Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

Easy weaning and putting yearlings onto pasture or grass hay can help transition them into backgrounding.

Ease weaned calves into backgrounding

It is difficult if not impossible to recover losses due to sick animals

By Heather Smith Thomas December 22, 2016

Some ranchers hold calves over as yearlings, and some buy light calves in the spring to put on grass and gain weight. Some calves go into a confinement program and are fed a growing ration until they are ready to enter a finishing facility. Backgrounding covers a spectrum of situations that includes preconditioning before and […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner

Good ranch story, makes a great gift

By Lee Hart December 20, 2016

If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer or any-season gift for someone who enjoys stories about real ranch life, Grainews columnist Heather Smith Thomas is a long time published author with several books to her credit. Here are three titles that so aptly capture the experiences of raising cattle, horses and other critters. Horse Tales: […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Market recovery still a year away

Market Update: Production is still high, start of beef herd contraction possible in late 2017

By Jerry Klassen December 9, 2016

On top of the CBOT building in Chicago stands a statue of “Ceres” — the Greek goddess of grain crops and fertility. An old myth amongst traders is that after a major bull run in a market when traders usually did very well, the Greek goddess wanted her money back. Fed cattle prices have been […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Various treatments for calf diphtheria

Animal Health: Injury to mouth or throat can allow bacteria to set in

By Roy Lewis December 8, 2016

I am sure most producers over the years have had calves (on a sporadic basis) develop a throat infection. These are the calves which have an extremely loud inspiratory and expiratory sound which can be heard, across the pen. They generally have extended neck breathing and are in various forms of respiratory distress. The cause […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

More thoughts on market options

You may not need a price premium to see benefits of preconditioned calves

By Lee Hart November 22, 2016

Market analyst Jerry Klassen in his recent column isn’t painting a very bright cattle price outlook picture heading into this winter and early into 2017. An oversupply of beef in the U.S. and Canada is holding prices down. And of course those pork guys continue to push more product out the door — a lot […] Read more

*current financial status is based on time of writing (author) The final profit in this case

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Preconditioning calves still pays this fall

Pencil out the costs and consider other marketing benefits as well

By Peter Vitti November 22, 2016

The weaned calf market reached a peak in the fall of 2014. Since then, mixed with lots of volatility, the value of weaned calves this fall is roughly half that nearly two years ago. Many cow-calf producers who sell weaned calves to feedlots are asking if preconditioning calves is really worth it. Yes, I believe […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Peritonitis more than hardware disease

Animal Health: Understanding the cause can often prevent it from happening again

By Roy Lewis November 16, 2016

Peritonitis refers to the inflammation or infection around the peritoneum, which is the inside lining in the abdomen of cattle and other species. Any infection involving or in the abdomen has the nondescript term peritonitis to describe it. This could be infection around the intestines, stomachs, liver or uterus in cows and heifers. What is […] Read more

This raw coloured fleece will be processed to produce a skein of finished yarn.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Sheep/Goats

Getting a handle on fleece marketing

Opportunities appear to be there for all grades of wool

By Debbie Chikousky November 15, 2016

In December 2015 we announced we were on our way to realizing our dream of producing dual-purpose sheep. Our first black ram (Clun Forest X), our purebred Rambouillet ram, and our Fredrick James (Suffolk cross/Rambouillet) were going to work. The goal was to produce acceptable meat lambs with wool that was pleasing to wear. Personal […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Good starter provides a good start

Make sure the starter has proper nutrients but also great taste

By Peter Vitti November 14, 2016

In recent years, I have seen a lot of pressure on dairy producers to feed more whole milk or milk replacer to their pre-weaned calves. University trials show baby calves fed high levels of milk turn it into superior bodyweight, girth and height at weaning, which make better future-lactating cows. Not to be overshadowed, there […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Producers hit with ‘sticker shock’

Market Update: Bottom of the market may be in sight in mid-2017

By Jerry Klassen November 10, 2016

There was an old saying on the trading floor — “Up the mountain; down the mountain.” After extreme highs; traders need to prepare for extreme lows. Earlier in summer, I thought the cattle markets would start to stabilize and maybe turn around in October. However, I have to eat my words because as of mid-October, […] Read more

GFM Network News

Klassen: Cash feeder market divorces from futures market

Russia’s seaborne grain exports fell 10 per cent year-on-year in September, data shows

India and Canada agree on new roadmap for relations