Cattle producers in the western provinces will get extra decision-making time this year on the calf price insurance available through Western Livestock Price Insurance (WLPIP). The Prairies’ Crown ag insurance corporations announced Thursday that the deadline to buy WLPIP calf price insurance for 2020 has been extended to June 18. The new deadline, reset from […] Read more
Tag Archives calf
WLPIP calf price insurance deadline extended
Three-week extension includes nine purchasing days
The economists are right
Knowing your cost of production really does make a difference
As I write this article we are amid coronavirus and a limit-down cattle market for several days in a row. For the record, I am not admitting the economists were right about this event. But as I am redoing our yearly plan, reassessing our risk strategies and adjusting costs on the fly, I have to […] Read more
Breeding strategies might break the accepted mould
Think about what you're trying to achieve and the best way to get there
A change in direction for a cow-calf producer’s operation is sometimes required for a wide range of reasons from market shifts to personal finances. To modify breeding strategies or reproductive timelines and tactics, several decisions need to be made. Billy Whitehurst, owner and operator of Makale Livestock in Whitehall, Montana, has been in the cattle […] Read more
Cattle market absorbs recessionary factors
Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Experience shows it will take months for the market to recover
North America and the world economy in general will move into contraction phase during 2020. Negative economic data is starting to come out for the first couple of months of the year. Early estimates have Canadian and U.S. GDP contracting by two to four per cent in the first quarter and as much as eight […] Read more
Getting orphaned calves adopted
If no foster mother is available, proper feed is vital
Many ranchers have raised calves on bottles (a twin, a heifer’s calf that isn’t accepted by its mother, or a calf whose mother died) and it’s very easy with a newborn or young calf. The main thing is to make sure the calf had colostrum within the first hours (from its own mother or another […] Read more
Causes of calf scours can be difficult to identify
There is no simple test to be able to identify what causes scours in calves
Scours is the most common illness and cause of death in young calves. Some years are worse than others for scours outbreaks, and there are many causes including certain kinds of bacteria, viruses or protozoa. Whether calves get sick depends on many factors including exposure (contact with pathogens, either by coming in contact with a […] Read more
Getting newborn calves off to a good start
Colostrum intake soon after birth is critical in first few hours
The most important day of a calf’s life is the first one. There are key factors that play a role in whether a baby calf gets off to a good start and research has demonstrated that the first 24 hours of life are critical for a calf to survive to weaning and beyond. Dystocia, or […] Read more
There is a reason pregnant cows prefer to isolate
Being alone at calving is natural, and improves bonding
The act of a pregnant cow seeking isolation and birthing a calf without interruption to establish a strong and healthy bond is never guaranteed. It can be a fragile chain of events in need of support. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Beef Systems extension educator Aaron Berger sees the process as complex. “Weather conditions, the environment the […] Read more
Use records to make better herd management decisions
Record-keeping can help identify areas of strength and weakness
When farmers and ranchers discuss herd management over coffee at the local diner, there is often a glazed look on many of the faces as they nod robotically in agreement with the speaker. “Herd management” has become a fancy all-encompassing term that by its sheer size can suck the air from any room. Every producer […] Read more
Good producer ideas improve cattle management
You never know how sporting goods store supplies can benefit beef production
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
Grainews blogs
Grainews is written for farmers and often by farmers. It is about putting theory into practice on the farm. Each issue also features Cattleman’s Corner for cow-calf producers and farmers with mixed cattle and grain operations.