Livestock
Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada’s new beef yield grade standards will make it easier for beef producers to know which of their cattle are hitting top marks — and which ones literally aren’t making the grade. “In the old system, we basically had a high, medium, and low classification, and for many years, we had more than half of […] Read more
Making the grade — new yield standards will drive change
New yield grades based on what retailers want will affect both genetics and management
Timely tips for calving season
Reading Time: < 1 minute A new Beef Cattle Research Council blog has a number of tips for having more healthy calves. The tips from Dr. Claire Windeyer of the University of Calgary faculty of veterinary medicine program include how to resuscitate calves, putting them into a recovery position, assessing a suckle reflex, and identifying health issues such as scours […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle sink on lower beef, slowing demand
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures declined for a second straight session on Wednesday as lower beef prices and seasonally slowing demand for the red meat triggered profit-taking and technical selling, traders and analysts said. Traders are awaiting the next wave of cattle sales at U.S. Plains feedlot markets, but cash market bids […] Read more
‘Tinder for cows’ matches livestock in mood for love
Petersfield, England | Reuters — A Tinder-inspired app is helping farmers match up potential partners for their cattle. Called “Tudder” — a mix of dating app Tinder and udder — it lets farmers swipe right on cattle they like the look of. They are then directed to a page on the SellMyLivestock website where they […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures jump on U.S.-China trade hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures jumped more than two per cent on Tuesday in a second straight day of strong gains fueled by hopes that U.S.-China trade talks would revive Chinese demand for American pork, traders and analysts said. Bargain buying further propelled gains after benchmark April futures dropped for four straight […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle succumb to negative margins
Alberta fed cattle prices have dropped nearly $15 over the past three weeks. Feedlot margins are deep in red ink, with losses amounting to $200-250 per head. Compared to last week, yearlings and calves over 700 lbs. traded $3-$5 lower; calves under 700 lbs. were down $5-$8 with some feeder markets in Alberta dropping as […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures climb on bargain buying
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures climbed more than one per cent on Monday, rising on technically driven bargain buying after prices fell on Friday to a five-month low, traders and analysts said. Hogs halted a four-session streak of declines while live cattle futures edged higher to notch a 1-1/2-week high on the […] Read more
More counties eligible for livestock tax deferral
Reading Time: < 1 minute In an unusual move, Agriculture Canada has added a third set of areas eligible for the federal livestock tax deferral. This allows cattle producers affected by severe drought or excess moisture to defer a portion of their income earned from selling part of their herd. The cost of replacements in 2019 will offset the deferred […] Read more
African swine fever would be a disaster
There is a ‘clear risk’ the swiftly spreading disease could come here, says leading swine health vet
Reading Time: 4 minutes There is a real risk that the African swine fever virus could enter Canada — and if it did, it would be catastrophic, says one of the country’s leading swine health experts. “If Canada got a single case in our country, our borders would close to all nations,” said Dr. Egan Brockhoff, a partner in […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures decline on technical selling
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs extended their decline to the fourth consecutive session on Friday, easing on technical selling and weaker pork prices, traders said. The most active April hogs contract dropped to a fresh five-month low and has now declined in 12 out of the past 14 sessions. The contract […] Read more