Livestock
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta sheep and lamb sector is facing smaller inventories, fewer breeding and replacement stock and an anticipated lower lamb crop for 2024. However, Ann Boyda, provincial livestock market analyst with the Alberta government, says optimism exists for continued easing of production costs and stronger lamb prices. Alberta has risen to become the second largest […] Read more
Optimism for Alberta’s lamb market
Preparation is key to smoother calving season
Making checklists, preparing equipment can help producers navigate stressful season
Reading Time: 4 minutes Calving can be stressful for both people and animals. Preparation far in advance is one way producers can better ensure success for a safe and productive calving season. “Some of that preparedness starts well before calving season, if you think about herd health programs or nutrition, or making sure cows are in good shape coming […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market adjusts to lower supplies
Western Canadian prices for backgrounded replacements were $2 to $4 higher than last week. Lower flesh yearlings were valued $3 to $8 above week-ago levels. Prices for calves under 800 pounds were up $3 to $7 compared to seven days earlier with noted strength in feeders under 600 pounds.
Livestock sector raises issue with new traceability reporting times
CFIA update will also bring goats, farmed deer and elk under traceability
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – An online consultation on livestock traceability came back with widespread support for the general premise — and concerns about tighter timelines for reporting and tag retention. Last year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency unveiled proposed changes to Canada’s national livestock traceability rules, including a shorter window in which producers are to report […] Read more
The importance of pairing up at calving
A little extra effort to foster mothering can pay big dividends
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Calving season always comes with anticipation about the incoming calf crop, and great cow-calf managers have tips that help them save more calves and improve productivity . For the spring calver, great observation skills combined with the ability to go the extra mile will generally be rewarded. It pays to check for […] Read more
Bird flu strain raises alarm as virus kills South American wildlife
Mammal-to-mammal transmission of virus likely but unconfirmed, scientists say
The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus has spread more aggressively than ever before in wild birds and marine mammals since arriving in South America in 2022, raising the risk of it evolving into a bigger threat to humans, according to interviews with eight scientists.
The science of burp-busting in cattle
Bovaer is safe and effective but other GHG-limiting solutions should be appraised, says researcher
Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – By now, many beef and dairy cattle producers have heard of Bovaer, the methane-reducing cattle supplement recently greenlit for use in Canada. It’s being heralded as a tool to help those industries achieve their greenhouse gas reduction goals. But is Bovaer safe for animals and the humans that consume their products? A […] Read more
Klassen: Yearling price trend stalls while calves ratchet higher
Larger players aggressively securing lightweight calves on expectations of low yearling supplies
Western Canadian feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers for the time being and feeding margins remain deep in red ink on unhedged cattle. Secondly, carcass weights are sharply above year-ago levels and Alberta finishing lots are backed up with market-ready supplies.
Tyson Foods to close Iowa pork plant with 1,200 workers
Packer's pork business saw loss of $128 million in last fiscal year
Tyson Foods will permanently close a pork plant in Perry, Iowa, the meatpacker said on Monday, eliminating jobs for about 1,200 workers.
Canadian beef and dairy groups give thumbs-up to Bovaer
Methane-reducing tool will drive opportunities, say industry reps
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Beef and dairy leaders are praising a new methane reduction tool recently approved for use in Canada. Bovaer is a powdered supplement that cattle feeders and dairy producers can mix with feed. The developers, Switzerland-based dsm-firmenich, claim it can reduce methane emissions in beef cattle by an average of 45 per cent, […] Read more