Livestock & Production Tips

Klassen: Grassers and herd rebuilding confidence keeps feeders elevated

Major grazing regions of Western Canada receive more than double of normal precipitation in last month

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 5, 2024

The major grazing regions of Western Canada have received over 200 per cent of normal precipitation over the past 30 days. Grassers were red hot. Demand has also increased for herd building heifers which has diminished supplies for finishing feedlots.

Pascal Houle, Chief Executive Officer of Sollio Cooperative Group at its 2024 annual general meeting. (CNW Group/Sollio Cooperative Group)

General, Livestock

Olymel parent company posts profit after plant closures

The company closed plants in Ontario, Quebec, and slowed production in the west in 2023

By Geralyn Wichers, GFM Network News March 4, 2024

Sollio Cooperative Group, parent company of meat processor Olymel, says it’s back in the black after a period of losses led to closures and cut-backs.

Beef cows’ TDN energy maintenance requirements generally increase about two per cent for every degree Celsius drop in temperature below freezing.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Beef cows in good condition, feed accordingly

Optimize cows' condition with target diets based on the animals' BCS

By Peter Vitti February 29, 2024

A warm start to winter has caused many beef cows after weaning to come off pasture in decent shape. Some of these cows are not truly obese, but they retained a lot of flesh. Those beef cows in optimum body condition should be put on a nutritious feeding program that maintains them until they calve […] Read more

When commercial and managed-money positions are at an extreme low or high, that represents a turning signal for the market.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Understanding the Commitments of Traders report

The U.S. report, released every Friday, is an important indicator of cattle market movement

By Jerry Klassen February 29, 2024

Who is long? Who is short? How much of each? This is the most important market information when studying the futures markets. The Commitments of Traders (CoT) report is released every Friday afternoon by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and shows the trading positions of market participants as of Tuesday’s close. Whether you […] Read more

General, Livestock, Reuters

New York sues meatpacking giant JBS over climate claims

Attorney general calls company's emissions goals 'infeasible'

By Reuters, GFM Network News February 28, 2024

JBS, the world's largest beef producer, was sued on Wednesday by New York state's attorney general, which accused it of misleading the public about its impact on the environment in order to boost sales.

Photo: Michelle Erickson-Jones/iStock/Getty Images

Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Statistics Canada confirms lower feeder cattle supplies

Precipitation in Alberta, Saskatchewan increases demand for grassers

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 27, 2024

Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling or backgrounded steers prices were quoted $5 to $8 higher; yearling or backgrounded heifers were unchanged to $4 higher. Calves were trading $4 to as much as $10 higher.

It makes sense to place positivity and profit above production values on ranches.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Rethinking ranch priorities

Positivity and profit can be more important priorities than production

By Sean McGrath February 23, 2024

The beginning of a New Year marks a good time to work on planning for the year ahead. I believe we should be planning for “Profitivity” on our farms and ranches. Profitivity is a combination of profitability, productivity and positivity. For an operation to thrive, these three things are important to get right. Profit and […] Read more

General, Livestock

Canadian cattle herd reaches lowest level since 1989

Cattle weights supporting decline in production

By Geralyn Wichers, GFM Network News February 23, 2024

On January 1, Canadian farmers held 11.1 million cattle and calves on farms, down 2.1 per cent from a year prior, StatCan said in livestock estimates released today. It's the smallest cattle herd since January 1, 1989.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Quick bacteria test in water troughs could improve livestock treatment decisions

By John Greig February 23, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Researchers are seeking ways to manage antimicrobial-resistant bacteria on farms, including quicker evaluation of bacteria so treatment can be better targeted. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and University of Saskatchewan veterinary school researchers are studying feedlot water troughs, hoping the water can tell them what sort of anti-microbial resistant bacteria are present. Antimicrobial […] Read more

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence want to know if bull neck collars that are supposed to alert producers when they detect cows in heat actually work.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Automating heat detection

Researchers test whether monitoring technology will predict reproductive cycles

By Glacier FarmMedia staff, Karen Briere February 21, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Labour challenges on cattle farms could be alleviated by sensors now being tested to help detect females in heat. Dr. Dinesh Dadarwal, a veterinarian and assistant professor in large animal science at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence tests technology so producers can make […] Read more

Daily Network News

Canadian Cattle Association won’t back traceability changes

Farmers’ Almanac rescued from closure; fate of Canadian content unknown

Do More Ag to fund rural groups’ mental health workshops

Livestock