Beef Cattle & Production Tips

Brightly coloured dog collars are useful to Rob Somerville in locating calves that needed treatment or extra attention.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Good producer ideas improve cattle management

You never know how sporting goods store supplies can benefit beef production

By Beef Cattle Research Council February 4, 2020

How can colourful dog collars and game cameras help to improve beef production and management? The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), is always interested in hearing from producers about how often simple ideas not only reduce the workload but ultimately produce more pounds of beef. From a BCRC blog posting last fall, here a few […] Read more

CME June 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 4, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 lower in Alberta while prices eroded by $2-$5 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Noticeable weakness was evident in yearling prices, while grass cattle experienced limited slippage. Backgrounding operators are starting to liquidate fall-placed calves. Quality was quite variable, with fleshier cattle experiencing sharper […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market lacks buying interest

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 29, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$5 lower on average. Values in Alberta were relatively unchanged but markets in the eastern Prairie regions appeared to trade $4 to as much as $6 below week-ago levels. Alberta yearlings were relatively unchanged, but noticeable slippage was noted in the non-major feeding regions. Feedlots […] Read more

A transmission electron microscopy image of the first isolated case of the new 2019 coronavirus, as obtained by Reuters on Jan. 27, 2020. (Handout image courtesy IVDC, China CDC via Reuters)

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Virus concerns add more uncertainty to cattle market

By GFM Network News January 27, 2020

MarketsFarm — Cattle futures in Chicago dropped hard over the past few days, as mounting concerns over the new coronavirus in China triggered a broad-based selloff in global equities and commodities. While the virus adds an extra layer of uncertainty to the North American cattle market, expectations for solid beef demand should remain supportive for […] Read more

It is important cows and calves be monitored closely or given the space to ensure they get mothered up correctly and the calf get’s sucking.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Pairing up is critical at calving — Part 1

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

By Roy Lewis January 22, 2020

Calving time (winter and spring) will soon be upon us, bringing the excitement of seeing what the next calf crop will be like. Several good practice tips emerge from my experience working with many great cow-calf managers over the years I hope some of these ideas will lead you to save more, and more productive, […] Read more

File photo of cattle seeking shade in Namibia. (Brytta/iStock/Getty Images)

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Reuters

Namibia looks to import cattle as drought decimates herds

By Reuters, GFM Network News January 21, 2020

Windhoek | Reuters — Namibian state-owned meat processing and marketing firm Meatco is in talks with neighbour Botswana to import cattle, as severe drought decimates local herds and threatens beef export deals with China and European countries. The southern African desert nation moved closer to famine last month after dam levels fell below 20 per […] Read more

CME May 2020 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Large feedlot inventories lower feeder demand

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 21, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged and mid-weight feeders (600-850 lbs.) were steady to $2 lower, but calves under 600 lbs. were unchanged to as much as $10 lower. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies, which made the market hard to define. The market appeared […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market starts 2020 on steady tone

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 14, 2020

Compared to last week, short-keep replacement cattle and feeders in the mid-weight categories were steady to $3 lower on average; feeder cattle under 600 lbs. traded $2 lower to as much as $5 higher. Featherlight calves remain strong trading at similar levels to late December. Most auction markets resumed their regular sales schedules last week. […] Read more

Consumer spending has been a major pillar of the U.S. economy, contributing to among other things, stronger beef demand.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Demand continues for U.S. beef

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: American consumers have more disposable income

By Jerry Klassen January 10, 2020

As of mid-December, Alberta fed cattle were trading in the range of $152 to $155, up approximately $10 to $12 from a month earlier. The February and April live cattle futures continued to trade near contract highs due to the uncertainty in beef production during the first quarter of 2020. It appears that beef production […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Grazed standing corn will need supplements

A great feed source, but added protein may be needed as winter progresses

By Peter Vitti January 8, 2020

Putting beef cows out to tramp through the snow to graze standing corn has become more popular in the last few years. It’s relatively low-cost forage which can make up a sizeable portion of a pregnant cow’s overwinter diet because whole corn plants (with ears) can provide a significant amount of dietary energy and protein. […] 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