A new economic research institute should relieve some of the information gaps dogging the Canadian beef industry. That lack of good economic research on cattle markets and pricing left Canada unprepared to understand the affects of the BSE crisis, said Kurt Klein, an agriculture economist at the University of Lethbridge. “We hope we can fill […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Mistakes cause costly food recalls
VANCOUVER – When pets and their owners started to get sick, the cause was traced to improperly processed dog treats containing salmonella. That is one of many food recalls that public health inspectors have been involved with in recent years, says a British Columbia public health inspector. Food recalls can be costly and time consuming […] Read more
Stable keepers may form group from February 15, 2007
Commercial stable keepers are proposing an industry association to address the growing horse business in Alberta. “There is $30 million worth of horse business that goes on in Alberta,” said Jeanette Coote, who is part of a group hoping to develop an association to build consistent business and safety standards as well as improve communication […] Read more
Fat’s positive spin puts shine on meat
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – According to revised dietary guidelines in the United States, eating the right kind of fat can improve human health. That could be good news for the beef industry, which has been chasing after fat-avoiding consumers since the mid-1970s when food guides identified excessive fat consumption as a leading cause of heart disease […] Read more
Closed Asian doors frustrate U.S. producers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Restoring beef markets in Asia remains a frustration for American producers and U.S. agriculture secretary Mike Johanns. Access to the lucrative Japanese market is limited and non existent in South Korea, where disputes continue over the safety of American beef. Producers’ best bet may be a ruling from the world animal health […] Read more
Bovine virus among causes of failing health
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When a cow starts to lose body condition or goes down, an accurate diagnosis could reveal a range of problems including Johne’s disease, bovine leukosis virus, malnutrition or a mineral deficiency. “There are a lot of diseases that cause thinness in cows,” said John Maas, a veterinarian from the University of California, […] Read more
Biofuel future still uncertain
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As the biofuel train gains speed, more are wondering about its final destination. No one knows who might win the competition for corn between livestock and ethanol producers. No one knows how more grain and ethanol can be moved on an already stressed transportation system. No one knows how planting decisions might […] Read more
NCBA continues push for voluntary labelling
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The United States’ leading beef producer group continues to support a voluntary rather than mandatory country-of-origin food labelling law. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association passed a resolution at its recent convention in Nashville that calls on the organization to work with Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that a […] Read more
U.S. worries about disease strategy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Beef producers in the United States worry about what would happen if foot-and-mouth disease was ever detected in their country. While speaking at a forum held during the recent National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention in Nashville, Wayne Zimmerman of Colorado wondered if such a situation would be handled quickly and effectively. He […] Read more
Beef can work as functional food
VANCOUVER – Producers can make beef a functional food simply by changing what they feed their cattle, says an Agriculture Canada researcher. Priya Mir, who works at the Lethbridge Research Centre, is investigating how to increase conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, in beef through special feeding programs. This fatty acid is thought to provide protection […] Read more
