Newborn calves are born with virtually no immunity of their own.

Tips for getting calves up and going

Great calving season advice from the Beef Cattle Research Council

Calving is a natural process. Most cows give birth to a healthy calf and everything goes as planned. However, there are times when things go wrong. Perhaps there is a malpresentation, such as a backwards arrival, or the calf’s foot is back. In some cases, calves may not take their first breath after a difficult […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle up with consumer beef demand

Demand, cash prices also support hogs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed higher on Tuesday, supported by strong consumer beef demand and a firming cash beef market, analysts said. “The demand for protein is strong,” said Altin Kalo, economist at Steiner Consulting Group. It’s people getting ready for the spring and restaurants opening […] Read more


Erin and Paul Kernaleguen have found that a change in forage production practices on their Saskatchewan farm has helped to reduce costs and benefit dairy production.

Dairy farmers see multiple benefits from forage blends

Input costs have been reduced and more acres returned to crop production

Dairy farmers Paul and Erin Kernaleguen near Birch Hills, Sask. say they’re convinced about the value of regenerative farming practices in growing forage crops for their cattle. They farm with Paul’s parents, Jos and Brenda Kernaleugen. “We were a conventional operation until 2012 when we started looking at doing things differently,” Paul says. “Our average […] Read more

The new normal in livestock feed biosecurity

Disease risk in imported feeds needs to be taken seriously

New research is showing that animal feed can carry major animal disease including African Swine Fever (ASF), says Scott Dee, veterinarian and director of applied research for Minnesota-based Pipestone Veterinary Services. In a presentation to hog producers at the Banff Pork Seminar earlier this winter, Dee gave an update on a rapidly changing world of […] Read more


The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

Klassen: Feeder market digests USDA acreage report

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Lower flesh yearlings appeared to trade $2-$3 higher in certain pockets of Alberta but replacements carrying excessive butter experienced severe discounts of $6 to as much as $10 in some cases. October and December live cattle futures made fresh contract highs, which underpinned […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs set new contract highs

June hogs turn lower before close

Chicago | Reuters — Strong meat demand pushed U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures to new contract highs on Monday. The cattle market benefited from increasing demand for beef as the U.S. is entering the summer grilling season, analysts said. Prices for choice cuts of boxed beef soared by $5.82, to $258.67/cwt, while select […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. pork processors face higher costs, slower speeds after court ruling

Chicago | Reuters — An industry group representing America’s biggest meatpackers on Thursday pushed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to appeal a federal court decision that canceled an agency rule that allows pork plants to slaughter pigs more quickly. The decision issued Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minnesota could raise costs for meatpackers like […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger (20,2) bands and CME lean hog index (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures notch contract highs

Chicago live cattle retreat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday, with several contract months including the benchmark June setting life-of-contract highs on firm cash markets and strong demand for pork, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June lean hogs settled up 1.025 cents at 106.325 cents/lb., after recording a contract high at 106.725 cents (all […] Read more


Even small changes in production practices is doing your part toward environmental sustainability.

Eco-anxiety and why it matters on the farm

Working toward positive solutions is important to the future of our farms and ranches

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Eco-anxiety (EA) is defined as a “deep fear of environmental doom and human catastrophe.” EA can bring on the same symptoms as the more familiar types of anxiety such as panic attacks, sleeplessness and depression. So how does this matter to your farm or ranch? Firstly, you may […] Read more