Less shrinkage is worth much more money at today’s calf prices, so good weaning programs for valuable beef calves are worth it.
Beef Cattle
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
Canadian cattle herd moves into expansion phase
The Markets: Heifer retention has started and is expected to grow into 2026
Beef heifer retention has started in Canada, according to Statistics Canada, and is expected to grow into 2026.
Klassen: Highs in place for the feeder market
For the week ending October 4, Western Canadian grass yearling markets traded steady to $5-$8/cwt lower on average compared to seven days earlier. Backgrounded yearlings were down $5-$12/cwt. Calf markets were down $5 to $10/cwt from a week earlier. There was an influx of calves over the past week which resulted in the softer tone […] Read more
Metagenomics change how cattle diseases are diagnosed
Researchers are using metagenomics to identify disease impacting beef cattle through bacteria, pathogens and viruses
Canadian livestock researchers are now using metagenomics to speed up the identification of diseases impacting beef cattle through bacteria, pathogens and viruses alike.
U.S. livestock: Cattle markets up ahead of report
Cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were stronger on Friday, with positioning ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest cattle on feed report behind much of the activity. The report came out after the markets closed, with placements in August down 10 per cent on the year at 1.78 million head and marketings […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle markets mostly higher
Cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were mostly higher on Monday, although the nearby October live cattle contract settled with small losses at the final bell. The October live cattle contract lost 0.175 cents per pound at 235.800 cents while the December contract was up 0.125 cents at 237.575 cents. October feeder cattle futures […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking pressures cattle futures
Cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were weaker on Friday, with chart-based positioning a feature as the market continued to back away from nearby record highs. The United States Department of Agriculture reported weekly U.S. beef export sales of 16,600 tonnes, which was up 22 per cent on the week and 51 per cent […] Read more
Feed Grains Weekly: Price likely to keep stepping back
Expected to drop passed last year’s lows
As the harvest in southern Alberta presses on, a broker said that is one of the factors pulling feed prices lower in the region. Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, added that lower cattle numbers in feedlots, plentiful amounts of grass for cattle to graze and a lacklustre export market also weighed on feed prices.
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.
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb higher to end week
Cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were stronger on Friday, finding some support from fresh details on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plans to deal with new world screwworm.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
