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Tag Archives cattle

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Beef market will get worse, before it gets better

Over-supply and low demand – a deadly combination

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Fed and feeder cattle markets have been trending lower throughout the fall and early winter as the market contends with growing beef supplies and lacklustre demand. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $158 to $160 in mid-December while pen closeout breakeven values are closer to $200. Cold storage stocks of beef […] 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

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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
Cattle margins struggling amidst lower prices
Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Cattle margins struggling amidst lower prices

Market Update with Jerry Klassen

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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
Cow and a Calf
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Visible and invisible benefits of preconditioning

‘Truck weaned’ calves are highly stressed and ultimately suffer from a higher rate of shrink during trucking to a feedlot

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Preconditioned is a general term for feedlot-destined calves that have been vaccinated, castrated, dehorned, weaned, have some feed-bunk/waterer experience and have been fed a nutritious post-weaning diet for at least 30-45 days prior to being sold to a feedlot. Recently, I’ve talked to some cow-calf operators selling spring calves to feedlots in the fall, who see […] Read more
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

A prolapse is not just a prolapse

There are many factors that can contribute to a vaginal prolapse

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The act of replacing a vaginal prolapse is really just the visible part. There are many other aspects veterinarians consider when they are working on these. The cause, method of replacement, long-term care and expected force of straining afterwards must all be considered when they are corrected. As an experienced veterinarian, there are times when […] Read more
Beef Cattle, Markets

No bright lights ahead in beef market

Market Update with Jerry Klassen

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The fed and feeder cattle market have many fundamental factors to digest over the next few months. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle near $169 in late October, which is down from the late spring highs of $204. Breakeven values on pen closeouts are in the range of $195 to $198 so in the best-case […] Read more
Feedlots looking at negative margins this fall
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Feedlots looking at negative margins this fall

Market update with Jerry Klassen

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Fed and feeder cattle prices have come under pressure over the past couple weeks as the market anticipates growing beef, pork and poultry supplies. The cattle complex is in a transition stage from contraction to expansion while pork and poultry have experienced production increases throughout 2015. The demand picture has also turned softer. Canada is […] Read more
Maintaining good nutrition with products such as protein blocks helps cattle as they head into winter.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Keep cows fed heading into winter

Each thin cow will need an extra bale over winter just for maintenance, never mind rebuilding

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Cows need higher-quality feed, and more of it, as pregnancy progresses. Nutrient requirements in early gestation are not much different from maintenance requirements, but as the fetus grows larger the cow’s nutrient needs increase. After calving, when a cow is lactating, she needs a much higher level of protein and energy than when she is […] Read more
Time will tell if the Aussie beef market maintains its strength.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Optimism stoked the Australian cattle market

Indicators favoured a strong cattle market in Australia but time will tell if strength will be maintained

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Earlier this year I participated in a webinar sponsored by Meat and Livestock Australia and came away with some incredible optimism and understanding more clearly why the Australian cattle frenzy is continuing. The stars are indeed lining up in 2015 for Australian cattle producers and the new record prices set on a daily basis from […] Read more
New Western Canada Cow-Calf Survey shows trends and opportunities
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

New Western Canada Cow-Calf Survey shows trends and opportunities

Plus, highlights of the Western Canada Cow-calf Survey

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Results from the 2014 Western Canadian Cow-Calf Survey (WCCCS) show some interesting industry trends and changes in management practices since the last survey was conducted 16 years ago in Alberta. The 2014 WCCCS was rolled out to producers from British Columbia to Manitoba from November 2014 to February 2015 and asked 58 questions — some new and […] Read more

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