Beef cattle & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Beef cattle, Livestock, Livestock Markets

Manitoba marts see fall cattle walk, not run

By Phil Franz-Warkentin October 26, 2012

The middle of October might normally be the height of the fall run, but the numbers just aren’t there to the same extent as years’ past, according to participants. With fewer cattle making their way to market, prices in the feeder market have held up and even strengthened in some cases during the week ended

Beef cattle, Livestock, Livestock Markets, News

XL takeover latest in a series by global meat giant JBS

By Daniel Winters October 26, 2012

News that XL Foods, one of the two major cattle-slaughtering plants in Canada, is cashing in its chips after a devastating beef recall raises an important question. Just who is JBS, the company taking it over? Founded in 1953 by Jose Batista Sobrinho, it began as a tiny, five-head-per-day abattoir in Anapolis, Brazil. Today, according

Beef cattle, Cereals, Livestock, Livestock Markets

Bad news for XL Foods is good news for organic beef

By Daniel Winters October 26, 2012

Smaller, independently operated production, slaughter and marketing channels  paying off in higher prices and increased consumer confidence

Some Manitoba ranchers aren’t losing any sleep over the problems faced by the XL Foods beef recall. That’s because their beef is certified organic, and marketed through channels that operate totally independent of the big players. “I think we are definitely starting to see demand perk up, not that it wasn’t hot already,” said Allan

Beef cattle, Cereals, Forages, Livestock, News

NDSU reports on feeding trials with peas, hulless barley and DDGS

October 26, 2012

North Dakota State University researchers have reported on beef cattle feeding trials with field peas, hulless barley and distillers grains over the past year. Some results include: Dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) can be used to supplement growing steers fed medium-quality hay. Feeding DDGS on alternate days may be an option when forage availability

Beef cattle, Livestock, Livestock Markets

E. coli bug leaves Manitoba markets under the weather

By Terryn Shiells October 17, 2012

A recent outbreak of E. coli at one of Canada’s largest beef-processing plants continued to affect Manitoba cattle producers during the week ended Oct. 5. “We are seeing prices being impacted, especially for cattle that were going for slaughter,” said Cam Dahl, operations manager with Manitoba Beef Producers. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Sept.

Beef cattle, Livestock, Opinion

The truth is out there

By Laura Rance-Unger October 17, 2012

For some reason, the once popular sci-fi television series “The X-Files” came to mind last week as the unfolding debacle at XL Foods led to an ever-widening beef recall — and not just because of the X in the company’s name. There’s something surreal about advice from public health officials telling you to go to

Beef cattle, Livestock, News

Economic gloom hits U.S. live cattle futures

October 17, 2012

chicago / reuters / U.S. live cattle futures fell to a 2-1/2-month low the last week in September in a broad-based sell-off sparked by renewed concerns about the global economy that led to safe-haven investing in the dollar at the expense of other investments such as cattle, traders and analysts said. “It’s a technical meltdown

Beef cattle, Opinion

Independent look at XL needed

By Alex Binkley October 17, 2012

Four years ago, the Harper government was mired in the Maple Leaf listeria crisis and sought to reassure voters in the upcoming federal election by appointing an independent inquiry into the deadly event. While the XL Foods E. coli incident has produced only four confirmed cases of illness compared to the 22 deaths and scores

Beef cattle, News

CFIA officials reviewing XL procedures

October 17, 2012

The number of Canadian confirmed cases of E. coli from the XL beef plant at Brooks, Alta. had reached 11 by press time Monday. Meanwhile, the beef recall had spread from North America to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety had advised local companies to stop selling and to recall “a small

Beef cattle, Livestock, News

Canada Beef: Celebrating first birthday

By Sheri Monk October 17, 2012

So far, so good. That seemed to be the mood as 150 industry players recently gathered to mark Canada Beef Inc.’s first birthday. “We learned a lot on the fly,” said president Rob Meijer. “I think structurally our business plan and vision is sound. It probably holds stronger today than a year ago when we

Daily Network News

Striking JBS workers to return to Colorado plant on promise of talks

Canadian finance minister talks supply chain integrity, pork tariffs with Chinese vice premier

New strategies needed for Canadian agriculture to stand out in global trade

Beef cattle