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Beef Cattle

Having a pregnancy rate above 90 per cent isn’t necessarily a sign that things are going well, says veterinarian Blake Balog.
Beef Cattle, Livestock

Timing is (almost) everything when it comes to reproductive success

Pay attention to the length of your breeding season, calving distribution, and postpartum interval

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Tackling reproductive failure in a beef herd starts with understanding what reproductive success looks like — and for most Alberta cattle operations, the usual measure of success doesn’t tell the whole story. “A lot of people might think, great, I got greater than 90 per cent (pregnancy rate), that might mean success,” said veterinarian Dr. […] Read more
Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Ontario calls off final intake for beef set-aside

'Threshold not met' for further cattle intake

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Ontario has called off the last intake for its federal/provincial beef cattle set-aside program. The Beef Emergency Feed Maintenance Initiative, an AgriRecovery program launched after the temporary shutdown of Cargill’s beef slaughter plant at Guelph, was to have its “final potential intake week” opening Monday (Jan. 18), for cattle to be set aside starting Jan. […] Read more
There are a host of factors to take into account if you’re thinking of changing your calving season, but the main question to answer is: What works best for you?
Cow-Calf, Livestock

The right time for calving depends on your farm — and you

While many producers are calving earlier, some have gone the other way

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Calving season looks different on every operation — there is no one right method or time of year to calve a cow herd. While more producers in Western Canada have moved to later calving, some have gone the other way. Here are the experiences of three ranching families. Late summer/fall calving Taralea Simpson has been […] Read more
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Higher feed grain prices continue to pressure feeders

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Compared to mid-December, western Canadian yearlings traded $3-$5 lower; mid-weight calves are down $4-$6 while calves under 550 lbs. remained firm. Buyers exhibited a defensive tone on heavier yearlings and discounts were more severe on fleshier cattle last week. There is absolutely no risk appetite for 850-plus-lb. cattle at this time of year. Demand for […] Read more
Beef Cattle, Livestock

Cattle set-aside programs winding down

Final enrolment deadlines set for Saskatchewan, Alberta programs

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AgriRecovery programs set up in Saskatchewan and Alberta to help cover feed costs for cattle producers unable to ship livestock to slaughter are gearing down, while Ontario’s program begins a third intake. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. announced Friday that the province’s AgriRecovery set-aside program will end March 31, 2021, with Jan. 19 now set as […] Read more
Growing the national herd is the top goal for many in the cattle sector, and several Alberta industry leaders say the pieces are in place to make that happen.
Beef Cattle, Livestock

There’s a payoff ahead for the cattle sector, say industry leaders

There are fewer cows and ranchers than 10 years ago, but that may change in the coming decade

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After a decade in “cow politics” — and a lifetime in the cattle sector — Bob Lowe has a pretty straightforward wish for what he’d like to see in the coming decade. “I’d like to see Canada’s beef industry get bigger,” said the Nanton rancher and feedlot operator, who is also president of the Canadian […] Read more
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle prices digesting uncertainty

Defensive tone likely through January

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The feeder cattle market was very quiet during the last week of December with auction barns in holiday mode. There were discussions regarding direct sales but no actual business was confirmed. The stakes are too high given the market uncertainty; a defensive tone will likely continue throughout January. Feed grains continue to percolate higher; the […] Read more

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AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending January 15, 2021.

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