Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

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

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

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Can you afford to select cows for longevity?

Keeping old cows isn’t improving performance of the beef herd

By Sean McGrath April 11, 2018

One of the biggest costs on a cow-calf operation is cow herd depreciation. For most of us, even if we are not aware of it, cow depreciation is our second-highest expense after cow herd maintenance. It is a problem often ignored because cull cows generate cash flow, but having cows drop out of the cow […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Markets

Calf market will feel the pinch come fall

Market Update: It will take time to work burdensome beef supplies through the U.S. system

By Jerry Klassen April 10, 2018

Alberta fed cattle prices have traded in the range of $162 to $166 throughout February and March, but the market is poised to grind lower during the second quarter due to the large year-over-year increase in second-quarter beef production. Fed cattle are poised for a $15 to $20 drop over the next couple of months […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Treating colicky bloat in calves

Calf Management: Timeliness is critical and treatments are no guarantee 

By Heather Smith Thomas April 9, 2018

In some herds, calves die nearly every year from enterotoxemia caused by bacterial toxins. The calves are usually about a month old, but may be as young as a few days or as old as two to three months. They are generally healthy, fast-growing calves that suddenly develop acute gut pain, kicking at their belly […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Vitamin A expensive, but necessary

Although the price has shot up, it is important to keep the nutrient in dairy rations

By Peter Vitti April 6, 2018

Prices of vitamin A (along with vitamins D and E) have increased to 10 times their former costs from just a few months ago. This skyrocketing price is due to a recent fire at a new manufacturing facility in Germany as well as several vitamin ADE plants that are down for maintenance in China. Together, these events have caused a worldwide shortage […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Producers discuss value of good records

Herd Management: Which to cull, when to market,  just some of questions answered

By Beef Cattle Research Council March 28, 2018

This is part one of three Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) articles on the value of keeping records for commercial beef herds. Parts two and three are available on the blog at www.beefresearch.ca. There is also a good sidebar report on new record-keeping software and iPhone App (the Herdly App) available from the Canadian Cattleman’s […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Markets

Other indicators affecting cattle market decisions

Risk Management Part 4: Who’s using the futures market and what are their intentions?

By Jerry Klassen March 28, 2018

In my previous article, I discussed four possible market environments and the possible marketing or hedging strategies for each environment. Cow-calf producers will know if the basis is weak or strong based on longer-term historical data. The price range of the futures market over the past two years will provide a good idea if the futures market is in […] Read more

Daily Network News

OPINION: Understanding how plants pause and restart growth can help develop climate-resilient crops

Moroccan fertilizer maker OCP expects output to drop 30 per cent in Q2, sources say

Feed Grain Weekly: Demand rises despite war uncertainty