When things are profitable for the feedlot operator, we generally see those operators start to fill pens. That’s the historic trend and it just makes good sense. However, the Canfax  numbers for March show cattle placements down again in Canada. As the number of cattle on-feed drop, producers who depend on those numbers begin to… Read More

Over the past few years U.S. DDGs have worked their way more and more into Western Canadian livestock rations. The energy value is good, the starch content is less, helps to prevent acidosis in cattle, improved feed conversions and the quality and yield grades of carcasses remain unaffected when switching from traditional rations. Another big… Read More

Barley is bumping off of $200, corn is $7.00 per bushel and dressed cattle prices are just under $200.  What is going on here?  With inputs and cattle prices both in bull runs it is easy to get caught up in the assumption that this will last forever.  As the old saying goes, what goes… Read More

It has been a challenging year for cattle feeders in the respect that unhedged cattle have performed well financially but the majority of cattle for progressive producers were contracted or hedged. On top of this is the fact that replacing cattle in the feed yard is very expensive based on the break evens that are… Read More

As the cattle industry contemplates the rebuilding of the cow herd, bull selection strategies will become incredibly important to ranchers profitability in the future.  Once better known as an art, bull selection is a science now.  Gone are the days when an old cowboy could walk out into a pen and say, “I like the… Read More

The way that feedyard owners handle cattle has a massive impact on gains and the overall health of the animal. Many of you have used the snake and tub concept originally designed by Temple Grandin (i think?) When I was at the NCBA convention I ran into a very cool booth that was giving live… Read More

With growing concern over the realities of a limited calf supply do to the aggressive culled cow rate in the past five years. Ranchers are optimistic in their economic future because of the barriers of re-entry and the inability for supply to increase in the near term. I discussed the cow calf supply issue with… Read More

It seems that a cowboy is judged by a couple different metrics.  He’s judged by the way he wears his cowboy hat, the brand of chew he carries, and the kind of boots he wears.  I really have none of those since I don’t wear a hat, don’t chew and never wear boots.  How would… Read More

 

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