Livestock Management
LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. – Some 186 bulls were shown at the 91st annual Pride of the Prairies Bull Show and Sale in Lloydminster March 7-8. The number of head on offer was down from last year, but seven breeds were represented in the two-day event. “Economics. We can get (the sale) all done in one day,” […] Read more
Livestock Management
Entries down at bull sale
Grain-rich diet cited in lameness issues
Lameness is the international dairy industry’s third biggest health problem in terms of economic impact, according to a fact sheet on Manitoba Agriculture’s website. It affects 35 percent of dairy cattle in Canada and 46 percent in the United States. Dan Undersander, a forage agronomist at the University of Wisconsin, said the main cost of […] Read more
Canfax
This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Fewer cattle went to market last week with the show list down almost 30 percent. That, and […] Read more
Western Producer Livestock Report – for Mar. 4, 2010
U.S. cash hog prices rose on stronger than expected pork prices and demand. Futures hit an 18 month high. Strong margins allowed packers to bid up cash hog prices for the tight supply of market-ready pigs. Weight gain has slowed because of poor quality corn, related to the late and wet fall harvest. Some traders […] Read more
Diet, milk production studied
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin are attempting to prove that dairy producers can feed higher percentages of grass without compromising milk production. Last year, they took seven percent alfalfa and seven percent corn silage out of the total ration and replaced it with 14 percent Italian ryegrass. The researchers eventually determined that adding fibre, […] Read more
Canadian pork heads to China
Canada has become the first country affected by the H1N1 virus to convince China to end restrictions on pork imports, although it will involve more paperwork for producers. Last week after meetings of agriculture ministers in Paris, Canadian minister Gerry Ritz announced that the Chinese had agreed to “supplementary certification requirements” that will allow increased […] Read more
Scientists try to pin down prairie water supply
Mountain snow packs are natural reservoirs, holding back winter precipitation and releasing it over summer when water demand is high. However, the uncertainty of climate change has researchers questioning how reliable those stores may be in the future. John Pomeroy of the University of Saskatchewan said spring snow could be replaced by more rain that […] Read more
Feed chickens what, when?
RED DEER – Today’s chicken farmers shouldn’t rely on the same techniques their parents did. “These birds come into production sooner than ever before and this has implications for management to get nutrition to the birds at the right time,” said Rob Renema of the Poultry Research Centre at the University of Alberta. The average […] Read more
Management key to healthy birds
RED DEER – Chicken is competing against beef and pork, which means producers must do all they can to deliver quality to the customer. Condemnations due to disease or contamination on the carcass cost everyone in the chain, said Carlyle Bennett of Manitoba Agriculture. For example, he told a poultry research seminar in Red Deer, […] Read more
American hog producers see rainbow on horizon
RIDGETOWN, Ont. – American hog producers have become increasingly optimistic about prices in recent weeks, but production issues remain a worry. Minnesota veterinarian Mike Brumm told Ontario producers at a recent meeting in Ridgetown that hog farmers in his area have been paying as much as $52 for weanlings and $72 for 40 pound feeder […] Read more
