Reading Time: 2 minutes Add up all the costs when backgrounding, says a farm business management specialist. “At this time of year the profitability of backgrounding calves also comes into question,” said Ted Nibourg. “Focusing on just the feed costs can give the impression that backgrounding will be economically feasible this fall. While feed costs are a major part […] Read more

Backgrounding margins can disappear in a hurry
What looks like a healthy profit might actually be razor thin

High cost, high risk, but corn a perfect cold-weather grazing crop
When the weather outside is frightful, cattle can get all of their energy and protein requirements by grazing corn
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the “best-kept secrets” of Manitoba cow-calf producers could soon make its way west — as long as producers have access to better genetics. “The low-heat-unit corn varieties certainly have some potential to move into a cow or a calf backgrounding program,” Dr. Bart Lardner from the Western Beef Development Centre said at the […] Read more