Reading Time: 4 minutes By sampling water bowls, researchers can monitor antimicrobial resistance and bovine respiratory disease in cattle, which is a faster and more efficient method than traditional individual animal testing.

Cattle water bowls hold insight into animal health, antimicrobial resistance
Swabbing cattle watering bowls used in genomic testing to find antimicrobial resistance and look for bovine respiratory disease

The feedlot solution to food waste
Cattle industry documentary pitches rumination as great food waste upcycler
Reading Time: 3 minutes Food waste takes up space in landfills and its breakdown adds methane to the atmosphere, so there’s value in feeding it to livestock instead.

Feed Grain Weekly: A bearish market, especially in southern Alberta
Sufficient supplies of domestic barley and wheat along with the ongoing influx of corn from United States, have continued to keep a lid on feed grain prices on the Canadian Prairies. That’s especially so in southern Alberta, according to Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge.

Feedlot verification program ongoing
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Natural Resources Conservation Board has initiated a program to verify that the livestock population of feedlots is within allotted numbers. The Livestock Population Verification Program is a response to evidence provided by complainants indicating that some operators in Lethbridge County may be exceeding the livestock numbers in their permits. Since reviewing that evidence, the […] Read more

Feed Grain Weekly: ‘A good time to secure pricing’
There has been some movement in feed grain prices across the Canadian Prairies during the week ended Apr. 3, particularly in Alberta. Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton chalked that up to factors such as road bans and the approach of spring seeding. She also noted a change in corn.

Feed weekly outlook: Several factors weighing on prices
Warm weather means less feed needed, easier movement says analyst
Feed grain prices across the Canadian Prairies are expected to continue falling back for the next few months due to a number of reasons, according to Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities in Saskatoon, Sask.

Klassen: Feeder market eyes feed grain complex
Downside expected in new-crop barley prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $2 higher on average. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $353-$357/cwt delivered last week, up from the average price of $348/cwt delivered seven days earlier. Strength in the fed cattle market continues to support the […] Read more

New training for feedlot workers
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association has created a series of training videos for feedlot employees. The short videos, made by feedlot veterinarian Dr. Joyce Van Donkersgoed, are meant to supplement training provided by herd health veterinarians and nutritionists. “Without well-trained and competent feedlot processors and pen riders, it is hard to effectively manage animal health […] 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

Klassen: Stronger deferred live cattle support feeder market
Cow-calf operators seen hesitant to expand
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Calf prices were mostly unchanged compared to seven days earlier; however, there were pockets where buyers reported prices up $2-$3 on average. The Alberta calf market appeared to stage a minor recovery after softening over the past month. Manitoba markets […] Read more