At the Eppich famly ranch in western Saskatchewan, the fall harvest was successful with few breakdowns, cows and calves have been sorted and a new tractor has arrived
Tag Archives calves
Harvest wraps up and fall work begins
Eppich News: Appreciation for a bountiful and efficient 2025 harvest
Klassen: Feedlots scale down cattle purchases
For the week ending November 22, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $10/cwt lower on average. Earlier in the week, the heavier weight categories came under pressure while cattle under 700 pounds held value. However, by Friday, all weight ranges exhibited a softer tone. Feedlots are coming to the realization that the fed […] Read more
Klassen: Beef demand uncertainty weighs on feeder market
For the week ending November 15, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $8-$10/cwt below values from seven days earlier. The cash market held value early in the week as the feeder cattle futures experienced a fortuitous bounce. However, weaker feedlot margins and longer term uncertainty regarding beef demand resulted in a softer tone in the […] Read more
High prices make cow culling decisions easier
Better Bunks and Pastures: There’s some flexibility around good cows that aren’t pregnant, but poor cows should be culled
There’s some flexibility around good cows that aren’t pregnant, depending on the philosphy of the ranch, but poor-productivity cows should be culled, livestock nutritionist Peter Vitti says.
Klassen: Weaker fed market weighs on feeder cattle prices
For the week ending November 8, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10-$20/cwt below values from seven days earlier. Some packages weighing from 600 to 850 pounds were down as much as $30 from week-ago levels. The April live cattle futures fell $10/cwt over the course of the week while Alberta barley prices gained $5-$8/cwt. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market drops sharply
For the week ending November 1, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $15-$30/cwt lower compared to seven days earlier. Cash feeder markets were off by $30-$40/cwt early in the week but then marginally recovered on Wednesday as the feeder cattle futures market stabilized. There were a few exceptions. Higher quality yearlings over 800 pounds coming […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market softens on weaker demand
For the week ending October 25, Western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $10/cwt below prices from the previous week. Calves in the range of 550 pounds to 850 pounds were down $8 to $12 on average while feeders under 550 pounds were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. U.S. government comments regarding the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market extends rally
Western Canadian yearling prices traded back up to historical highs over the week ended Oct. 18, while calf markets made fresh highs at many locations. Western Canadian yearlings off grass traded $5-$10 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Steer calves in the weight range of 550-825 pounds traded $8-$12/cwt higher on average while […] Read more
Klassen: Cash feeder market divorces from futures market
For the week ending October 11, Western Canadian yearling markets traded $8/cwt higher to $5/cwt lower compared to seven days earlier. Calf prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $3-$8/cwt on average. Feather-light calves under 450 pounds were steady to $10 higher on average. The Canadian cash feeder market appeared to divorce from the feeder cattle […] Read more
Good weaning programs for valuable calves are worth it
Better Bunks and Pastures: Less shrinkage is worth much more money at today’s calf prices
Less shrinkage is worth much more money at today’s calf prices, so good weaning programs for valuable beef calves are worth it.