Livestock & Production Tips

Tristan and Aubyn Banwell

Outstanding Young Farmers 2024: How this ranch moved from traditional commercial channels into direct organic meat marketing

By Lee Hart November 8, 2024

Spray Creek Ranch in southwestern B.C. has the land, the livestock, a well-established market and even a new abattoir built on the farm. Now it just needs a butcher. The organic direct-to-consumer meat business that Tristan and Aubyn Banwell have built over the past 10 years on their ranch, near Lillooet, is still flourishing as […] Read more

Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File

Livestock, News, Reuters

US expands bird flu testing after finding symptom-free infections in people

By Deena Beasley, Leah Douglas, Reuters November 8, 2024

Farm workers who have been exposed to animals with bird flu should be tested for the virus even if they do not have symptoms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

File photo of a steak sandwich with chimichurri sauce at a street food market in Buenos Aires. (Aleksandr_Vorobev/iStock/Getty Images)

Livestock, News, Reuters

Argentine beef exports hit highest level in more than five decades

By Reuters November 7, 2024

Argentina's beef exports during the first nine months of this year rose to their highest level in 57 years, as shipments of one of the South American country's best-known food staples grew among buyers in the United States and neighboring Chile.

Crops, Livestock, Markets

Feed Grain Weekly: Barley preferred over corn at feedlots

By Adam Peleshaty November 7, 2024

Barley seems to be the preferred grain over corn at feedlots in the Lethbridge, Alta.-area during the week ended Nov. 7, 2024.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Livestock, Reuters

UK confirms bird flu cases at commercial poultry farm

By Reuters November 6, 2024

The UK government said on Tuesday that cases of bird flu had been confirmed in commercial poultry at premises in Yorkshire, hours after it increased the risk level of the disease from medium to high.

Once calves are weaned, there are options for when they can be marketed.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Pencil out the investment in a background feeding program

Better Bunks and Pastures: Knowing the numbers can help dictate whether calves should be sold or retained

By Peter Vitti November 5, 2024

As most of the leaves have fallen, many spring calves are being weaned. It’s also the time when many people determine whether their weaned calves are immediately sold or held back for further feeding. Record-high prices, especially on the weaned calf side of the market, should have everyone penciling out the feasibility of continued backgrounding […] Read more

China’s pork production in the third quarter fell 0.8 per cent from a year earlier, government data showed on Friday, falling on an annual basis for a third consecutive quarter as poor meat consumption hampered slaughter rates. Photo: Deyanarobova/iStock/Getty Images

Hogs, Livestock, News

Pork representatives meet with parliamentarians

By Adam Peleshaty November 5, 2024

Representatives from the Canadian Meat Council and the Canadian Pork Council met with parliamentarians as well as government and industry officials in Ottawa earlier this week.

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market holds at higher levels

By Jerry Klassen November 5, 2024

For the week ending November 2, Western Canadian yearling and calf markets were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. Strong demand continues to support the feeder complex at historical high prices.

Beef Cattle, Hogs, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit contract highs as strong demand fuels rally

By Heather Schlitz, Reuters November 1, 2024

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures set new contract highs on Friday as strong domestic and export demand, particularly for U.S. pork bellies and ham, drove the market upward, analysts said. Live cattle futures touched a one-month low, while feeder cattle recovered after reaching the lowest price in more than five […] Read more

Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Dairy farm milk price drops for 2025

By John Greig November 1, 2024

The Canadian Dairy Commission announced Nov. 1, 2024 that a decline in feed prices and the stabilization of other costs on dairy farms across the country means that the benchmark on-farm price for milk will decline by 0.0237 per cent starting in February 2025.

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures higher on screwworm news

Trade mission heads for Japan as Canada becomes the country’s top pork supplier

U.S. grains: Soybeans drop on lack of Chinese demand, wheat hits contract lows

GFM Network News