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Cattleman’s Corner

Putting thought into changing vaccine lines
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Putting thought into changing vaccine lines

Animal Health: With a bit of planning, it is possible to switch from one manufacturer to another

By
There are many difficult decisions to be made when changing the brand or manufacturer of a vaccine line. The real comparisons can be made when you know what specific diseases you need to vaccinate for in your herd, whether to use a modified live, killed, or combined program and rate the effectiveness of your original […] Read more
Money to be made in creep feeding calves
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Money to be made in creep feeding calves

At least pencil it out for your farm — you could be leaving $85 per head on the table

By
As a beef nutritionist, I have advocated creep feeding spring calves for years. That’s because as feeder cattle prices have steadily risen, there was a real profit due to creep feeding as well as some decent side-benefits. I haven’t changed my position for 2015 and advise each cow-calf operator to calculate their own situation and […] Read more
This Water Hemlock (above) looks similar to the harmless Water Parsnip, but it doesn’t take much of the leaves and only one tuber to kill a grazing animal.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Be on the lookout for water hemlock

About 1-1/2 pounds of leaves or a bite of a bulb is enough to kill a cow

By
You are typically hearing from me with an Australian story but for a change I am reporting to you from our 4-Clover Ranch south east of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. Since coming back in late May we have endured a very dry spring and summer. While a good 125 mm of rain has fallen since […] Read more
Cattle market is a tough one to call
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Cattle market is a tough one to call

Risk of increased 2016 production could throw a wrench into prices

By
This past spring, we saw the stars align with all major factors favouring higher beef and cattle prices. Moving into fall of 2015, the cattle market continues the transition phase with growing meat supplies along with softer consumer demand. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $182 in mid-August, which was down from the spring […] Read more
These sensors are part of the Harvest Tec system for measuring feed quality of hay as it is baled in the field.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Measuring cattle feed quality in the field

A new system allows for bale-by-bale feed value testing

By
In challenging economic times it is more important than ever to know the value of the alfalfa forage you are feeding your dairy or beef cattle. Whether you are blending alfalfa in a ration to maximize lactation, fertility and calf growth, or utilizing lesser-quality hay for dry cattle or replacements, you want to know that […] Read more
Proper grazing management is a vital tool in restoring and maintaining healthy and productive forage stands.
Cattleman’s Corner

Good grazing management helps renew pastures

By
The question about how to rejuvenate a pasture economically has been around for as long as I can remember. Breaking up and reseeding a pasture can be expensive and time-consuming. Grey wooded soils with tough old bluegrass/fescue sods are particularly challenging to get a decent seedbed developed. It is often recommended to grow cereals for […] Read more
Drought brings its own package of health risks for livestock
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Drought brings its own package of health risks for livestock

Pests, toxic plants and disease can all thrive under dry conditions

By
With the current lack of runoff moisture and few spring rains across much of Western Canada, certain disease conditions may become more prevalent. It will pay to be extra vigilant this year when checking your herds. We commonly see more blackleg and all the other clostridial diseases in dry conditions. With shorter grass, cattle and […] Read more
Black Angus cow
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Help cattle cope with the three Bs of heat stress

If cows and calves aren't eating, overall performance and weight gains are down

By
I always feel sorry for beef cattle in an open field that cannot escape the hot summer sun. The other day I was driving a pasture with about 30 Black Angus cows and spring calves. Not a tree or waterer in sight. All the animals were crowded together, none were grazing and their calves were […] Read more
Cattle prices going sideways, or may trend down
Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Cattle prices going sideways, or may trend down

As U.S. and Canadian producers increase production, beef demand appears to be levelling off

By
Fed and feeder cattle prices appear to be in transition. All the major factors that drove the cattle and beef complex to historical highs over the past quarter are slowly turning so that it will be difficult for the market to experience further significant upside. The U.S. economic expansion, which drove beef demand to unprecedented […] Read more
cattle on a pasture unable to rise
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Dealing with downer cattle, not simple or easy

Animal Health: There are many reasons a seemingly healthy cow can go down, 
and quite often no easy procedure to get her back up

By
Farmers and veterinarians since the beginning of time have pondered over the proverbial downer cow. Typically, a downer cow surprises the farmer. It is often a perfectly healthy animal with no presenting history suddenly found down and unable to rise. Because cattle, especially mature ones, are such heavy beasts, complications can ensue after being down […] Read more

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