Reading Time: 3 minutes The use of telemedicine is growing, and if you’ve texted a video or a photo to your veterinarian, you’ve participated in it. “Telemedicine is defined as providing medical advice and treatment based on remote collection of information,” said Natasha Kutryk, the incoming president of the Alberta Veterinary Medicine Association. “There probably aren’t many farmers who […] Read more
Telemedicine is a way to get your veterinarian’s eyes on your farm
Trend of sending videos and pics instead of driving to a far-off clinic picked up during the pandemic
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures ease off highest since 2015
Hogs up off lowest since late 2021
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures fell on Tuesday, snapping an 11-session streak of gains on a profit-taking setback after hitting their highest in more than seven years. Some signs of weakness in the cash markets and concerns about profit margins added pressure. Hog futures were firmer after hitting their lowest in […] Read more
Feedlot expert named veterinarian of the year
Reading Time: < 1 minute Dr. Calvin Booker of Okotoks has been given the 2023 Veterinarian of the Year Award. Booker was recognized for his work in advancing feedlot veterinary services, including developing a data recording system for daily feedlot operations and using applied epidemiology to control disease. He was also praised for making “extraordinary contributions to bovine health through […] Read more
Klassen: Larger supplies of backgrounded cattle weigh on feeder complex
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $3 lower. Calf prices were quoted $5 lower to $3 higher. Backgrounded cattle appeared to have a softer tone as more numbers come on the market. Usually, the bulk of the volume for backgrounded cattle are animals over 850 lbs. However, this year, the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures extend winning streak
Front-month live cattle, feeders hit highest since 2015; lean hogs down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose for the 11th session in a row on Monday, hitting their highest in more than seven years as tight supplies continued to fuel a rally. Strength in the cash market added to the gains in cattle futures. But surplus supplies weighed on the hog markets, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle climb as smaller U.S. herd attracts spec buyers
Chicago lean hogs close mostly higher
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures set life-of-contract highs on Friday as a government report this week showing reduced U.S. cattle supplies continued to inspire speculative buying, traders said. A seasonal slide in wholesale beef prices capped rallies. But traders remained fixated on longer-term supplies after the U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more
It’s more rare these days, but grain overload has a big impact
Mixed rations and better storage have cut cases, but take care when increasing grain in a ration
Reading Time: 3 minutes Grain overload has been drastically reduced over the years thanks to nutritionists, total mixed rations and fewer incidents of accidental ingestion. But I want to review the condition, treatment and, most importantly, the ways to prevent it. Grain overload occurs when there is over-consumption of a carbohydrate source, most often grain. I have treated severe […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures ease off contract highs
Chicago lean hog values retreat
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed lower on Wednesday as traders booked profits, one day after the benchmark April contract set a life-of-contract high and the U.S. Agriculture Department reported a three per cent year-on-year drop in the size of the U.S. cattle herd. CME April live cattle […] Read more
U.S. livestock: April live cattle down slightly
U.S. cattle inventory report shows steep decline; lean hogs also lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures climbed to new contract highs early in the session before settling slightly lower on Tuesday, as traders assessed U.S. cattle inventory levels ahead of the U.S. Agriculture Department’s biannual report. After the market closed, USDA reported that the U.S. beef cow herd dropped to 28.9 million head, […] Read more
U.S. beef cow herd falls to lowest level since 1962, USDA says
Last year saw record cull, Rabobank reports
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. beef cow herd dropped to its lowest level since 1962, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed on Tuesday, after a severe drought raised costs for livestock feed. Ranchers increasingly sent cows to slaughter last year, instead of keeping them to reproduce, as dry weather reduced the amount of pasture […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
