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Beef Cattle

Tightening the calving season
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Tightening the calving season

How to increase profitability through calving distribution

By
A video produced by the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) can help producers calculate the benefits of tightening up the calving season, to increase the pounds of beef produced by weaning. According to the BCRC, calving distribution is the percentage of calves born in each 21-day cycle throughout the calving season. Each time a cow […] Read more
(Fevziie Ryman/iStock/Getty Images)
Beef Cattle, Livestock, Reuters

Several countries ban Brazilian beef as BSE probe goes on

Russia among those halting imports

By
Sao Paulo | Reuters — The Brazilian agriculture ministry said on Thursday that Thailand, Iran and Jordan have temporarily suspended imports of beef from Brazil while authorities investigate a case of BSE in an animal from Para state, according to a statement sent to Reuters. The ministry also confirmed that Russia has halted imports from […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Calves jump on corn outlook

Softer barley values underpin yearling market

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Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 to as much as $12 above week-ago levels. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $332-$335 delivered, up $5-$8 from last week. Stronger fed cattle prices and softer barley values underpinned the yearling market. Buyers were finicky […] Read more
Machine learning and artificial intelligence are expected to expand in the livestock-handling sector as labour shortages grow.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Processing cattle with artificial intelligence 

Machine learning is now part of high-tech livestock handling equipment

By
Many and perhaps most livestock operations still require physical labour and manual record-keeping for handling equipment and processing cattle. While head gates, squeeze chutes, gates, alleys and tubs have become more advanced in their operation, some human strength, exertion and neural competence are still required for their manipulation. But one company says that may change. […] Read more
While retaining or buying heifers are the two most common replacement strategies, they are far from the only options.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

More than one way to get replacement cows

The general rule of an annual 10 per cent turnover in the cow herd may be an underestimate

By
I had the privilege of presenting a replacement female course in the Maritimes this fall (after three years or so of COVID, and airport-related delays). It provided a good opportunity to take some time to think through replacement strategies and the actual issues surrounding replacements. Most of us underestimate the replacement rate of our cow […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes after recent climb

Calf prices in Manitoba show premium over Alberta

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Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Replacements weighing 650-800 lbs. appeared to traded steady to $4 higher while calves under 650 lbs. were steady to $4 lower. The cost per pound gain is reaching unprecedented levels and fleshier cattle were discounted quite severely in some cases. […] Read more
There is nothing wrong with letting a sleeping calf lie but pay attention in case the calf might be suffering from some ailment and is not just resting. A little extra attention in calving season helps to spot health problems while they still can be corrected.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Miscellaneous health problems in calves

Animal Health: A little extra time spent checking newborn calves might help reduce losses

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It has always been my premise that spending a bit more time on specific cases during the calving season may reap benefits for those calves with ailments. I know one must spend their time wisely at calving season, but even just keeping a cow-calf pair in isolation a bit longer may be all that is […] Read more
CME May 2023 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average and CME March 2023 feeder cattle (brown O/H/L/C). (Barchart)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Canadian feeder market rationing demand

Demand from Ontario remains aggressive

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Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were up $4-$6 while calf markets traded $6 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels. May feeder cattle futures are trading at a $8 premium to the nearby March contract. The carrying charge in the futures market has encouraged buyers to step forward sooner rather than […] Read more
The nutritional requirements of calved-out first-calf heifers is much different than that of mature cows, yet the feed needs to be presented into a denser post-calving diet due to the heifers’ smaller dry matter intake (DMI) and lower forage gut-capacity.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

First-calf heifers need to be prepared for rebreeding

They need to calve in good condition and then be kept in good condition as they also continue to grow and nurse a calf

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It’s easy to envision beef heifers that give birth to their first calf only as a younger version of mature brood cows. However, they do have extra challenges after calving that must be addressed to get rebred in the next few months. As young animals, giving birth for the first time and nursing a newborn […] Read more
On the McGrath ranch they manage grazing at a very intensive level with various record keeping apps, charts, monitoring points and other systems in place.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Calculating ‘cow bushels per acre’

Most grain crops are measured by bushels per acre, so why not do the same for forage?

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If you’re familiar with grain farming, the term “bushels per acre” is a common frame of reference for measuring yield. There are nuances around this, such as moisture level, bushel weight and protein content, but bushels per acre is a relatively well understood industry standard. When we think about a lot of the cow-calf industry […] Read more

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