Negotiations are underway with Russia to accept live Canadian breeding cattle and boneless beef. Russian officials will provide a list of accepted meat products after they tour Canadian facilities. Health certificates required for dairy and beef cattle exports are under discussion. “Their visit will be taking place soon,” said Julie Palmondin, Agriculture Canada spokesperson. She […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Animal traceability called urgent priority
Time is of the essence for an integrated national livestock identification program in Canada, says the president of the Canadian Livestock Identification Agency. “Canada is vulnerable and we have to take action now,” said pork producer Dennis McKerracher of High River, Alta. The livestock identification agency consists of most of the farm animal groups working […] Read more
Beef quality program simplified
The verified beef program has been updated and simplified to encourage more interest from producers. The on-farm food safety program started in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta two years ago and has spread across the country as more trainers and auditors are contracted, said national program manager Terry Grajczyk. The workshops have trained more than 3,600 […] Read more
Alta. monitors nitrogen levels
LAKE LOUISE, Alta. – Alberta is attempting to ensure it avoids the kind of ecological damage linked to nitrogen oversaturation in Europe. Conclusions from a 2001 nitrogen assessment survey determined about 120,000 tonnes of ammonia per year are released into the atmosphere from a variety of sources. “The conclusion was that agriculture produces about 90 […] Read more
Construction underway at Alberta meat plant
LACOMBE, Alta. – The concrete walls are up at a meat plant in central Alberta that will be able to handle bison, elk, cattle and ostrich. Canadian Premium Meats’ three partners and their investors hope the federally inspected, European Union approved processor will open doors to new meat markets for the alternative livestock industry. Armin […] Read more
Foothills ranch offers escape from big city life
PRIDDIS, Alta. – The Homeplace Ranch is at the end of a winding road where peace and quiet resides less than an hour from downtown Calgary’s noise and bustle. Owned and operated by Mac and Jayne Makenny, the guest ranch has been in business for 32 years promoting the western way of life and giving […] Read more
College expansion fits with Stampede plans
A little green schoolhouse on the corner of Calgary’s Stampede Park is the beginning of a major expansion for Olds College. The modular building is the temporary home for two college programs and 50 students in the satellite school. The college and the Stampede started talks in 2001 to expand the 90-year-old agricultural college to […] Read more
Purebred sector looks to beef up skills
Purebred cattle producers admit they need more training when it comes to producing good stock and marketing their pedigreed bulls and females. Those were just some of the findings of a purebred risk assessment study done by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council. Mail-in surveys, live interviews and focus groups among seedstock and commercial producers, auctions […] Read more
Change made to how BSE is announced
Future BSE cases in Canada will not be reported until the disease has been confirmed at the world reference laboratory in Winnipeg. All new cases will be reported on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website and additional material or technical briefings will be provided only if there is new information about BSE. Canada has had […] Read more
Blood test checks for pregnancy
A faster pregnancy check carried out by a blood test is now available to producers. The test detects a pregnancy protein in the blood and can be used on any ruminant, including cattle, deer, elk, sheep and goats. Developed by Conception, an animal reproduction company in Quebec, the product will be available in Western Canada, […] Read more
