Livestock
Reading Time: 4 minutes Pregnancy checking cows in the fall could save producers up to $250 a head in winter feeding costs — but is it really worth it? “Over the last 10 years, it really hasn’t been,” said Brenna Grant, manager of Canfax Research Services. “But there is a threshold, at about $1.02 per pound. If prices are […] Read more
Can you afford to feed open cows this winter?
High prices have more than covered winter feeding costs, but now it may pay to preg check and cull
Preg checking: Which method is right for your farm?
There are three methods to choose from, and each of them have pros and cons — as well as different costs
Reading Time: 3 minutes With cattle prices falling, it could pay to preg check your cows this fall — but which method should you choose? “The method that best suits your situation will really depend on the management of your herd, your geographic location, potentially even the year,” said Dr. Jessica Gordon, an assistant professor at the Ontario Veterinary […] Read more
Gay Lea to buy central Ontario butter maker
A U.S.-owned artisanal butter processor in central Ontario is set to become an arm of Ontario dairy co-operative Gay Lea Foods. Michigan-based butter producer Butterball Farms has agreed to sell Stirling Creamery, based at Stirling, Ont., north of Belleville, to Gay Lea effective Nov. 1. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, though Gay Lea […] Read more
Pork packer HyLife to enter expansion mode
Manitoba hog slaughter and pork processing firm HyLife says it’s setting itself up for major expansions of its hog finishing and pork processing capacities. The company on Friday said “steady growth in demand” for its pork products overseas calls for an investment of up to $125 million in its integrated pork operations, to start “as […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market aggressively searches for demand
A boulder falling off a mountain accelerates and gains momentum as it nears the ground. Until we see another force come into play, there’s no signal the lows are near in the feeder complex. Once again, the western Canadian feeder cattle traded $8 to $10 below week-ago levels, with sharper declines noted on unweaned calves. […] Read more
Belgian ‘Non’ blocks EU approval of CETA
Luxembourg | Reuters — EU governments failed on Tuesday to approve a free trade agreement with Canada, as continued opposition from French-speaking southern Belgium threatened the entire deal. Almost all 28 EU governments, whose ministers were meeting in Luxembourg, now back the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which would be the bloc’s first trade […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle extend gains on technical buying
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures climbed more than one per cent on Monday, adding to gains in the previous session, on technical buying and expectations cattle and beef prices will rise seasonally, traders and analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell sharply. Friday’s expiration of October hogs left […] Read more
Future for cattle producers looks bright, says CCA
Reading Time: < 1 minute China’s decision to allow bone-in Canadian beef from cattle under 30 months of age is another positive sign for the industry, says the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The move, expected to boost exports by $10 million per year, and the recent expansion of access to Mexico and Taiwan is increasing opportunities for Canadian beef producers, said […] Read more
Nitrate buildup a threat after a light frost
When this happens you need to either harvest quickly or wait for nitrate levels to subside
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nitrate accumulation can become a problem when crops experience light frosts of -1 C to -2 C for even only a few hours during the night. These conditions damage the leaves of the plants, but not the roots. Over the next three to four days, the roots continue to send nutrients up the plant, and […] Read more
Belgian ‘Non’ clouds EU meeting to approve CETA
Luxembourg | Reuters — European Union trade ministers meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday aiming to approve a free trade agreement with Canada but facing regional opposition in Belgium that threatens to scupper the entire deal. All 28 EU governments now back the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which would be the bloc’s first trade […] Read more