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Cow-Calf

Creep feeding is a good way to bridge this nutritional gap.
Columns, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Creep feeding shows a profit in 2023

It may be well worth your while to get an extra 60 pounds of gain on this year’s calves

By
Spring on the Prairies is a great time, because the snow has disappeared and pastures are turning green. Whenever I drive past the occasional drylot, I see a lot of beef cows waiting to be released on pasture. It reminds me that with record cattle prices on the board, it might be a time to […] Read more
Cattle are often susceptible to frothy bloat when grazing lush alfalfa pastures. It is best to ease them into high-risk pastures and even provide some dry hay or straw.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Preventing frothy bloat on early spring pasture

A couple of treatments are available, but management practices can avoid the problem

By
As a beef nutritionist, I haven’t heard about many fatal cow bloat cases over the last 10 years, but of the few I’m aware of, it seems it takes only a few things to come together to make bloat deadly. From talking to experienced beef producers, I am also aware that the risk of annual […] Read more
Later calving was supposed to avoid the snow, but winter just didn't want to give up this year with a heavy snowfall in late March.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Weather didn’t co-operate for calving beef cows

Rancher's Diary: After a short labour, a new great-granddaughter is welcomed into the family

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March 22 We’re about to start calving. Andrea put boards over gaps at the bottom of the barn wall where critters have been crawling into the barn —to block their access and stop the wind. There were sheets of ice where water ran into the barn when snow fell off the roof, melted and ran […] Read more
Photo: Canada Beef Inc.
Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Livestock

Klassen: Feeder market remains firm on fed cattle strength

Alberta's disastrous wildfires may disrupt calf marketings

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Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearlings over 800 lbs. were quoted steady to $4 higher; feeders between 600-800 lbs. were relatively unchanged while calves under 600 lbs. were $5-$10 higher. The market for calves under 600 lbs. was hard to define due to limited volumes. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on […] Read more
Built in the 1970s this calf shelter still works today to provide calves with a dry place to bed down away from the wind, snow and rain.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Winter shelters have saved calves

Having protection from wet and wind made a difference, even under extreme weather and low temperatures

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Ranchers who calve early know the value of shelter for baby calves. When my husband Lynn and I started ranching in 1967, our cows were calving in March and April and we had terrible scours, especially when the weather was wet. The pastures on this place were contaminated with scour “bugs” after intensive cattle use […] Read more
It reduces stress and the impact on calves if they have two to three weeks to adjust to life after weaning before being trucked.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

What makes the difference during calf transportation?

Is it the trucking itself, or are there other factors that affect the health and well-being of calves?

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Transportation is an important and inevitable component of marketing cattle through different sectors of the beef industry, but how does that trucking experience affect the health and well being of livestock? Dr. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, principal research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Station, says whether it’s calves or backgrounders moving to feedlots for […] Read more
The three scour vaccines on the market in Canada are good at getting protection to calves into colostrum for the different common causes of scours.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

How to avoid scours getting at your calves

Several factors to hopefully reduce the impact of disease development

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In this day and age, when you have the first case of scours develop, most veterinarians would advise to give electrolytes to counter dehydration, other ancillary treatments such as NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory medications) and if necessary, antibiotics. If a second case arises it’s a good idea to get it diagnosed to know exactly what you’re dealing […] Read more
Once repairs were made, the new bale processor was put to good use.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Calving season begins

Eppich News: A new (to us) bale processor repaired and put to good use

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We brought our cows into the corral for calving Feb. 20. It was quite cold then with temperatures ranging from -22 to -30 C before the wind chill. Due to the cold, we had to keep a close eye on the corral. Later that week Gregory had the opportunity to turn our old bale processor […] Read more
There are many things to consider when selecting replacement heifers and that may include looking at health records to see if they had any BRD events in their past.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Bovine respiratory disease events may have a long-lasting effect

Early cases of bacterial infection could affect performance of replacement heifers

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For most cow-calf producers, the routine of selecting replacement heifers from their own calves or purchased animals involves a visual assessment of conformation, structural soundness, anticipated frame size, colour, weight, age and disposition. Occasionally, it may also include a lineage check. These are all important considerations but are there reasons to also look at lingering […] Read more
Cow 56 and the new calf finally bonded. After just a few times of having the calf nurse, the cow started licking the calf and accepting it as her own.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Grafting a calf made for a happy pair

It wasn't the usual orphan calf scenario, but the cow and calf finally bonded

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We started our calving season this year with a loss when cow number 56 lost her premature twins. This cow has always brought home a good calf, and one year even raised a set of twins on dry grass by herself. She’s always been decent to work with and not overly nervous or reactive, so […] Read more

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