Livestock
CNS Canada –– A rally in U.S. hog futures over the past few weeks is also being felt in the Canadian industry, which has brought some optimism to the sector heading into the New Year. “The isoweans are stronger, which tells us that there is greater demand in the U.S. going into the spring and […] Read more
Hog sector optimistic heading into New Year
Save feed costs by improving body condition scores, says expert
A body condition of 3 can boost pregnancy rates by a third and add 55 pounds to calf weaning weights
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you want to save some money feeding your cows this winter, maintain a good body condition score. “Prudent use of feed resources to maintain body condition on the cows to maximize efficiency reduces your feeding costs,” said provincial forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. The amount of fat a cow is carrying will influence how it […] Read more
Make the most of cheap feed grain this winter
Producers stand to make an additional $130 a head on their calves by supplementing their hay with barley this winter
Reading Time: 4 minutes There’s good news, bad news, and even worse news for cattle producers this winter. The good news is that there’s plenty of cheap feed grains in the market right now — but producers will need those savings to offset poor-quality feed (the bad news) and part of the sharp drop in calf prices (the even […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs snap four-session win streak
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs on Tuesday settled lower for the first time in five sessions, hit by profit-taking and weaker cash prices before packing plants close over the Christmas holiday, traders said. February hogs ended 2.1 cents/lb. lower at 64 cents, and April 1.2 cents lower at 67.475 cents (all […] Read more
TB testing to continue into January
Reading Time: < 1 minute As of Dec. 7, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed six cases of bovine TB. This number includes the cow that was confirmed to have the disease when it was slaughtered in the U.S. All confirmed cases are still from one infected herd located on 18 premises. Approximately 50 premises are under quarantine — […] Read more
New OVC vet rotation focuses on dairy animal welfare
The Ontario Veterinary College has added a dairy animal welfare rotation to its fourth-year curriculum, as part of an increased focus on animal well-being. The rotation is offered through the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare at the University of Guelph, where research has been conducted on animal welfare for 25 years. Montreal-based […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle resume upward trend
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices resumed the upward trend after a brief dip during the first major snowstorm of the year. Feeder cattle weighing above 750 lbs. traded $2-$4 above week-ago levels while calves were readily selling for $4 to as much as $8 higher. Optimism abounds in the feedlot sector, as Alberta fed cattle […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle mostly firmer
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled mostly higher on Monday after investors sold the December contract and simultaneously bought deferred months in a market strategy known as bear-spreading, said traders. The spreads, along with modest positioning before Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly Cattle on Feed report, lifted some back-months […] Read more
Explosion leaves U.S. ready-made whipped cream in short supply
New York | Reuters — American sweet tooths may suffer this holiday season as a ready-made whipped cream shortage could leave such favorites as apple pie or a mug of hot chocolate without a little extra on top. The creamy dessert topping is in short supply after an August explosion at an Airgas Inc. facility […] Read more
Major dairy farm gets six-figure fines in cruelty case
British Columbia’s largest dairy farm has been slapped with a reported $300,000 in fines after entering guilty pleas to charges of animal cruelty, stemming from covert video shot in 2014. Chilliwack Cattle Sales (CCS) and co-owner Wesley Kooyman were convicted Friday in Provincial Court over violations of the province’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. […] Read more