Incentives rather than penalties may be needed to encourage producers to report sick and dying animals, says Canada’s chief veterinarian. “We shouldn’t need significant legal and economic penalties to do the right thing,” Brian Evans of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency told the Canadian Meat Council’s annual meeting in Calgary Feb. 6. “We should be […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
BVD: a hidden killer
PHOENIX, Ariz. – American cattle producers may have animals spreading bovine viral diarrhea through their herds without realizing it. Researchers believe seven percent of animals with BVD persistently infected while the rest are suffering acute infection at a cost of $56 million US per year in the United States. “There is the perception that it […] Read more
CWB hinders value-adding, says grower
As a timothy hay grower, Doug McBain has learned the meaning of valued added. The president of the Western Barley Growers Association sells to Japanese customers who order hay specifically from his farm near Cremona, Alta. The hay is identity preserved and every bale can be traced back to a strip of land on his […] Read more
International review calls for more BSE testing in U.S.
An international panel reviewing the first BSE case in the United States said the incident should be considered a North American problem and should not be used to prohibit trade. “The first case of BSE in the United States cannot be considered in isolation from the whole cattle production system in North America and should […] Read more
McDonald’s finds consumer confidence in safety of beef
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A free quarter pounder from Ronald McDonald under the golden arches may be one way to entice North Americans to eat more beef. The McDonald’s restaurant clown handed out free burgers for lunch at the recent National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention to show support for the American industry. At one billion pounds […] Read more
Heat control vital at Arizona dairy
BUCKEYE, Ariz. – At Triple G Dairy, 9,000 Holsteins live in air conditioned comfort on their Arizona farm 45 minutes west of Phoenix. Owned by Conrad Gingg and his sons, Ben and K.C., the family moved from California five years ago after urban sprawl forced them to move east to the open spaces of Arizona. […] Read more
Feedlot keeps itself in black and white
PHOENIX, Ariz. – About a half hour west of Phoenix is a sea of black and white in the midst of citrus, cotton and cactus. Heiden Land and Cattle Company finishes about 6,500 Holstein steers on feed year round, providing an outlet for dairy bulls that come from as far away as California. “We’re probably […] Read more
U.S. can’t recover from BSE by itself
PHOENIX, Ariz. – If the United States wants to regain world beef markets, it must work closely with Canada and Mexico. “If we are going to compete in the global markets , we have to harmonize up to a North American system,” said Chandler Keys, head policy analyst for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. If […] Read more
Hungry Alta. herds seized
The Alberta SPCA seized three herds of hungry cattle in the first week of February. Neighbours and the RCMP alerted the SPCA to cases from New Dayton to Falun, Alta. On the New Dayton farm in southern Alberta, dead animals of all ages were found and 12 animals were killed on site. The rest were […] Read more
Ranchers pleased at labelling delay
PHOENIX, Ariz. – American livestock producers think a two-year delay in implementing their country’s mandatory country-of-origin labelling plan may buy them enough time to develop an improved program. “We think we can use that two years where we can reconstruct this legislation,” said Jim McAdams, chair of the voluntary country-of-origin task force initiated by the […] Read more
