Livestock
Reading Time: 3 minutes When the weather outside is frightful, cattle need a helping hand. “The ability of cattle to withstand cold conditions is impacted by the lower critical temperature, or LCT,” said Karl Hoppe, a livestock specialist with North Dakota State University’s extension service. “When the temperature drops below the LCT, maintenance requirements will increase and performance can […] Read more
Consider feed requirements for beef cattle during cold weather
A measure called LCT can be used to calculate the increase in total digestible nutrients required
U.S. livestock: CME futures ease on profit-taking, feed prices
Smaller cattle supplies remain a concern
Chicago | Reuters — CME livestock futures eased back on Friday, as traders sought profits after cattle futures hit new contract highs in the previous session and on pressure from a run-up in grains, traders said. U.S. livestock markets will be closed Monday for the New Year holiday. On Tuesday, the markets will pre-open at […] Read more
Country icon, Alberta rancher Ian Tyson dies at 89
Musician hailed as 'compassionate rancher and environmentalist'
Ian Tyson, the British Columbia-born cowboy who became a Canadian folk and country music legend and southern Alberta rancher, died Thursday at age 89. Among his many accolades, Tyson was named to the Order of Canada since 1994 and the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2006. A cause of death was not released Thursday but […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures hit new highs on tight supplies
Technical selling drags on hogs, again
Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures and several deferred feeder cattle futures hit new contract highs on Thursday, as shrinking weights of market-ready cattle and concerns over smaller supplies helped fuel a price rally, traders said. Ongoing concerns over the recent severe winter storm impacting the livestock sector across the U.S. Great Plains […] Read more
Klassen: Historically high deferred live cattle futures support feeder complex
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 lower to $4 higher on average. Many auction barns were on holidays last week; therefore, the buying interest appeared to be more concentrated on the major markets. There were no reports from Manitoba last week. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed […] Read more
Take time to learn the ins and outs of grazing brassicas
Toxicity can be an issue, and so can fussy eating, but brassicas can benefit the soil and extend the grazing season
Reading Time: 4 minutes With their ability to suppress weeds and break up compacted soil, brassica plants have become widely known as a good cover crop option. Many producers graze their cover crops, but brassicas can also serve as a grazing crop. “The brassicas are super watery and highly digestible,” said Jillian Bainard, a forage research scientist at Ag […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures ease, supplies in focus
Hog futures down on technical selling
Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, after moving higher in the previous session, as traders watch for smaller supplies of market-ready cattle moving through the system, traders said. Snow and ice across the U.S. Great Plains last week will likely also reduce supply, shrinking weights of market-ready cattle. “The recent […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures climb on tight supplies
Supply report also bullish for hog futures
Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures firmed on Tuesday, supported by lower cattle supplies and the impact of cold weather on cattle weights, traders said. Winter weather last week across the U.S. Great Plains likely caused cattle to lose weight amid snow and below-freezing temperatures, said Brad Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima Kooima […] Read more
Winter storm causes havoc across Canada
Alberta ranchers shelter cattle against winds
Ottawa/Winnipeg | Reuters — Strong winds, freezing rain and heavy snowfall closed schools, cut power to homes and cancelled flights across Canada on Friday as a powerful winter storm swept across the country, prompting authorities to warn people to stay indoors ahead of worsening conditions. The storm is connected to the same freezing weather system […] Read more
Refundable checkoff for lamb producers stays
Reading Time: < 1 minute A bid to make the checkoff for lamb producers non-refundable has been defeated in a plebiscite. “Most producers that voted were in favour of the status quo, a refundable service charge model,” Alberta Lamb Producers said on its website. Just over 15 per cent of eligible producers voted, with 147 in favour of keeping the […] Read more