I confess, I am a winter grazier. I love grazing cows in the wintertime. I like reducing my labour and cutting my costs. I like free time for spending with kids or writing Grainews articles. Truth be told, I even like riding saddle horses in the cold, as a lot of our terrain is not […] Read more
Winter grazing begins before Dec. 1
Don't assume winter grazing won’t work ‘here’ — look at the options
Something magical about 10:2:1 ratio
A per cent hear and there in reproduction and growth makes a difference
If it is possible to have a favourite ratio, 10:2:1 is mine. The reason for the favouritism is this ratio comes from one of my favourite pieces of extension material, done by Melton et al. way back in 1995. The 10:2:1 ratio reflects the relative importance of reproduction:production:product, particularly for those marketing calves directly from […] Read more
The importance of unit costs for livestock
Ranch Management: All expenses can be looked at in terms of cost per head or cost per pound
It is relatively easy to find product offerings that promise to increase production. As a somewhat skeptical consumer, these technologies/solutions always need to be examined carefully before deciding whether or not they are worth using. That said, all of these products tend to reinforce one simple point: production matters. The less simple aspect of this […] Read more
Are you ready to build a Cadillac? – Part 2
Genetics and proper production practices are all part of producing premium product
Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two-part series on increasing the value of beef. Part one appeared in the Feb. 23, 2016 issue of Grainews and is included as a link further down in this article). The luxury eating experience involves the carcass of the animal. The creation of this luxury starts early on […] Read more
Are you ready to build a Cadillac? – Part 1
Consumers are willing to make a beef a high-end choice
Beef has long been considered a high-value product. When economies emerge and wealth is created, one of the first things people seek to do is add protein to their diet. At the top of the privilege list is beef. This is evidenced by beef demand indexes when examined on a country-by-country basis. As countries gain […] Read more
A pound is a pound, right?
Some simple changes in production and management can add extra value to cattle
Over the past year we’ve had unparalleled high prices in the beef industry, but with the last few months representing one of the largest price declines in the history of the industry. Yet prices are still relatively profitable for the cow-calf industry. Not so for cattle feeders, who have just undergone a period of historic […] Read more
Seeing the value of your farm beyond beef and grain
There may not be an immediate cash market for tranquility, but the day is coming
It is definitely catalogue season. Based on past purchases and connections through work I generally receive around 150 to 200 bull sale catalogues each year, as well as lots of general farm supply and auction catalogues. All of this glossiness has spurred a lot of thinking about the products we sell from our farms and […] Read more
Tips for ecological land management
Monitoring the ecological state of and changes in your farmland is of value to demonstrate proper land stewardship
Farms and ranches rely heavily on nature and ecological processes to produce food and to support our own families. Nature is quite an amazing entity and for the most part will try to do everything she can to protect us from our own mismanagement. In other words nature is resilient and covers a lot of […] Read more
“Sustainability” in all its forms
Industry sustainability is built one farm at a time, anticipating and being prepared for change
The “S” word (sustainability) has been in popular use for several years among industry and developers and it has recently undergone a major surge of interest in the beef industry. Sustainability really reflects the long-term viability of the industry in terms of the three pillars of the environment, economics and social demands. It would be […] Read more
Basic steps to increasing grazing profits
Knowing how much cow-calf pairs eat and properly managing their grazing program helps to reduce grazing costs
As we progress through the spring and into grass season, many of us have the temptation to “kick the cows out to grass.” After feeding, calving and doing chores all winter, turnout is a welcome relief. While grazing is generally cheaper than feeding, turnout also represents the beginning of a season of lost profit potential […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
