LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Taking animals off antibiotics is not likely to reduce the growing problem of resistant bugs. That is the conclusion of a North Carolina State University researcher who has collected thousands of samples from pigs that received antibiotics and those in drug free programs. “When it comes to antibiotic resistant pathogens, there is […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Ensuring meat safety challenging
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Large meat processing companies may be wielding a big stick to kill troublesome bacteria, but problems still occur in the best of plants. “There are times we simply don’t do enough for food safety because we know that organisms are still getting through the system,” said John Ruby, head of technical services […] Read more
Too many horses, too few resources for adequate care
Funds stretched beyond capacity | An end to meat processing in the U.S. has left rescue shelters stretched beyond capacity
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The spectre of the unwanted horse continues to trot across the American landscape. These unwanted animals have become an added burden to the taxpayer since the United States ended processing horses for meat in 2007. Thomas Lenz, equine veterinarian for Zoetis and a past chair of the Unwanted Horse Coalition, said the […] Read more
Star stallions live in luxury at Kentucky stable
Three Chimneys Farm | Kentucky’s Clay family has built a large, diversified business
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Graceful Thoroughbreds grazing emerald green pastures behind well tended fences are a common sight in rural Kentucky. Three Chimneys Farm has been a part of that landscape for 40 years, growing from 100 acres to a 2,300 acre operation. It has housed world famous stallions, including Kentucky Derby winners, which this year […] Read more
Grass-fed meat business includes herd of Dexters
Purebred herd | Alberta family finds customers in burgeoning slow food movement
MIRROR, Alta. — Cows and their calves come running toward Mary Ann Stevenson when she walks into the pasture, probing with wet noses to get a friendly scratch. That pleasant disposition is one of the many things Stevenson and her husband, Les Brunelle, like about Dexters. The couple has been raising the cattle breed at […] Read moreFoot-and-mouth outbreak would cause significant problems for United States
By Barbara Duckworth Calgary bureau LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dealing with a highly contagious disease like foot and mouth could be a logistical nightmare for a large country like the United States. Typically the emergency plan demands a nation stop all movement within the agricultural community. With 50 states fighting over jurisdiction, a smaller zoning system […] Read more
Unwanted horses big problem in U.S.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The American public disdains eating horse meat, but few think about the future of the unwanted horse. “This is a really complicated issue because most of the horse industry considers them livestock,” said Thomas Lenz, equine veterinarian for Zoetis and a past chair of the Unwanted Horse Coalition. The public tends to […] Read more
Salmonella remains tough disease to control
‘Robust organism’ | Salmonella found in cattle’s lymph nodes is the newest threat the beef industry must conquer
BANFF, Alta. — The number of E. coli and listeria infections has dropped in recent years, but salmonella remains a constant threat. “Salmonella is a pretty robust organism. It is one of the toughest pathogens we encounter,” food scientist Keith Warriner of Guelph University told a recent Alberta Beef Industry Conference in Banff. “Regardless of […] Read moreAlpaca fibres fine for spinners
Shearing and weaving | ‘No comparison’ to alpaca wool, says owner
EDMONTON — The exotic livestock business may not be what it once was, but there is still a market for alpacas and their fine fleece. “A lot of people who are trying to do the 100 mile diet are trying to do the 100 mile garment,” said Laurie Peeters of Namao, Alta. She has been […] Read more
Grass vs. grain: which is best?
Correction: April 16, 2013 – The original version of this story erroneously referred to Keith Everts as president of Diamond Willow Certified Organic Beef. Everts is the former president of that company, which is now known as Diamond Willow Organics 2012 Ltd. with Kevin Wilkie as president and general manager. The company is not a […] Read more
