Alberta farmer
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- Nov 13, 2008
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In Alberta this year we had a pretty tough drought. Hay prices are pretty well in that 6 to 8 cent/lb. range. Due to poor pastures a lot of people are going to have to start feeding fairly early. With a lot of luck we can turn cattle out May 10...if we didn't eat the pastures down too hard the year before.
Does it make sense to feed 225 days a year(30 lb/day) at a cost of about $2.10/day/cow(about $475 for feed alone)?
Straw can be added to a ration but unfortunately there is not a lot of straw and I suspect it will be pricey? On top of all this hay, and maybe straw, will have to be brought in from quite a distance and the trucking costs will be a real problem.
The prices for calves, yearlings and cows continue to fall....and probably will esculate as the cattle come off pasture. I suspect average calf prices will be way down? Unlikely to get enough to pay for the cows intake this winter?
My neighbor bought a load of horse hay yesterday. 34 big rounds(1250 lb.) at $100/bale and an $8/bale trucking charge. I guess horses are such money makers they can afford to pay!
Most cattle producers up here are saying they either intend to liquidate or cut their herds drastically. I wonder where the cattle will come from to fill the feedlots next year and keep our two big packers running? We might see a lot of feeder cattle imported from the US border states. Wouldn't that be a change?
Does it make sense to feed 225 days a year(30 lb/day) at a cost of about $2.10/day/cow(about $475 for feed alone)?
Straw can be added to a ration but unfortunately there is not a lot of straw and I suspect it will be pricey? On top of all this hay, and maybe straw, will have to be brought in from quite a distance and the trucking costs will be a real problem.
The prices for calves, yearlings and cows continue to fall....and probably will esculate as the cattle come off pasture. I suspect average calf prices will be way down? Unlikely to get enough to pay for the cows intake this winter?
My neighbor bought a load of horse hay yesterday. 34 big rounds(1250 lb.) at $100/bale and an $8/bale trucking charge. I guess horses are such money makers they can afford to pay!
Most cattle producers up here are saying they either intend to liquidate or cut their herds drastically. I wonder where the cattle will come from to fill the feedlots next year and keep our two big packers running? We might see a lot of feeder cattle imported from the US border states. Wouldn't that be a change?