Trichomoniasis is showing up in Alberta. The venereal disease, which is typically introduced by bulls, has been diagnosed in herds over the past two years, says Gerald Hauer, a senior veterinarian with Alberta Agriculture. The disease can be economically devastating because it can result in a large number of cows aborting calves or failing to […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
South Korea allows U.S. beef
South Korea has agreed to accept American beef products from cattle of all ages by mid May. Where that leaves Canada remains to be seen, said John Masswohl of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “It appears it could be very good news for Canada,” he said. “Our understanding has been that Canada and the U.S., for […] Read more
Activist targets horse slaughter procedures
Euthanizing unwanted horses on the farm is better than slaughtering them for meat, says a Winnipeg animal rights activist. Twyla Francois, of the Canadian Horse Defense Coalition is concerned about the treatment of horses exported from the United States to Canadian slaughter plants. She has spoken with Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials about conditions the […] Read more
Offences worse elsewhere, says animal welfare expert
RED DEER – After 35 years teaching and practising the humane treatment of animals, Temple Grandin has seen major improvements for livestock from the farm to the final destination at processing plants. “I have worked 35 years to improve this industry,” Grandin told the annual meeting of Alberta Farm Animal Care. “We finally have some […] Read more
Retirement plan needs serious consideration
CAROLINE, Alta. – It’s never too early to start planning for retirement. “Most people spend more time planning for their vacations than they do for their retirement,” said Al Bergsma, owner of Rocky Ridge Financial Inc. in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. He told a recent farm seminar in Caroline that Canadians’ personal savings have dropped […] Read more
Recognize calving problems and react
CAROLINE, Alta. – Calving is usually a trouble-free event but sometimes things go wrong with an incorrect presentation or big calf blocking its entry to the world. Being able to recognize trouble and knowing when to get help is crucial to delivering a live, healthy baby, said veterinarian Kristine McLean at the annual Cows and […] Read more
Cattle sector goes to bat for packers
The law of unintended consequences is playing itself out as Canadian beef processors and renderers carry the heavy costs of the enhanced feed ban. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is pushing the federal government for a financial package to help packers and renderers adjust to the added cost of separating and disposing of ruminant body parts […] Read more
Alta. gov’t pays over water tiff
The Alberta government has agreed to pay the Western Irrigation District $85 million to settle a decades-old dispute over water rights. The government rewrote the district’s water licence in 1963, reducing the allocation to 160,000 acre feet from 600,000. An acre foot is the amount of water required to cover an acre of land in […] Read more
Alta. group recognizes animal welfare work
RED DEER – Alberta Farm Animal Care has recognized Lakeland College in Vermilion and Red Deer County for their contributions to improving animal welfare. The industry leadership award was presented to Lakeland College for incorporating humane animal care practices as a core part of its agricultural sciences curriculum. The college includes practical, hands-on, low stress […] Read more
Meat audit calls for changes
RED DEER – A lengthy audit of Alberta’s provincial meat plants shows room for improvement in animal handling and stunning. Animal handlers need more education because many come to the job with limited experience, said John Church of Alberta Agriculture regulatory services. The inspections started September 2006 with the last one completed last month. Of […] Read more
