U.S. drought pressures feeder market

Manitoba cattle auction marts operated in full holiday mode during the week ended July 27, with only a couple of yards holding sales. Heartland Livestock Services in Brandon and Winnipeg Livestock Sales were the only auction yards able to provide market reports for the week. Both auction marts reported a steady volume of cattle compared

High feed prices push more cattle to slaughter

Manitoba cattle auction marts operated in routine holiday mode during the week ended July 20 with feeder cattle seeing steady prices and average volume for this time of year. But, butcher cows on the slaughter market saw above-normal volume, and weaker prices, an industry official said. Rick Wright, a buyer with Heartland Buying Order Company,



Farmers urged to tell their story but keep it real

Ordinary farmers could help polish the livestock industry’s image 
by posting matter-of-fact video clips on popular Internet site

Corrected, June 8, 2012 — Livestock producers should seize the power of YouTube to counter the influence of animal rights activists. But ditch the PR and keep it real. That was the advice of renowned animal welfare expert Temple Grandin delivered at a sold-out presentation here last week. “When YouTube first started, about two or






Naked oats tested for organic chickens

Scientists with Ohio State University have received a four-year, US$896,000 Department of Agriculture grant to study the feasibility of incorporating “naked oats” into organic farming rotations as a way to cut the cost of producing organic chicken. The oats, which have a unique protein and amino acid balance, will be tested in the diets of


Tyson Foods: High gasoline prices threaten beef demand

washington / reuters / U.S. consumers may try to save money by eating less meat if they continue to feel the pinch of high gasoline prices, the chief executive of Tyson Foods said Feb. 24. “People want meat… but it’s getting pretty expensive,” CEO Donnie Smith told reporters at an agricultural conference in Washington, D.C.

Big exports but cattle herd expansion unclear: USDA

Washington / Reuters Recent drought and forecasts for limited rainfall could constrain the size of the U.S. cattle herd despite high retail beef prices and forecasts for near-record exports, the Agriculture Department said Feb. 15. Record-high retail beef prices “are not sufficient to provide the long-term margins and profits the wholesale and cattle-feeding sectors must