Reading Time: 2 minutes A new video from the Beef Cattle Research Council demonstrates some simple ways to revive a calf that hasn’t taken a breath after having endured a tough labour. “The day a calf is born is going to be the highest-risk day of its entire life,” Dr. Claire Windeyer says in the video. “So it’s important that […] Read more
Video offers ‘911’ techniques for a newborn calf that’s not breathing
Use a recovery position or some water from a squirt bottle, but never hang a calf on a gate
The right time for calving depends on your farm — and you
While many producers are calving earlier, some have gone the other way
Reading Time: 4 minutes 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
Klassen: Lighter calves end year on positive tone
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2 lower to $3 higher depending on the region. Many auction markets were in holiday mode last week and thinner volumes made the market harder to define. Generally speaking, the market was supported by stronger deferred live cattle futures and a slightly weaker Canadian dollar; […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle prices supporting calf market
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $139 to $140 last week, up $1 to $2 from seven days earlier. Strength in the nearby fed cattle market along with the recent rally in the live cattle futures has been supportive for calves under 600 pounds. Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling […] Read more
New benchmarking program aims to help you up your game
Initiative will not only help cow-calf producers evaluate their performance but become more innovative
Reading Time: 3 minutes This is an abridged version of Part 1 of a three-part series. The full article and the two upcoming parts (when released) can be found at beefresearch.ca (in the BCRC Blog section). The Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network (CDN COP Network) has been developed collaboratively with provincial co-ordinators and funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council […] Read more
WLPIP calf price insurance deadline extended
Three-week extension includes nine purchasing days
Cattle producers in the western provinces will get extra decision-making time this year on the calf price insurance available through Western Livestock Price Insurance (WLPIP). The Prairies’ Crown ag insurance corporations announced Thursday that the deadline to buy WLPIP calf price insurance for 2020 has been extended to June 18. The new deadline, reset from […] Read more
Cow-calf producers needed for cost-of-production initiative
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canfax is undertaking an initiative to develop baseline cost-of-production statistics. The Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network will host 26 producer focus groups (each consisting of five to six producers in each) across Canada in 2020-21. Scenarios will be developed of what future farms could look like utilizing the Five Per Cent Rule approach of […] Read more
The basics for handling freshly weaned calves at feedlots
Rest and getting them on feed and water are simple things but they take planning and management
Reading Time: 5 minutes Stress can have a big impact on calves and if not managed properly, freshly weaned calves heading to a feed yard can be very susceptible to pneumonia and other illnesses. While herd health veterinarians and feedlot production specialists can each have slightly different approaches to getting new feeders ramped up to the intended full-feed ration, […] Read more
Cow-calf producers wanted for survey
Survey open until March 13
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta cow-calf producers are being asked to take a survey on the challenges they face. The survey is part of a study by the University of Alberta with participation from Alberta Farm Animal Care. “Producer mental health was a consideration as we know that it is closely related to animal welfare,” AFAC said in a […] Read more
Are you willing to share animal traits info?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Cow-calf producers in Alberta are being asked to take a survey aimed at improving the productivity of the industry. Researchers at the University of Alberta are conducting the survey on the willingness of commercial cow-calf producers to accept compensation for sharing their animal traits information and the willingness of breeding associations to pay to obtain […] Read more
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