An international Simmental sale has given the Canadian beef industry a vote of confidence, with more than $300,000 worth of cattle selling at a special sale in Calgary Oct. 24. The concept of a cross-border sale started last January among Canadian and American Fleckvieh breeders. Plans were finalized May 18 in Dallas, Texas, but an […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Alberta funds plan to market older cattle
The Alberta government has announced a $4 million program to develop beef markets for animals older than 30 months. In addition, the Leduc food processing centre received $400,000 to develop new beef products. The program has several forms. One is to assist expansion of further meat processing in Alberta to use beef from older cattle. […] Read more
CCA pushes to allow U.S. cattle without tests
Although international markets remain closed to Canadian cattle, the debate over animal health remains in the forefront. The issue of whether American cattle should freely move into Canada without health tests for four diseases has been a longtime irritant in the United States, said Arno Doerksen, chair of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association animal health and […] Read more
CCIA pushes for electronic tags
Canadian cattle may be wearing electronic identification ear tags by 2005. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency is phasing out plastic dangle ear tags and replacing them with smaller radio frequency identification tags that are placed inside the animal’s ear. CCIA manager Julie Stitt said a number of packers and auctions are already equipped to read […] Read more
Cattle prices rock market
Better than expected prices for feeder calves and slaughter cattle have rocked the markets for the last two weeks. Market watchers predicted a poor fall run with prices below 70 cents a pound in the weeks following May 20 when international borders closed to Canadian cattle due to a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. […] Read more
New rendering process turns carcasses to dust
PONOKA, Alta. – A newly patented process to break down organic waste could solve the problem of disposing of cull animal carcasses and body parts. Biosphere Technologies of Alberta has received international patents for a process called BioRefinex to break down organic material in a pressure cooker type system using water, high temperature and pressure. […] Read more
Funding flows to fresh water centre
A new centre for fresh water research has been granted $7.5 million over five years to address the vulnerability of Alberta’s water supply. The centre is a collaboration among water research scientists at the University of Alberta, University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge. It is expected to focus on studies related to the […] Read more
Hay West: the sequel
A convoy of trucks hauling Alberta hay is expected to leave Oct. 24 for fire-ravaged British Columbia, where ranches have lost native pasture, fencing and livestock. A group of central Albertans moved by last year’s donation of hay from Eastern Canada decided to pay the generosity forward. So far, about 400 tonnes of hay and […] Read more
Vaccine reduces shipping fever
A recently released vaccine to prevent bovine respiratory disease has been proven to reduce deaths by as much as half. Released by Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., the subcutaneous vaccine appears to work well against the disease, which is also known as shipping fever. Respiratory tract infections can be caused by a number of agents and […] Read more
Droughts may become more common
The most recent prairie drought may be a taste of things to come, says the head of the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative based at the University of Regina. Dave Sauchyn told a recent water conference sponsored by the research support organization Alberta Ingenuity that as the earth warms, the greatest impact may be felt in […] Read more
