Better rainfall has meant more feed on much of the Prairies, but creep feeding beef calves still pays well in 2025.
Tag Archives feed costs
Beef calf creep feeding pays good profits in 2025
Better Bunks and Pastures: With calf values high, creep feeding makes even more sense
Beef cattle market continues to set records
The Markets: The U.S. and Canadian cow herds remain in a contraction phase
The U.S. and Canadian beef cow herds remain in a contraction phase which is driving record beef market prices, analyst Jerry Klassen says.
Calf hormone implants can give environmental, financial wins
Bigger calves at weaning can cut emissions intensity and land use intensity and put more money in the pocket of cow-calf farmers
Hormone implants can lead to bigger calves — reducing greenhouse gas intensity, land use intensity and giving the beef farmer more profit, a Manitoba-based model suggests.
Taking dairy wastewater to the irrigation pivot, via wetlands
A new nature-based solution could help dairy farmers in Alberta against water shortages
Many Alberta dairy farms rely on irrigation water to grow feed crops to sustain their cattle herds, but drought and water shortages in recent years has made that more difficult. Federal ag researchers are seeking one of those dairy farms to help develop a possible new source.
Feed Grains Weekly: Prices remain lower despite upswing in market
Although prices for barley and wheat have swung higher during the week ended July 18, prices for feed grains fell back.
Do your homework on alternative feeds
What looks to be another dry year will mean added emphasis on byproduct feeds
Alternative or non-conventional feeds, such as grain screenings, cull potatoes or distillers’ grains, can be an economical means for beef cattle producers to supplement forage and grain inventories while continuing to meet animal nutritional requirements. However, due to variability in supply, nutrient composition and quality of these feed ingredients, there can be pitfalls if not […] Read more
Balancing low cost with enough nutrition
Use caution when feeding low-quality forage to dairy replacement heifers
Most dairy producers always look for ways to reduce the livestock feed costs. Some people have taken advantage that three-month-old replacement dairy heifers have a fully developed rumen and can truly digest lower quality/cost forages. There is nothing wrong in feeding this way, but these forages must be well balanced with other more nutritious feedstuffs […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Chicago cattle firm on export demand
CME hog futures fall on meaty supply
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures firmed on Thursday, as relatively steady cash cattle prices offset higher feed costs weighing on the feeder market, traders said. Meanwhile, lean hog futures continued to slide on a seasonal trend of robust supplies, even as hog slaughter rates showed signs of slowing. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Warming weather, easing feed costs spur rallies
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) feeder cattle futures rebounded on Tuesday as traders hoped that feed costs will remain under pressure following news U.S. buyers are importing corn from South America. Both live cattle and lean hog futures also rose amid a rally in the U.S. stock market and forecasts of warming […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle futures dip to contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) dipped to new contract lows on Thursday as a rally in Chicago Board of Trade corn futures this week continued to signal rising feed costs and U.S. beef demand remains sluggish. Cattle futures also faced headwinds from U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more
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