The Spread Risk
During the last weeks of 2020 and the first of 2021, the Alberta-Texas fed cattle price spread went positive. That is, Alberta prices were stronger than prices in the United States. That was fascinating given the abundance...
They think of everything these days!
Seeing new car advertisements, that thought runs through my mind. With an active family, I can’t count the number of times there’s been an immediate mess—think sandbox remnants dumped out of tennis shoes or...
Farmers and ranchers are truly the toughest of people.
The margins rarely ever make sense.
The continuous stress of it all doesn’t make sense.
And that’s in a good year.
Now let’s add in a widespread drought.
Watching the crops wither away in front...
Published on Mar 29, 2019
Some highlights from this week's Weekly Livestock Market Update:
•This week in the markets - Cash fed cattle were down more than $3.50 this week and cash feeder cattle sales were steady to $1 lower. The...
The USDA's January 1 cattle inventory report places the total number of cattle and calves at 89.3 million head, consistent with trade expectations for a 3% decline from a year ago, as the industry continues into a fourth consecutive...
Understanding how cattle behaviour relates to productivity, immune status and welfare is a key research focus for Dr. Diego Moya, beef cattle ethologist at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
“The whole objective is to make the animals — even...
Enhancing knowledge is a worthy goal, but it won’t buy you a new barn. With that in mind, researchers on the Genome Alberta beef cattle project took aim at tangible benefits for producers. Given their progress in developing more...
What is keeping farming from expanding in the north? A recent study, "Understanding the Barriers to Livestock Production in the Clay Belt: An Economic, Social, and Environmental Analysis" by Wayne Caldwell, PhD, RPP, MCIP, Sara Epp, PhD, Isabelle Chouinard-Roy,...
Improvements in health and carcass grades are two of the potential benefits unlocked from rations that include phytogenic feed additives.
Phytogenic feed additives (PFA) are a combination of the bioactive and flavoring components of plant-derived substances including essential oils, herbs,...
Overwintering cattle can be challenging for producers in Canada due to the climate. Especially with the concern of feed shortages during the winter months. Therefore, it is recommended that producers plan for potential feed shortages as best they can.
Research...
