Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

Calves are comfortable on good bedding,  even on cold days.

Proper bedding keeps calves warm and dry

Straw and windbreaks can help get calves through poor spring weather

By Heather Eppich May 8, 2018

This spring has been less than ideal for calving. In west-central Saskatchewan we’ve had record cold temperatures with wind and snow, and the wet weather is just around the corner. Calves born in these conditions often show the effects with frozen ears and feet — that’s if you can keep them alive in the first […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Discovering the value of registration

You never know who may come knocking if they can trace genetics

By Debbie Chikousky May 1, 2018

Life has a way of making people revisit decisions. About five years ago the decision was made to keep up with registry memberships so our herd name didn’t get lost but we also considered that maybe it wasn’t worth the cost registering our youngsters. There were a lot of reasons to question — one being […] Read more

May feeder cattle minus October live cattle daily chart.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Feed markets

Looking at the feed grain component

Risk Management Part 5: More feeder cattle equals more feedlot placements, equals larger beef production

By Jerry Klassen April 25, 2018

With this final article for the series on risk management for cow-calf producers, I note the previous columns discussed a specific aspect of the cash and futures market relationships. Producers are aware of when basis and futures levels are favourable and can use this information for buying price insurance or placing hedges on the feeder […] Read more

Grass tetany isn’t a huge problem, but where or when conditions develop, it can be corrected.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Nip risk of grass tetany in the bud

Provide a tablespoon or two daily of magnesium mineral supplement before turnout

By Peter Vitti April 23, 2018

Every spring, I think about the possibilities of grass tetany in the cow herds going out to graze in on lush prairie grass. While nobody wants to find a fresh cow that died under mysterious circumstances, there is no need to panic. Fortunately, most threats of fatal grass tetany can be reduced by providing beef […] Read more

Most classes of livestock — beef, dairy, horses — can operate Frost Free Nose Pumps, and with a slight modification can even supply water to young calves.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Several fits for frost-free nose pumps

Nose power is all that’s needed for these off-site water systems

By Michael Thomas April 23, 2018

Across North America operators from equine centers to commercial cattle operations are discovering the merits of Frostfree Nosepumps as a viable and reliable all-season option to deliver water to all classes and age of livestock. These systems utilize geothermal heat from the ground to operate without freezing, and the manual piston pump is operated by […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Rancher’s Diary

Cold weather or not, fencing continued

Rancher's Diary: Extra attention including tube feeding couldn’t save premature calf

By Heather Smith Thomas April 20, 2018

February 22 A week ago it snowed and was windy and cold. Jim finished packing his truck and drove to California where he has a couple of months worth of work fixing fences and remodelling some buildings for a friend. We moved the yearling bulls from the orchard to the little back pen, and created […] Read more

The first Angus/Hereford cross bull calf of the year, doing well.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

The bulls and the bees

The purchase of a heifer bull stirs excitement for next season

By Heather Eppich April 19, 2018

Sometimes opportunities come up and you just have to jump on them. We have been hauling our cows to pasture in a two-horse trailer, just waiting for an opportunity to purchase a bigger one. Then a friend showed Gregory an ad. The used trailer was in rough shape but the price was good, so Gregory loaded […] Read more

Average EPD for current calves from 6 major Canadian breeds

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Some myths and facts about EPDs

It’s only a genetic prediction, but still a useful tool

By Sean McGrath April 18, 2018

One of the main areas that I have worked on in my consulting business is genetic selection and the development and use of genetic evaluation technologies. In the more than 20 years I have been working in the field, it is interesting many of the same myths and challenges continue to appear, all during a […] Read more

Give cattle some feeding area options with plenty of space.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Ease new cattle into the herd

Give cows time and space to sort out pecking order

By Heather Eppich April 16, 2018

Cows can be very aggressive, especially when establishing a pecking order, so you need to watch how new and especially pregnant animals are integrated into an established herd. Two cows fighting can result in a cow losing the calf because of the direct hits to the belly by the other cow’s head; a cow slipping […] Read more

The man who inspired a family of writers the reverend and rancher Don Ian Smith.

Cattleman’s Corner

Four generations of Withington Creek writers

Family Tradition: Ranch life has always been an inspiration for Smith Thomas family

By Heather Smith Thomas April 13, 2018

I’ve been writing for Grainews for more than 40 years, starting when I was a young ranch wife with two small children. I’d been writing articles for a few horse and cattle magazines to help pay the bills, and was grateful for another “market” for my work. My writing career began early, thanks to my […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Live cattle correct higher

U.S. grains: Soybean futures hit one-month high on U.S.-China trade hopes

Pulse Weekly: AAFC forecast stands pat