Livestock
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Recent advances in gene editing technology could potentially help create disease-resistant animals. In a recent study, my colleagues and I showcased the potential of gene editing to protect chickens from the threat of avian influenza. This disease is caused by an ever-evolving virus that gets around numerous biosecurity measures such as good […] Read more
Opinion: Eliminating bird flu in chicken barns
Bird flu could be eradicated by editing the genes of chickens and one study shows how
U.S. livestock: CME cattle up on short covering, discount to cash
Short covering also lifts CME hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures surged on Tuesday in a short-covering rebound from multi-month lows in the prior session, supported by the market’s steep discount to cash market prices. Feeder cattle futures rose by as much as the daily trading limit, triggering expanded limits for both feeders and live cattle for […] Read more
Canadian farm cash receipts rise in 2022, but so do inputs
MarketsFarm – Canadian farmers brought in more money in 2022 compared to the previous year, but their expenses were also up resulting in a 7.7 per cent drop in realized net income to $11.8 billion, according to the latest farm income data from Statistics Canada. Data for the first three quarters of 2023 shows another […] Read more
Klassen: Strong demand continues to support feeder market
Significant downside risk ahead
For the week ending Nov. 25, western Canadian yearling prices were $4-$8/cwt lower compared to seven days earlier. However, calf markets were firm trading $5-$8/cwt on either side of unchanged compared to values quoted a week prior. Optimal weather in southern Alberta caused major feedlot operators to stretch their hands across the Prairies. At the […] Read more
Manitoba hog yard cleared for U.S. export
Separate export certificate had been required for yard's cull sows
U.S. authorities have lifted an order that required sows from one Manitoba assembly yard to be certified free of Seneca Valley virus before crossing the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed Canada in the second-last week of November had now met protocol conditions for Seneca Valley virus and has lifted the health certificate requirement, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Fund selling sends CME cattle to multi-month lows
February hogs touch contract low
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures tumbled sharply for a second straight session on Monday on fund long liquidation, technical selling and concerns about slowing beef demand and rising supplies. Actively traded February live cattle dropped to an eight-month low while several deferred-month contracts posted life-of-contract lows. January feeder cattle plunged more […] Read more
Locked out of drought help? Give moisture insurance a try
Moisture deficit insurance may help drought-stricken livestock producers in the future
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta livestock producers frozen out of the new Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance program may want to consider an under-utilized insurance program in the future, said a representative from the program administrators. The AgriRecovery-based program was recently introduced to help livestock producers who faced extraordinary costs accessing feed in 2023. However, it doesn’t cover all of […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle collapse to March lows
Chicago February hogs set contract low
Chicago | Reuters — Cattle futures sank to their lowest levels in nearly eight months at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Friday on increased concerns about easing demand for U.S. beef. Technical selling accelerated the slide after funds recently liquidated long positions, traders said. “We don’t know what demand is going to be a year […] Read more
At Agribition: Iowa school group looks in on Prairie ag
Media program students, alumni gather participants' stories
Fresh faces and new blood were injected into the usual cadre of journalism veterans this week at Canadian Western Agribition. Students from Iowa’s CAC Media Group ventured to Regina for hands-on agricultural journalism experience. Hannah Grantz, Jake VanderHeiden and Katlin Truelsen, students from high schools across Clinton County in eastern Iowa, interviewed, photographed and videotaped […] Read more
At Agribition: Young dogs debut their new tricks
'These guys show up to work'
Ranchers and livestock producers at a Regina farm show got a demonstration of a potential solution to looming labour shortages: dogs. Dogs and their handlers competed at the seventh annual Cattle Dog Futurity and Maturity competitions and the International Stock Dog Trials held Thursday at Canadian Western Agribition. The futurity event featured dogs born between […] Read more