RED DEER – Animal welfare laws rarely improve animal welfare, says a Manitoba agriculture official. Terry Whiting told the Alberta Farm Animal Care conference in Red Deer April 4 that American legislators tend to respond to lobbyists, which results in laws with no clear benefit. The ban on horse slaughter is a case in point, […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Animal stress, pain difficult for science to measure
RED DEER – Philosophers have long debated what it feels like to be a pig or a horse, but it is difficult for other branches of science to measure animal well-being. Under European Union law, farm animals are recognized as sentient creatures that feel pain and are aware of their surroundings. “Well-being is an aspiration […] Read more
Building bee lifts barn from ashes
CREMONA, Alta. – Joanne Pothier was getting ready for bed Jan. 31 when she glanced out the window to see her barn on fire. She called the local fire department at 11 p.m. but it was too late. The old structure was soon engulfed in flames and there was no chance to save the ewes, […] Read more
Campaign touts meat sector as career
Promoting meat cutting as a career is the concept behind a public awareness campaign called Meat Force. “The idea is to attract people to the meat industry,” said Brad McLeod, co-ordinator of the Olds College meat processing program that accepts up to 24 students per year. About 80,000 Canadians work in the meat business but […] Read more
Carbon aggregators seek farm customers
They cannot see it, weigh it or haul it, but more farmers are buying into the idea of selling the carbon stored in their soil. “There was skepticism but once they understand the science of carbon sequestration in the soil, it makes perfect sense,” said Bill Dorgan of Agri-Trend Aggregation, a carbon aggregator company formed […] Read more
Farmer spreads wings in poultry sector
COALDALE, Alta. – Sylvia Donkersgoed’s passions are her family, agriculture and the power of women to take responsibility for their lives and livelihood. She holds strong beliefs, including the principle of “standing on your own, not standing alone.” She was the first female chair within the Canadian chicken industry and credits her six years with […] Read more
Feed research needs millions, says report
Feed grain and forage research is increasingly underfunded at a time when Canada’s livestock sector struggles to remain competitive, says a recently released study. The report, conducted by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said many research projects are short-term, regional investments with little future vision. “This approach has produced a research system in which the few […] Read more
Cowboy church draws in crowd
COCHRANE, Alta. – The Cowboy Trail Church at Cochrane may be one of the few places of worship where members must arrive early to get a parking space. After three years of operation, the unique interdenominational church is attracting increasing numbers of worshippers at a time when church attendance is falling across Canada. Held at […] Read more
National cattle herd shrinking
RED DEER – A major structural shift is happening for beef operations in Canada and the United States. The downsizing and consolidating occurring in both countries is a response to higher costs and slim profits, said a trio of market analysts at the Alberta Beef Industry Council convention in Red Deer last month. Herd sizes […] Read more
Rancher opts for low stress sale
CLARESHOLM, Alta. – When Andy and Ramona Hart started planning their ninth bull sale, they knew they wanted an easy going event with little stress on them or the cattle on their Claresholm ranch. They checked out video sales and decided to sell their 50 long yearling Black Angus bulls the same way rather than […] Read more
