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Beef Cattle

First calf heifers are maturing, feeding a calf, and often going through teeth changes at the same time.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

The teenage years, beef cow edition

First-calf beef heifers are going through the biggest challenges of their lives and need some support

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Anyone reading this column who has been a teenager or has raised one can appreciate how challenging and interesting those years can be. Even good teenagers can be expensive. In our beef cattle production systems, the teenage role is filled by replacement heifers, and like teenagers a bit of understanding about the changes they are […] Read more
Kit Pharo says ranchers can increase their production per acre and their profitability.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

A key to cattle business survival

Produce more pounds of beef per acre versus more pounds per cow, this U.S. rancher says

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North America producers are receiving higher prices for cattle than ever before — “yet very few are really profitable,” Kit Pharo says. Most cow-calf producers “are too dependent on outside inputs, which are also at record-high costs,” says Pharo, who operates Pharo Cattle Company in Colorado and was the keynote speaker at the recent Holistic […] Read more
The U.S. calf crop for 2023 came in at 33.593 million head, down 846,500 from the 2022 calf crop of 34.44 million.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Lower U.S. calf crop supports cattle complex

Conditions are developing that should support record calf prices next fall

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The Alberta fed cattle market remains under pressure due to a buildup of market-ready cattle, larger carcass weights and seasonally low demand. During the last week of January, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $360-$365 per hundredweight delivered. Live bids f.o.b. feedlot in southern Alberta were quoted […] Read more
Beef cows’ TDN energy maintenance requirements generally increase about two per cent for every degree Celsius drop in temperature below freezing.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Beef cows in good condition, feed accordingly

Optimize cows' condition with target diets based on the animals' BCS

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A warm start to winter has caused many beef cows after weaning to come off pasture in decent shape. Some of these cows are not truly obese, but they retained a lot of flesh. Those beef cows in optimum body condition should be put on a nutritious feeding program that maintains them until they calve […] Read more
When commercial and managed-money positions are at an extreme low or high, that represents a turning signal for the market.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Understanding the Commitments of Traders report

The U.S. report, released every Friday, is an important indicator of cattle market movement

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Who is long? Who is short? How much of each? This is the most important market information when studying the futures markets. The Commitments of Traders (CoT) report is released every Friday afternoon by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and shows the trading positions of market participants as of Tuesday’s close. Whether you […] Read more
It makes sense to place positivity and profit above production values on ranches.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Rethinking ranch priorities

Positivity and profit can be more important priorities than production

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The beginning of a New Year marks a good time to work on planning for the year ahead. I believe we should be planning for “Profitivity” on our farms and ranches. Profitivity is a combination of profitability, productivity and positivity. For an operation to thrive, these three things are important to get right. Profit and […] Read more
Measures to reduce the spread of Johne’s on calving grounds can help manage the disease, as young calves are more susceptible to the disease.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Calculator can analyze Johne’s options

The online tool provides producers with a range of management scenarios for their herds

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Glacier FarmMedia — With no treatment or vaccine available, the impact of Johne’s disease on beef herds can be a nightmare. “Johne’s disease is particularly challenging to manage because we have so few options,” says Dr. Cheryl Waldner, professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine. To help beef producers make better […] Read more

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