Reading Time: < 1 minute The short answer to cattle herd expansion is that it depends if there’s any money in it, says Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. “Any expansion will be dependent on this year’s weather, feed costs and conditions in the second half of 2023,” says Ann Boyda, provincial livestock market analyst with the Alberta government. “Expansion is dependent […] Read more
Can Canada see beef herd expansion in 2023?
Watch out for blue-green algae where livestock drink
“Blue-green algae can look like blue-green scum, pea soup or grass clippings suspended in the water. You should start watching for it when the temperatures rise above 25 C.”
Reading Time: 3 minutes In over three decades as a veterinarian, Roy Lewis never saw a cow die from ingesting blue-green algae from an infected water source. But he still says it’s an issue ranchers should watch for. Blue-green algae can be instantly deadly to an animal that ingests a sufficient amount. However, it’s tricky to identify as the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle weak on large May placements
Slowing beef demand also a factor
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended flat to lower on Monday on larger-than-expected feedlot placements in May and expectations for slower demand for beef for outdoor grilling following the U.S. Independence Day holiday. Sharply higher feed corn prices early in Monday’s trading session weighed on the live and feeder cattle […] Read more
How to manage a pasture after a fire
What to do after a fire burns through? Treat it like it’s been heavily grazed, experts say
Reading Time: 3 minutes Many pastures have been damaged by this year’s fires. But how long does it take a pasture to recover? What can be done for a burned pasture? “Fire is not new to most grasses and other pasture forage species,” said Barry Irving, former manager of the Roy G. Berg Kinsella ranch. In that role, Irving […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle rally as corn prices sag
Live cattle, lean hogs down
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group feeder cattle contracts rallied on Friday, their second day of gains, as weakening corn prices cut into feed costs and boosted profit margins at packers. Hog futures were weaker on follow-through selling after Thursday’s sharp decline. The August CME feeder cattle contract gained 3.275 cents, to 233.95 cents/lb., rising […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise, hogs fall
Feeder cattle back in Bollinger range
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures firmed on Thursday, rebounding from a sharp decline a day earlier on support from weakness in the corn market. Live cattle futures also closed higher but hog contracts weakened, extending a sell-off that started on Wednesday as traders said the market remained technically overbought. Analysts […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle down as corn extends rally
Hogs end lower off early gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures eased on Wednesday, with surging corn prices expected to boost feeding costs in the coming weeks, traders said. But live cattle contracts were close to unchanged. Hog futures fell from a nine-month high on a round of profit-taking, with the most-active August contract snapping a […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs rally to nine-month high; cattle ease
Cattle futures weaker on seasonal slowdown and profit-taking round
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose to a nine-month high as a recent slowdown in the pace of slaughter limited the amount of retail supplies. Cattle futures were weaker on an expected seasonal slowdown and a round of profit-taking, traders said. CME July hogs jumped three cents to 95.85 cents per […] Read more
Ranchers say federal funding key to watering improvements
Not everyone is happy with the way OFCAF does business, with some saying it doesn’t support cutting-edge producers
Reading Time: 5 minutes Installing a pasture pipeline watering system was a pipe dream — literally — for Matt and Angela Kumlin, until they tapped the On-Farm Climate Action Fund. The Kumlins received $70,000 through OFCAF to build a water pipeline on their ranch. Now creeping up on the $100,000 mark, Angela said the project, meant to boost rotational […] Read more
New vaccine tools launched for cattle
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cattle farmers have a new set of tools to help manage vaccination programs for their herds, courtesy of the Beef Cattle Research Council. “As livestock and land managers, we have a lot to consider year to year,” said Brodie Haugan, chair of Alberta Beef Producers. “Tools like the BCRC’s vaccine backgrounder, vaccine handling guidelines, and […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
