(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle prices lukewarm on mixed factors

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were steady to $2 higher compared to week-ago levels. All weight classes experienced lukewarm buying interest, despite improving margins in the feedlot sector. Most auction barns experienced minimal numbers; cow-calf producers are holding back on sales hoping for stronger values and extreme cold temperatures hindered cattle movement, especially in the […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

More bovine TB quarantines still expected

Tracking an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis through southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan is still expected to lead to more quarantines of more Prairie cattle ranches, though no new controls have been imposed since before Christmas. As of Wednesday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported no new cases of bovine TB in its investigation, beyond the […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Demand for shortkeep feeders drives complex higher

Most auction barns were in holiday mode last week, which made the market hard to define. However, comments from local buyers suggest demand is building for shorter-term replacements due to healthy feedlot margins. Small groups were on offer with limited numbers available, and there was a wide range on similar weight classes across the Prairies. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

No TB quarantines lifted over holidays

None of the 50 ranch properties still under federal quarantine for bovine tuberculosis in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan have been released in the past two weeks, officials reported Thursday. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday resumed regular updates on its ongoing investigation into cases of bovine TB in the area. As of Thursday, […] Read more


beef on a winter pasture

Important to maintain proper BCS

Cattleman's Corner: Cows looking good going into winter still need to be fed

Warm temperatures and lots of rain right into fall regenerated pastures producing plenty of nutritious grasses for cattle. Many gestating cows are going into the winter, healthy and in decent shape. By feeding them well-balanced overwintering diets, we can continue this momentum, so these beef cows can get through a typical cold winter and be […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market starts new year on firm tone

February live cattle futures reached six-month highs during the last week of 2016, which quickly spilled over into western Canadian feeder cattle markets. While most auction barns were closed for the holiday season, there was some direct off-farm-to-feedlot movement. Limited sales were reported, but values were $2-$6 higher compared to the third week of December. […] Read more


(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures mixed on end-of-year positioning

Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were narrowly mixed on Friday, paring earlier steep gains on end-of-year positioning, traders said. Stronger bids for cattle in U.S. Plains cash markets underpinned prices. But some investors took profits after most-active February futures hit an eight-month high before turning slightly lower. Despite the recent rally, cattle […] Read more

Watch for newer respiratory pathogens

Watch for newer respiratory pathogens

Animal Health: One is a virus, the other a bacteria — both can be hard to identify

We have all heard of coronavirus being one of the main causes of viral scours in newborn calves. It alone, with a couple strains of rotavirus, are the two main viruses we see in scours vaccines. It also causes a winter dysentery (bloody diarrhea) in mature cattle, especially housed dairy cattle in the winter. What […] Read more