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Tag Archives Cow-calf operation

Sell calves early or hold them until spring
Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Sell calves early or hold them until spring

Market Update: Big U.S. calf crop will hit the market in November and December

By
Alberta fed cattle prices were hovering in the range of $143 to $145 in mid-August. The market has been trending lower since the first week of May when the fed market reached up to $197. Despite the softer selling prices, feeding margins remain in positive territory. Break-even pen closeout values are near $135 for August; […] Read more
beef on a winter pasture
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Important to maintain proper BCS

Cattleman's Corner: Cows looking good going into winter still need to be fed

By
Warm temperatures and lots of rain right into fall regenerated pastures producing plenty of nutritious grasses for cattle. Many gestating cows are going into the winter, healthy and in decent shape. By feeding them well-balanced overwintering diets, we can continue this momentum, so these beef cows can get through a typical cold winter and be […] Read more
More thoughts on market options
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

More thoughts on market options

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

By
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
*current financial status is based on time of writing (author) The final profit in this case
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Preconditioning calves still pays this fall

Pencil out the costs and consider other marketing benefits as well

By
The weaned calf market reached a peak in the fall of 2014. Since then, mixed with lots of volatility, the value of weaned calves this fall is roughly half that nearly two years ago. Many cow-calf producers who sell weaned calves to feedlots are asking if preconditioning calves is really worth it. Yes, I believe […] Read more
Pencil the profits of creep feeding
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Pencil the profits of creep feeding

In a 300-head herd it could mean about $7,000 worth of extra gain

By
For much of this summer a lot of rain has fallen across the Prairies and has made pastures lush with green grass. Many beef cow-calf producers which creep spring calves have found cows are literarily bursting with milk, so their spring calves are making few visits to the calf feeders. It has been my experience […] Read more
Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

A good year to consider backgrounding cattle

Prices expected to be weakest during the fall of 2016

By
The U.S. cattle herd has been in the expansion phase over the past couple of years and it is difficult for many producers to come to terms with the recent price activity. I’ve received many calls from both cow-calf operators and feedlot operators in regards to the price outlook and I basically focus on the […] Read more
A.I. service can be an option for introducing improved genetics and overall herd performance.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Something magical about 10:2:1 ratio

A per cent hear and there in reproduction and growth makes a difference

By
If it is possible to have a favourite ratio, 10:2:1 is mine. The reason for the favouritism is this ratio comes from one of my favourite pieces of extension material, done by Melton et al. way back in 1995. The 10:2:1 ratio reflects the relative importance of reproduction:production:product, particularly for those marketing calves directly from […] Read more
Higher production keeps beef prices under pressure
Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Higher production keeps beef prices under pressure

Market Update: Slaughter numbers are down, but carcass weights are up

By
Fed and feeder cattle prices have come under pressure over the past couple of weeks as the market absorbs the year-over-year increase in second quarter beef production. Cattle-on-feed inventories in Canada and the U.S. are running slightly above year-ago numbers, but carcass weights are sharply higher. Despite the lower cattle prices, retail beef prices are […] Read more
Deworming cows can add to profits
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Deworming cows can add to profits

Proper dose can improve weight gains, and reduce parasite load on pasture

By
Just after the new year, a rancher who runs a few hundred late-spring cows called me. He was having difficulty getting his weaned calves on background feed and they were just not doing “good.” Although, he dewormed these calves once off-pasture with a commercial pour-on, I told him they might still have stomach worms. So […] Read more
Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

U.S. producers rebuilding cattle herds

Beef Market Trend: Reduced exports of live Canadian market cattle already happening

By
The USDA has released its January cattle inventory report with a few surprises about cattle numbers. It appears that U.S. cattle producers are expanding their herds more aggressively than expected and this will have a large bearing on Canadian fed and feeder cattle prices throughout 2016. Feeder cattle exports to the U.S. have fluctuated sharply […] Read more

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