Livestock Management
WEYBURN, Sask. — Hours before the midway rides would draw those seeking thrills and candy apples, the barns at the Weyburn fair grounds were bustling with another tradition. Kids, parents and grandparents were all busy getting ready for day two of the 73rd annual regional 4-H show, held by the Weyburn Agricultural Society in conjunction […] Read more
Livestock Management
Bison handling facilities get smarter, safer
Systems should be designed to minimize stress and allow the animal to be processed quickly
Handling bison is always a challenge, but doing it with agitated animals in a poorly designed system can be dangerous, and perhaps even deadly. That was one of the messages delivered last week during the first International Symposium on Bison Health. The symposium, held June 24-26 in Saskatoon, attracted bison producers and veterinary experts from […] Read more
Holstein nets $197,000 at Alberta sale
COCHRANE, Alta. — A polled red cow was the high seller at the Rocky Mountain High Holstein sale in Cochrane July 2. Westcoast Ladd Aspen sold for $197,000 to West Coast Holsteins of Chilliwack, B.C., after active bidding in the sales tent, where more than 90 prime Holsteins were on offer. “We think she will […] Read more
Trial looks at heifer weight, reproductive abilities
Study shows bigger isn’t better when it comes to a young female’s development and conception rates
Collective wisdom says replacement heifers need to reach 60 to 65 percent of their mature body weight at the start of the breeding season. Heifers that are lighter at weaning or did not gain enough weight from weaning until breeding may not cycle at the desired time. Recent research trials at the Western Beef Development […] Read moreLessons learned treating outbreaks valuable to others
Treatment plan for condition includes vaccines and antibiotics in feed, despite veterinarian’s concern about introducing antibiotic resistance
A perplexing case of calves suffering from swollen joints on an Alberta purebred operation required some serious detective work for the herd veterinarian. Contagious polyarthritis was the diagnosis, but the treatment plan was devised through experimentation and extensive consultation, said veterinarian Todd Gunderson. “The chances that you are going to see this particular disease in […] Read moreDiagnosing cause of abortions difficult
Cattle abortions can be frustrating for producers and veterinarians because a diagnosis may be confirmed only half the time. “Getting negative findings from the lab does not equate with diagnostic failure,” said pathologist Cameron Knight of the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. It simply means common causes were ruled out. The next step […] Read more
B.C. highway safety gets boost with additional funding for livestock fencing
British Columbia has committed $4 million to expand the province’s livestock fencing program until 2017. This funding extends the fencing program that started in 2010, when $10 million was provided to rebuild hundreds of kilometres of fence lines along provincial highways. The program built 650 km of fences, and the latest funding should add another […] Read more
Cattle vaccine history valuable
It’s important to pass on relevant health information to new owners when livestock are sold. This includes information such as preventive shots and deworming programs. These questions are seldom asked in cattle transactions anymore, but with cattle being of higher value and often travelling long distances and through different geographic areas, it is valuable information. […] Read more
CME live cattle end higher after wild ride; hogs up
By Theopolis Waters CHICAGO, July 7 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled higher on Tuesday after a choppy session in which anticipation of stronger cash prices overshadowed slack wholesale beef demand, traders said. August closed up 0.575 cent per pound at 151.075 cents, and October 0.550 cent higher at 154.025 cents. Fewer […] Read more
Hog supplies, post holiday slump cool CME livestock futures
By P.J. Huffstutter CHICAGO, July 6 (Reuters) – U.S. livestock futures remained mostly sluggish on Monday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as traders wrestled with strengthening grain prices, tight supplies of market-ready cattle, and visions of a glut of hogs straining U.S. slaughterhouse capacity in the coming months. Livestock futures trading was relatively light on […] Read more
