There’s some flexibility around good cows that aren’t pregnant, depending on the philosphy of the ranch, but poor-productivity cows should be culled, livestock nutritionist Peter Vitti says.
Cow-Calf
High prices make cow culling decisions easier
Better Bunks and Pastures: There’s some flexibility around good cows that aren’t pregnant, but poor cows should be culled
Klassen: Feeder market extends rally
Western Canadian yearling prices traded back up to historical highs over the week ended Oct. 18, while calf markets made fresh highs at many locations. Western Canadian yearlings off grass traded $5-$10 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Steer calves in the weight range of 550-825 pounds traded $8-$12/cwt higher on average while […] Read more
A best-practices review for your beef cattle herd
Animal Health: Tips on vaccines, equipment and other matters, in either purebred or commercial cow-calf herds
Veterinarian Roy Lewis provides a variety of tips on herd health, animal welfare and immunization for western Canadian cow-calf operations, both commercial and purebred.
Good weaning programs for valuable calves are worth it
Better Bunks and Pastures: Less shrinkage is worth much more money at today’s calf prices
Less shrinkage is worth much more money at today’s calf prices, so good weaning programs for valuable beef calves are worth it.
Calf hormone implants can give environmental, financial wins
Bigger calves at weaning can cut emissions intensity and land use intensity and put more money in the pocket of cow-calf farmers
Hormone implants can lead to bigger calves — reducing greenhouse gas intensity, land use intensity and giving the beef farmer more profit, a Manitoba-based model suggests.
Tracking cow-calf yardage can improve decision-making
The Beef Cattle Research Council has a calculator to help make the process easier
The Beef Cattle Research Centre has a calculator to help with the process of adding up yardage — the overhead for cow-calf operations.
Drought preparation is better than reaction
Wayne Knight shares a step-by-step guide on building a drought preparation plan
Wayne Knight’s advice is to create a plan that makes a cattle producer prepared for any disruptions in their operation, and then stick to that plan.
Teamwork from a cow’s perspective
Costs of Production: How are you as a herd manager hitting the salary cap and identifying players that don’t fit?
Managing a herd of cows can be much like managing a sport team, as explained by Sean McGrath of Ranching Systems Ltd.
Mastering elastic band castration: techniques for a stress-free procedure
Manitoba rancher Jodi Suchoplas offers expert advice on the preferred castration method for cow-calf operations
When done properly, elastration is quick, requires minimal restraint, is less invasive than surgical methods, and eliminates the need for stitches. It’s also simply less stressful for both the animal and the handler.
Keep on top of pain this calving season
Controlling pain during calving can help keep both calf and mother healthy and lead to better outcomes
A more comfortable delivery generally jumpstarts the odds of a healthy cow and a calf that will pair well and start nursing without issue.
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