difficult to treat because it tends to be multi-drug resistant and will not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Birthdays and an eastbound colt
Eppich News: Cycles of very cold then warm weather have been hard on animals and people this winter
Cycles of very cold then warm weather have been hard on animals and people at the Eppich farm this winter.
U.S. cattle herd contraction coming to an end
The Markets: Watch for calf prices to start to decline in 2026
Beef calf price should continue to be strong in 2025, but a growing cow herd could mean lower prices in 2026.
Feed an all-star diet to your beef cows after calving
Better Bunks & Pastures: It pays to invest in cows to get them from calving to their next pregnancy
For a cow to feed a calf and retain its own body condition requires a good solid intake of essential nutrients. First-calf heifers also need more of the same nutrients to gain a couple of hundred pounds of weight as they grow into maturity.
Cattle market volatility increases as tariff uncertainty continues
Resumption of U.S./Mexico cattle trade will temper market upside
At the time of writing this article, the implementations of U.S. tariffs and Canadian retaliatory measures were delayed for 30 days. However, the threat remains. This is the wild card moving forward.