LETHBRIDGE – Crops effectively mine the soil for nitrogen, but two agriculture researchers say phosphorus uptake is another matter. Studies conducted since 2001 have shown that excessive application of manure causes phosphorus to accumulate and pose environmental risks, particularly to water. “After five years of annual application of manure and compost based on the nitrogen […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Demand for larger hogs affects barns
BANFF, Alta. -Weaning more pigs per sow and rasing bigger market hogs has meant crowded barns across North America. Packers and processors want larger carcasses, but the typical finisher barn is not big enough to accommodate them. While there are suggestions to squeeze in more hogs per pen, the tradeoff is the risk of disease […] Read more
Laminitis in horses difficult to treat
RED DEER – Laminitis is a crippling lameness described by horse owners since 350 BC. Early treatments involved bleeding several pints from the horse or feeding it concoctions of weasel skins, putrid eggs and vinegar. It remains a troublesome condition for horses and their owners and may never be completely corrected, said Ilka Wagner of […] Read more
Unwanted horses pose big problem
RED DEER – Legislation to ban horse slaughter in the United States could create a major surplus of unwanted animals on both sides of the border. “I hope they are not naïve enough to think if they pass this legislation that the unwanted horse problem will go away,” said equine veterinary Nat Messer of the […] Read more
Horse slaughter numbers falling in North America
RED DEER – Packing plants slaughter 100,000 horses a year in North America for human consumption, but an American equine veterinarian argues that could end if the United States passes legislation to ban processing of horses for meat. Nat Messer of the University of Missouri told a recent horse industry conference in Red Deer that […] Read more
Ambitious rural kindergarten gives youngsters a leg up
When Shelli Tattrie’s oldest son was barely out of kindergarten he was already a fluent reader. The Youngstown, Alta., mother credits the local kindergarten with pushing its students to prepare them for elementary school where three grades work together in one classroom. For many small schools across the Prairies, blended classrooms and declining enrolments are […] Read more
Myths surround horse digestive issues
RED DEER – Myths about protein, grain and minerals in a horse’s diet sometimes do more harm than good in the long run, say two equine specialists who spoke at a horse industry conference in Red Deer. There are some who claim excess protein makes a horse excitable and hard to handle. Or, it might […] Read more
Alberta Pork delegates miffed by national group’s position
Alberta Pork is reviewing its membership in the national organization following a dispute over whether to align with the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance. Delegates passed a resolution to review its participation in the Canadian Pork Council following a lengthy debate at the annual meeting in early December. Two years ago the pork council directors voted […] Read more
Bar codes allowed on older cattle
The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency has agreed to grandfather all bar code tags for cattle older than 30 months after concerns from across the country about the cost of adding an electronic tag. Some cattle are now double tagged because it is illegal to remove ear tags. Bar code tags will be recognized until Dec. […] Read more
U.S. closer to taking older cattle
Canadian beef producers are hoping a newly released U.S. rule allowing trade in older cattle and beef will be in effect later this year. “It is the biggest short-term thing that can happen to help us,” said the president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
