Livestock Management
Alternative forages will be available this winter as traditional feed remains in short supply, but many come with red flags
The 2001 drought is similar to 1988. Rain right now will not mitigate the impact. Cattle producers are searching high and low for whatever feed their cows can tolerate this winter. It’s not a year to be thinking profit. It’s a year to be thinking survival. Finding and delivering an alternative feed is the first […] Read more
Livestock Management
Antimicrobial market expands with new generic drugs
A widely used macrolide antibiotic used to prevent respiratory disease in cattle has come off patent. When the Draxxin antimicrobial first reached the market, there was huge uptake in the Canadian feedlot industry. Zuprevo, Micotil and Zactran, all used primarily for treatment of bacterial respiratory disease, are in the same macrolide family. Now that the […] Read more
Man. AgriRecovery focuses on feed, transportation
Manitoba is rolling out its AgriRecovery program with applications now open for beef producers to access funds through two initiatives. Ralph Eichler, Manitoba’s agriculture and resource development minister, announced the province’s Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance earlier today as well as the Livestock Transportation programs in an effort to lessen the impacts on beef […] Read more
Stewardship award to be presented this week
Paying attention to the land’s early warning signs helped a rancher, who is nominated for a national environmental award, prepare for the drought currently affecting beef producers. “Where we live in Saskatchewan, we’re in the ground zero (for) drought and we’ve seen it coming for a number of years,” said Ed Bothner about his ranch […] Read more
China pork production to decline by 14 percent in 2022: USDA
Aug 25 (Reuters) – Following are selected highlights from a report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) post in Beijing: “In 2022, China’s hog production is forecast to decline by 5 percent. Low prices and disease outbreaks in 2021 led to significant slaughter and delayed restocking. Pork production in 2022 […] Read more
West Nile Virus mosquitoes found in Man., Sask.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba have found mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. In Manitoba, 24 mosquitoes with West Nile virus, known as the Culex tarsalis mosquito, were collected from various parts of the province between Aug. 8-14. It brings the total to 86 found this year. Mosquitoes with WNV were found in Saskatchewan the same week, located […] Read more
Not all predict drastic cattle sell-off this fall
The sloughs, dugouts and small creeks running along the southern half of the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan, deep in Canada’s cattle country, are either dry or displaying the muddy slopes that water levels once covered. But there is a bit more moisture around Veteran, Alta., and areas surrounding the Dryland Cattle Trading Corp.’s auction […] Read more
Hay theft reflects level of farmer desperation
RCMP investigate after grass was illegally hayed in an Alberta park and bales stolen before they could be recovered
Theft of about $10,000 in hay bales gathered without a permit from a provincial park in Alberta, and then allegedly stolen before they could be donated to a charity, is being seen as an example of the desperate situation many livestock producers face. Due to widespread drought and heat waves that have caused poor hay […] Read more
Larger fall calf run could have long-term implications
Feedlot sector says it will take time to rebuild as tight feed supplies force some producers to reduce the size of their herds
Manitoba’s Hamiota Feedlot bills itself as having a capacity to background and finish more than 12,000 head on its custom operation. If the current feed shortages continue, it’ll likely need to use all that space this year. “These guys are just moving their cows to just give them enough room to hold on to some […] Read more
Genetics, feed help build top cows
Nutritional developments in the beef sector have evolved in step with producers’ genetic and mating decisions
Cows and race cars have something in common — their build and their inputs are part of a winning formula and optimum performance. “Making modifications to your car is like making genetic improvements to your cow. Make sure you are also putting in the right kind of fuel (nutrition),” said Kajal Devani, director of breed […] Read more
