Livestock
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady with week-ago levels. Auction market volumes remain quite high for this time of year; however, buying interest has subsided, with many feedlot operators comfortable with current numbers on feed heading into the New Year. Colder temperatures also set a negative tone as buyers factor in a slightly higher […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices hold value
Japan’s beef import restrictions under review: Feds
Japan’s planned review of its domestic and import regulations for beef could bode well for Canadian producers’ access to that country’s beef market, federal officials say. Canada’s ag department reported Friday that Japan’s review includes plans for public hearings and a risk assessment by that country’s Food Safety Commission will be conducted on each exporting […] Read more
Canadian feed advantage over U.S. narrows
Canada has lost its feed advantage with the U.S., as declining U.S. corn prices and an upward trend in western Canadian barley values over the past couple of months have caused the cost of gain in the two countries to narrow in. Anne Dunford, a marketing specialist with Gateway Livestock Exchange at Taber, Alta., said […] Read more
CFIA urging flu shots for livestock workers
Seasonal flu shots for livestock producers, their families and workers can help prevent the spread of influenza viruses between people and animals, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommends. The federal agency’s public recommendation Wednesday applied also to veterinarians, service personnel such as feed truck drivers and workers handling inseminations and livestock vaccinations, as well as […] Read more
Maple Lodge buys Ont. processor’s fresh poultry plant
A southern Ontario processing company tightening its focus on its ready-to-eat foods business has sold its fresh poultry processing plant to Maple Lodge Farms. Grand River Foods of Cambridge, Ont. announced it has sold its fresh poultry operations at Beamsville, about 20 km west of St. Catharines, to Brampton, Ont.-based Maple Lodge for an undisclosed […] Read more
Growth-minded U.S. burger chain looks north
A restaurant firm billing itself as the fastest-growing of the fast-casual burger chains in the U.S. has booked its move into Canada, starting in Calgary. Denver-based Smashburger said last week it has signed its first two lease agreements in Calgary and expects to open its first restaurant there by 2012, with plans for 10 to […] Read more
RFID best kept separate from cattle auctions’ software
A study of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems at cattle auction markets has found them best kept separate from other management software used at the auction sites. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) on Friday released results from the second phase of its research project, aimed at evaluating the impact of fully-integrated RFID at 13 […] Read more
Klassen: Positive economic data supports feeder cattle
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $2 per hundredweight (cwt) higher last week. Stronger buying interest was attributed to positive feeding margins, year-end buying and positive economic data. Run-of-the-mill mixed steer calves in central Alberta averaging 524 pounds brought back $167/cwt. Red Angus-Simmental cross steers with Ralgro implants averaging just over 600 lbs. […] Read more
Temple Grandin Presenting At Olds
Reading Time: < 1 minute Renowned livestock-welfare specialist Dr. Temple Grandin is the featured presenter at a one-day session being held at the Alumni Centre at Olds College on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. The session is hosted by the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association and Mountain View County. Registrations are being accepted until January 11, 2012, by contacting Laura Gibney […] Read more
BIXS Launches Online Classifieds
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) has announced a new online cattle sales listing service for registered participants at http://bixs-cattlelist.cattle.ca. It enables program members to advertise upcoming auction markets or private sales of their BIXS-registered cattle. Viewers can sort the listings by birth date, weight, breed/cross, geographical location, implant status, vaccination date or other optional information […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
