Reading Time: < 1 minute One of the sessions from the recent Cow-Calfenomics risk management series is now available on Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s web page. The theme of this year’s series was Seizing Opportunity in the Alberta Cow-Calf Sector. The agenda included: Meat and cattle fundamentals for herd planning: opportunities and threats to expanding the cow herd; Linking […] Read more
Session recordings available from the Cow-Calfenomics risk management series
Dealing with a lack of calcium in pregnant cows
Beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio does the math on providing this mineral to pregnant cows
Reading Time: 2 minutes When feeding cereal silage, greenfeed or swath grazing to pregnant cows, there can be a concern with a lack of calcium and magnesium. An added product can often be the solution. “In this situation, an added product should have more calcium than phosphorus,” said Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist, with the Ag-Info Centre in […] Read more
Antimicrobial use could be slashed, say experts
Simple management changes, like pre-weaning vaccinations, can greatly increase immunity in cattle
Reading Time: 4 minutes The livestock sector could significantly reduce and in some cases, eliminate, antimicrobial use with simple changes in management practices, say veterinarians. And that would reduce the threat of antimicrobial resistance and boost consumer confidence in the cattle industry. “The key is to have animals that are properly vaccinated,” said Craig Dorin of Veterinary Agri-Health Services. […] Read more
Tips for winter calving
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers is reminding producers of good practices for winter calving. Shelter from the wind is the most important step, said beef production specialist Karin Schmid. “Bedding is also super important. If you have a good bedding pack it can really help keep the calf’s temperature up, and that way they’ll nurse faster and […] Read more
App input wanted from cattle producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Hereford, Simmental and Angus associations are looking at developing a mobile smartphone application for cow-calf producers integrated with Canadian breed association performance data. Integrated Traceability Solutions Global of Okotoks has been contracted to research what breeders want in a mobile app. An online survey, which takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete, can […] Read more
Don’t be alarmed by hike in Calf Price Insurance premiums
While the cost is up, so is risk and coverage levels actually offer better value this year, says risk management specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes Calf Price Insurance is now being offered for 2015 and producers shouldn’t be alarmed by the premium cost. “Cattle Price Insurance for the 2015 calf crop may initially appear to be more expensive than last year, but it is actually a better value,” said Bruce Viney, risk management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. […] Read more
Cow-calf producers asked to take survey
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is asking every cow-calf producer in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to complete the Western Canadian Cow-Calf survey. The deadline to complete the survey is Feb. 28. It can be filled out online but the website also provides an option to print the survey and mail it postage-free. First […] Read more
A long-overdue return to profitability
Five to Remember: "We couldn't sustain an industry, let alone grow it."
Reading Time: 2 minutes While “nothing stays the same forever,” market analyst Anne Wasko is confident high beef prices will stick around for at least another year. “The cow-calf sector was long overdue for some profitability,” said Wasko, president of Cattle Trends and a market analyst with Gateway Livestock Exchange in Taber. “We couldn’t sustain an industry, let alone […] Read more
When cattle (prices) fly
Five to Remember: The year began with producers wondering if ‘fantastic’ prices could last — they did a lot more than that
Reading Time: 2 minutes At the start of the year, the big question in the cattle sector was, ‘Can prices stay this high all year?’ “The market right now is fantastic,” Herb Lock of Farm$ense Marketing said back in February. “Cow-calf producers right now are in their second world, floating around in the sky compared to other years.” Lock […] Read more
Bale grazing saves time and money, and boosts pasture productivity
Cattle producers can save more than 40 cents per cow per day – but the time savings and more lush pastures are the big benefits
Reading Time: 4 minutes An “old throwback” way of feeding cattle is gaining traction among producers who are looking to save a little time in their day-to-day chores — and a bit of money. “Bale grazing is an approach to feeding cattle in winter that tries to look at reducing costs,” said Grant Lastiwka, a forage specialist with Alberta […] Read more
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