Jim Prentice has been sworn in as Alberta’s new premier with a promise of change and a smaller cabinet, which includes two unelected members. Prentice left his job as executive vice-president of CIBC to run for the Progressive Conservative leadership earlier this year. The job opened following the exit of premier Alison Redford, who resigned […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Sheep pneumonia treatment sought
VANCOUVER — Ovine progressive pneumonia is known by many names, but the results of this slow, viral infection are always the same. It invades the white blood cells of a sheep and slowly kills the animal. It is estimated that 36 percent of sheep operations and 24 percent of all animals tested in the United […] Read more
New Alberta premier announces cabinet
Jim Prentice has been sworn in as Alberta’s new premier with a promise of change and a smaller cabinet, which includes two unelected members. Prentice left his job as executive vice-president of CIBC to run for the Progressive Conservative leadership earlier this year. The job opened following the exit of premier Alison Redford, who resigned […] Read more
Island producers rely on ag sector co-operation
P.E.I. beef producers provide potato growers with manure; potato growers’ rotations include hay and corn for livestock feed
KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — Raising cattle on the red fields and rolling green hills of Prince Edward Island may seem like another culture to western beef producers, but farmer attitudes are the same. They watch the markets daily, they worry about increasing regulatory demands and they want to raise the best beef they can. They also […] Read more
Genomic breeding in sheep a tedious task
VANCOUVER — The dairy world has made astronomical gains in using genomics to improve breeding lines, but the sheep sector is different with its numerous breeds and crossbreeds. “In sheep, the existing data that we have measured already is of limited value,” said Julius Van der Werf of Sheep Industry Innovation in Armidale, Australia. Rapid […] Read more
Genetic traits studied to combat costly BRD
VANCOUVER — Bovine respiratory disease is a costly and complicated condition in which viruses and bacteria may bombard a vulnerable animal all at once. Finding a solution at the genetic level could complement a vaccine and antibiotic regime at feedlots, where many animals become sick. “It accounts for over 50 percent of the feedlot deaths, […] Read more
Alta. producer wins Stampede carcass competition
Kathryn Dolliver of Stettler, Alta. is this year’s winner of the Calgary Stampede’s carcass competition with a crossbred heifer. Dolliver’s black female also won the market heifer division at the Stampede’s steer and heifer shows held in July. The quality beef competition is open to entrants from the steer, market heifer and jackpot heifer competitions. […] Read more
Cattle producers not sold on genetic test for tenderness
VANCOUVER — Aging can improve a tough steak, but a genetic test that could determine which cattle produce tender meat in advance might save the beef industry a considerable sum in storage costs. “As we age the beef for a different number of days, we get less and less beef in this tough category,” said […] Read more
Pedigreed seed growers rare on East Coast island
Meadowbrook Farms | David Mol is one of four seed growers on Prince Edward Island
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — David Mol’s family has grown everything from onions to cattle, but he settled on pedigreed seed on his Prince Edward Island farm. Meadowbrook Farms has operated since 1962, farming about 1,300 acres in the Charlottetown area. Mol is one of the few registered seed growers in the province, producing diverse crops for […] Read more
Dutch dairy farmers at home in horse country
Horse vaulting | The van der Sluijs family came from Holland but are now representing Canada
OLDS, Alta. — An animated little blond girl with hair springing out of her braid bounces up to her grandparents. “Did you see me do the handstand?” she asks Herman and Marijka van der Sluijs. Eight-year-old Trinity has just come off of a patient Percheron horse that allowed her to perform gymnastics on its wide […] Read more
