Livestock Management
New U.S. slaughter capacity may create opportunities for Canadian producers if they hang onto their cows and heifers
REGINA — Western Canadian cattle producers able to retain cows and heifers through the drought have an opportunity south of the border. Travis Hickey, founder of Cattlenomics in Colorado, told the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference that there aren’t enough cows to support the feeding and packing capacity in the United States. Peak daily slaughter capacity […] Read more
Livestock Management
Implants help young calves, says study
Results are in from a case study at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Institute on growth implants in suckling calves. The study, jointly conducted by the institute and Manitoba Beef Producers, confirms what years of research already suggest: hormone implants are an effective and economical strategy to promote growth and feed efficiency in suckling calves. […] Read more
Short-term drought can be bad
CALGARY — A global study has shown that increasing periods of extreme short-term drought due to climate change will likely have a more severe impact than expected on grasslands relied on by beef producers. “I think the message from this one is that we probably have been underestimating the effects of the droughts that we’re […] Read more
Pros offer tips for what to do in a calving crisis
The calf was breech. Standing a few feet away, Brandon veterinarian Dr. Grayson Ross coached a producer at the rear of the cow through the potential disaster. “Get it in your mind’s eye,” he said. “You’ve got the rump of a calf right in front of you. The tail’s there. You’ve figured out where the […] Read more
New study reinforces importance of colostrum to calves
Newborn calves are born with virtually no immunity of their own. They have a functional immune system at birth, but because the cow’s placenta does not allow antibodies to pass from the mother to the calf during pregnancy, the calf must receive most of its initial immunity from the antibody rich colostrum, or first milk […] Read more
Feds plan to invest in processing projects
The money comes from a fund earmarked to help supply managed sectors hurt by trade deal
REGINA — The federal government will invest $89 million in 49 processing projects in the supply managed sector. Agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay was in Ingleside, Ont., at the Lactalis Canada cheese plant to make the Feb. 5 announcement. The projects are through the six-year, $397.5-million Supply Management Processing Investment Fund, which is part of Ottawa’s […] Read more
CCA calls for retaliation against British beef
Canada’s ambassador to Britain says retaliation carries risks that may prove more dangerous than beneficial
WINNIPEG — Canada should consider banning imports of United Kingdom beef if the U.K. abandons trade talks, says Canada’s main cattle producer organization. “If they’re going to continue to not have open dialogue and follow the science, we encourage our government to take beef completely off the table,” said Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian […] Read more
Livestock, forage research projects approved in Sask.
One of the projects will check back in with young cattle producers who participated in a management study 10 years ago
REGINA — If you were one of the 35 young Saskatchewan cattle producers involved in a research project 10 years ago, Kathy Larson wants to talk to you again. The research associate at the University of Saskatchewan is revisiting an earlier project with the help of Agriculture Development Fund money. Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit […] Read more
Beef profitability boosts enthusiasm
Strong beef prices and lower grain prices mean raising cattle has become more profitable than growing crops this year
BRANDON — When all costs are factored into the equation, raising cattle should be more profitable than growing crops in 2024 — in some cases, much more profitable. “Right now, I can tell you that the returns per acre are higher than any of the crops,” said Ben Hamm, a farm management specialist with Manitoba […] Read more
Cow comfort focus helps reduce dairy lameness
Cow comfort is king in the battle against lameness. That’s the opinion of Mark Gerber, Zinpro dairy technical sales specialist and master trimmer. “If that cow doesn’t have a comfortable bed 12 hours a day, we’re going to have problems,” Gerber said. “We really have to focus on cow comfort. Are our stalls set right? […] Read more
