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Cattleman’s Corner

Holstein-beef cross feeder cattle
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Fed market reflects beginning signs of herd expansion

The Markets: Beef cow numbers are still expected to decline in 2024 and 2025

By
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices have been trading near historical highs throughout the summer and early fall period. At the time of writing this article, larger-frame Angus steers off grass averaging 950 lbs. were trading around $320/cwt in central Alberta. Steers averaging 500 lbs. were quoted between $450/cwt and $500/cwt, depending on weaning stage and […] Read more
Joseph and Reba check the pasture and the cows together.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Trips to pasture become adventure time

Eppich News: The weather was good for getting off hay and harvest has commenced

By
Mid-August was warm with almost no rain. On Aug. 10 Gregory started cutting our hay over at Landis. On the 13th I started baling at Landis while Gregory continued to cut ahead of me. It was drying very nicely and so I was able to bale what he had cut just two days before. On […] Read more
The John Deere 535 baler that burned at the Eppich farm.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Equipment, Hay

Counting one’s blessings after our baler burns

Eppich News: A baler fire is a reminder to be prepared and understand what to do in an emergency

By
On Sept. 5, our John Deere 535 baler went up in smoke. It is a big hit for our small operation, but we have much to be thankful for. As farmers we do dangerous things every day. Every day we are just going to go swath the wheat, or we are just going to combine, […] Read more
When stock water levels drop, a solar water system can help extend the quantity and preserve quality in the remaining water.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Prepare your ranch and business plan for bouts with drought

A Little Bit Western: There are ways to extend feed and water — but do so with caution and monitoring

By
In late summer I was invited to the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon to share my perspective on navigating drought. I would prefer covering a more cheerful topic, but as a fourth-generation Palliser Triangle dweller who resides on a ranch abandoned not once but twice by its former occupants, I’ll admit I’ve got experience […] Read more
The writer with a field of peas. Like corn or barley, peas can be fed to high-milk producing dairy cattle as a good dietary energy source.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Dairy Cattle, Peas, The Dairy Corner

How field peas fit in dairy lactation diets

Dairy Corner: Research and some practical trials show peas can be fed to cows with no effect on milk yield

By
A few years back, there was a surge of investment in pea processing for the plant-based protein industry. A multimillion-dollar plant was built in Manitoba, along with other smaller related food and processing businesses. There was more than just talk about growing more peas in Western Canada in which an offshoot would be feeding more […] Read more
The number of cattle being grounded in Canada dropped in 2024.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Fed cattle market grinds lower

The Markets: Softer demand shows up as North American employment weakens

By
During the second week of September, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $406-$410/cwt, down from prices of $425-$428/cwt a month earlier. Beef demand appears to be softening as unemployment levels increase. In addition to weaker consumer spending, September and October are two months when beef demand typically […] Read more
Cattle chute
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Livestock

There are now many veterinary clinic models

Animal Health: Veterinarians have specialized and also offer more telemedicine

By
In rural Western Canada, the veterinary clinic was traditionally a mixed-animal practice, with everyone being a jack of all trades and emergency work in all species. But cattle were the bread and butter. We have all heard of the shortage of veterinarians for both small and large animals, but there has also been a big […] Read more
Ian pauses for a picture while harvesting a few of Joseph’s carrots for fresh eating.
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

A visit from the aunties

Eppich News: Hot weather meant more tree watering and some creative air conditioning on the ranch

By
July stayed hot and dry. Gregory kept working away at the ditch hay and John worked as much summerfallow as he could. I was able to keep the main floor of the house a pleasant temperature as long as I did all the cooking on the barbecue, but the upstairs, where we sleep, would get […] Read more
Don Guilford with a group of first-calf heifers
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Redefining a ranch

Holistic management has made the Guilford ranch more efficient — and it carries more cattle

By
Don and Diane Guilford have been practicing holistic management on their 1,200-acre ranch near Clearwater, Man. since the early 1980s. Don is the third generation of his family in that region and says holistic management has made a big difference in his success as a farmer. He took his first course with Allan Savory at […] Read more
cow and calf
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

It’s not too late to creep-feed spring calves

Better Bunks and Pastures: Analysis says this could be a highly profitable year to creep-feed calves

By
A friend of mine operates a 300-cow-calf operation. This year, he put out his creep feeders during the end of July and his March-born calves really haven’t eaten much creep-feed in the last month. That’s because his pastures are still lush and his cows are milking well. He joked that he is ready to lock […] Read more

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