Backgrounding Archives - Page 2 of 3

Producers discuss value of good records

Herd Management: Which to cull, when to market,  just some of questions answered

By Beef Cattle Research Council March 28, 2018

This is part one of three Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) articles on the value of keeping records for commercial beef herds. Parts two and three are available on the blog at www.beefresearch.ca. There is also a good sidebar report on new record-keeping software and iPhone App (the Herdly App) available from the Canadian Cattleman’s […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market sends mixed signals

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 13, 2018

Compared to last week, western Canadian average yearling prices were steady to $3 lower while heavier replacements above 1,000 lbs. actively traded $3 to as much as $6 lower. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures, along with rising feed grain prices, caused buyers to lower their bids accordingly. Steers averaging 1,000 lbs. were readily trading […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Market message: Time to cut beef production

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: The market will bounce back temporarily, but producers should consider liquidating cows

By Jerry Klassen February 7, 2018

Western Canadian cattle prices have been quite volatile over the past month. Alberta fed cattle prices climbed higher for seven weeks in a row from late November through the first week of January. Alberta packer bids rose from $147 to highs of $167 during this time. The finished market appeared to divorce from the live […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Today’s cash cattle market is deceiving

Market Update: It will be a different market in late 2018 compared to late 2017

By Jerry Klassen January 10, 2018

It’s that time of year when most feedlot and backgrounding operations are running near full capacity and the focus turns to marketing. The live and feeder cattle futures had been quite volatile over the past month when this was written in late December, which can make cattle producers quite nervous. While the futures market has […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle market surges

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News October 17, 2017

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced a precipitous bounce over the past week. Compared to seven days earlier, yearling traded $4-$6 higher; calf markets were trading $3 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels; prices for feather-light bawlers surged with 300- to 400-pounders touching the magical $300 level in some areas. Optimal weather enhanced […] Read more

Easy weaning and putting yearlings onto pasture or grass hay can help transition them into backgrounding.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Ease weaned calves into backgrounding

It is difficult if not impossible to recover losses due to sick animals

By Heather Smith Thomas December 22, 2016

Some ranchers hold calves over as yearlings, and some buy light calves in the spring to put on grass and gain weight. Some calves go into a confinement program and are fed a growing ration until they are ready to enter a finishing facility. Backgrounding covers a spectrum of situations that includes preconditioning before and […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

More thoughts on market options

You may not need a price premium to see benefits of preconditioned calves

By Lee Hart November 22, 2016

Market analyst Jerry Klassen in his recent column isn’t painting a very bright cattle price outlook picture heading into this winter and early into 2017. An oversupply of beef in the U.S. and Canada is holding prices down. And of course those pork guys continue to push more product out the door — a lot […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner

A pound is a pound, right?

Some simple changes in production and management can add extra value to cattle

By Sean McGrath February 26, 2016

Over the past year we’ve had unparalleled high prices in the beef industry, but with the last few months representing one of the largest price declines in the history of the industry. Yet prices are still relatively profitable for the cow-calf industry. Not so for cattle feeders, who have just undergone a period of historic […] Read more

These yearlings, working on their third pass this grazing season through this paddock of brassica, legume and grass forage blend appeared to find all the forage types very palatable.

Cattleman’s Corner

Forage blend really produced the feed

A pasture seed mix with 10 to 12 different forages shone in a somewhat mediocre growing season

By Lee Hart December 18, 2015

For the beef handlers at Walter Farms in central Alberta it was actually a good sign — a neighbour called one day to alert them to the fact the cows were in a field of canola or corn or some type of good-looking cash crop. While the neighbour’s concern was appreciated, the cowmen weren’t worried. […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Cattle margins struggling amidst lower prices

Market Update with Jerry Klassen

By Jerry Klassen December 16, 2015

Western Canadian fed and feeder cattle prices have experienced severe volatility over the past month and it appears that this price behaviour will continue over the winter. While the market continues to factor in growing beef supplies, retail and restaurant demand remains uncertain. Alberta packers have been buying fed cattle in the range of $170 […] Read more

GFM Network News

Selling GMO tomato seeds to Canadian gardeners ‘reckless’ say advocates

U.S. grains: Wheat recovers on short covering, soy continues to fall

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures lower on falling beef prices, selling

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