Cattleman’s Corner & Production Tips

Keep the beef herd “closed” as much as possible to reduce the risk of introducing a disease your herd may not be prepared for. And at calving, provide as much space for animals as possible to avoid overcrowding which reduces the risk of disease spread.

Tips for a healthy calf crop

On-farm biosecurity to reduce disease risk just makes good business sense

By Roy Lewis February 13, 2015

Calving season poses the greatest risk for spread of disease on our farms or between neighbouring farms and this is repeated every year. That makes it worth reviewing some common biosecurity practices, which should be stepped up to prevent a scours, respiratory or other disease outbreak. It is a time when both the cow herd, […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, The Dairy Corner

Your dairy herd needs clean, fresh water

By Peter Vitti February 4, 2015

Once the threat of heat stress is over and autumn quickly turns into a long Canadian winter, we tend to forget that water is still important for the health and performance of high-milk-producing dairy cows. After all, water makes up 65 per cent of their bodies and milk is 87.5 per cent water. Producers should […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Sask. beef producers given a 21-day calving challenge

A new record book great for recording information, also offers calving tips

By Shirley Byers February 3, 2015

Cow herd reproduction is the most important factor affecting the profitability of Saskatchewan beef producers,” says Travis Peardon, livestock specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. When it comes to contributing income, cow herd reproduction is five times more important than growth rate and 10 times more important than carcass quality. Calves born in that first 21-day cycle […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Sheep/Goats

The fine balance of managing copper

Sheep and goats and cattle do not have the same copper needs

By Debbie Chikousky February 3, 2015

We have had several new producers this winter trying to convince us it just isn’t true that sheep cannot be fed copper. Apparently they are doing it without any problems. Since we are coming into lambing season it is a good time to address these ideas. It needs to be clear that sheep and goats […] Read more

Calves on the Stump farm east of Sicamous, B.C. on feed in early October just prior to being shipped. Range for the cow herd is at the top and behind the mountain in the background. The country can grow grass, but it is also good habitat for wolves.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Wolves force rancher to change calving season

By Lee Hart January 28, 2015

For the past few years B.C. rancher Werner Stump has been calving out his commercial cow herd in November — mostly indoors — weaning calves in the spring, then putting them on grass and feed at home for the summer, with plans to market them in October — primarily because of wolves. Stump, whose family […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

More robust tracking can increase livestock profitability

By Ted Power January 20, 2015

Livestock producers all over the world understand the positive impact tracking and sharing animal data can have on their bottom lines. They know due to recent “food scares,” consumers want to know that the food they are going to feed their families is safe. They want to know where it comes from, how it was […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Treatment options for handling retained placentas

Animal Health: A common indicator of placenta retention is a decrease in milk production for calves

By Roy Lewis January 20, 2015

Retained placentas is one health problem all producers face every spring. The resulting metritis (uterine infection) and subsequent infertility can have a large economic impact. A placenta is considered retained if not expelled after 24 hours. Infertility related to retained placentas results from the infection not being cleared and the cow either conceiving later or […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Time for a midwinter feed inventory

Better Bunks and Pastures: Follow these tips for a better chance at strong, healthy calves

By Peter Vitti January 19, 2015

Don’t let any recent balmy temperatures fool you. By the third week of the New Year, we should all have forgotten about climate change. Late-gestating beef cattle, a few months away from calving, are going to need more dietary energy to maintain good body condition until calving and also to keep warm. Although, most people […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner

Low oil prices will definitely impact beef market

By Jerry Klassen January 8, 2015

Fed cattle prices reached record highs in mid-December with Alberta packers purchasing steers in the range of $179 to $182, up nearly $10 from a month earlier. Market-ready supplies of fed cattle remain relatively tight while consumer demand has increased during the holiday season. Retailers have been selling beef in smaller packages in an effort […] Read more

Key players at the news conference announcing the new company to deliver BIXS include (from left) Larry Thomas, national co-ordinator of BIXS; Rob McNabb, general manager of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association; Hubert Lau of ViewTrak, CEO of the new company; and Ted Power, president of ViewTrak.

Cattleman’s Corner

BIXS being rolled out to the launch pad

New private partnership to take over pasture-to-packer tracking

By Lee Hart January 8, 2015

A service established by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) over the past four years to carry information back and forth along the entire beef production chain is about to shed its training wheels. The Beef Information Xchange System — commonly known as BIXS — is about to begin a new era following the December announcement […] Read more

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Cattleman’s Corner

Tips for a healthy calf crop

Your dairy herd needs clean, fresh water

Sask. beef producers given a 21-day calving challenge

The fine balance of managing copper

Wolves force rancher to change calving season

More robust tracking can increase livestock profitability

Treatment options for handling retained placentas

Time for a midwinter feed inventory

Low oil prices will definitely impact beef market

BIXS being rolled out to the launch pad

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