Beef Cattle & Production Tips

Cows need their space at calving — even just a few minutes alone so they can properly bond with the calf.

There is a reason pregnant cows prefer to isolate

Being alone at calving is natural, and improves bonding

By Bruce Derksen March 5, 2020

The act of a pregnant cow seeking isolation and birthing a calf without interruption to establish a strong and healthy bond is never guaranteed. It can be a fragile chain of events in need of support. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Beef Systems extension educator Aaron Berger sees the process as complex. “Weather conditions, the environment the […] Read more

An image created by Nexu Science Communication, together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus, the type of virus linked to COVID-19. (Nexu Science Communication via Reuters)

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Coronavirus fears weigh on feeder markets

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 3, 2020

Western Canadian feeder prices were not immune to the meltdown of financial and commodity markets last week. Buyers appeared to incorporate a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand over the next few months. Compared to last week, larger groups of quality yearlings traded $3-$5 lower while smaller packages were down $4 to as […] Read more

There are a number of tools and apps available to make herd management easier for even the most technologically challenged.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Use records to make better herd management decisions

Record-keeping can help identify areas of strength and weakness

By Bruce Derksen February 25, 2020

When farmers and ranchers discuss herd management over coffee at the local diner, there is often a glazed look on many of the faces as they nod robotically in agreement with the speaker. “Herd management” has become a fancy all-encompassing term that by its sheer size can suck the air from any room. Every producer […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Calves remain firm while yearlings falter

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 25, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower while calves and grassers traded within $5 on either side of unchanged. Calves were extremely variable with similar weight cattle sometimes trading $6-$8 apart at the same sale. Supplies of calves coming on the market appear to be lower than last year. This may […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock

Ontario offers cash for abattoir upgrades

Applications now being accepted through April

By Glacier FarmMedia staff, GFM Network News February 20, 2020

Ontario’s 123 provincially-licensed abattoirs can now start applying for a piece of $2 million in federal/provincial funding to step up food safety, biosecurity and animal welfare measures. The Ontario and federal governments on Wednesday announced applications for cost-share funding can be submitted between now and April 30, “as long as funding for the initiative is […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Calf prices divorce from yearling markets

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 18, 2020

Compared to last week, yearling prices were steady to as much as $4 lower depending on the region in Western Canada. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at an average price of $252 on a dressed basis, down $6-$8 from last week and down about $20 from the last week of January. Weakness in fed […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Analyzing the cattle-on-feed reports

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: What looks like bearish news is sometimes the opposite 

By Jerry Klassen February 14, 2020

The Alberta and Saskatchewan cattle-on-feed reports can provide valuable information for cow-calf producers and backgrounding operators. Finishing feedlots often pay attention to the main numbers in the cattle-on-feed reports but fail to look at fine details such as the feeder cattle placements by weight category. In some cases, media reports suggest the report is bearish […] Read more

Most of the time cows handle calving just fine on their own, but producers should also be watching and ready in case something does go wrong.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

No single measure ensures successful calving season — Part 2

Animal Health with Roy Lewis: Looking after the details will pay dividends later

By Roy Lewis February 12, 2020

I wish the more experienced producers could share with others the little things they do and watch for when checking cattle at calving time. Watch for problem signs such as bloody discharge from the vagina, or meconium (first feces) in the water bag, indicating the calf is stressed and needs to be extracted. Some producers […] Read more

Taste-testing during a Canadian Beef Advantage Seminar in Shanghai in 2013. (Canada Beef via YouTube)

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 11, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearling and heavier calves were down $2-$4 on average. The calf market was hard to define; Alberta markets traded $3 lower to $4 higher but notable strength was evident in Saskatchewan and Manitoba where values were steady to $4 higher. Favourable weather contributed to higher auction market […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Stronger fed cattle market supports feeders

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Market-ready supplies to go from one extreme to the other

By Jerry Klassen February 6, 2020

As January unfolded, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $275 to $280 on a dressed basis and $165 to $168 on a live basis. Prices are trading near 52-week highs and up approximately $10 on a live basis from mid-December. Feedlot margins are hovering between $40 to $60 per head. Market-ready […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle hit contract highs on tight supply

U.S. grains: Soybeans tumble on doubts over U.S.-China trade progress

Alberta harvest wrapping up: report

Beef Cattle

There is a reason pregnant cows prefer to isolate

Klassen: Coronavirus fears weigh on feeder markets

Use records to make better herd management decisions

Klassen: Calves remain firm while yearlings falter

Ontario offers cash for abattoir upgrades

Klassen: Calf prices divorce from yearling markets

Analyzing the cattle-on-feed reports

No single measure ensures successful calving season — Part 2

Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market

Stronger fed cattle market supports feeders

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Sept. 5, 2025

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