Eric Thornhill knows the spectre of crisis well. On Nov. 18, 1967, the British farmer watched his 580 head of livestock destroyed due to a foot-and-mouth epidemic in England. The animals were buried in a clay-lined pit and covered with lime to prevent infection. He was allowed to restock the following spring but it took […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Coping with crisis – Special Report (about)
On May 20, the Canadian beef industry was thrown into turmoil when officials confirmed that an Alberta cow had been diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The international response was swift and decisive. The American border was closed to all live cattle and beef products, a measure that has cost the Canadian industry hundreds of millions […] Read more
Feed-short cattle producers thrown a lifeline
Emergency livestock care programs are developing across the Prairies as producers face a long winter with limited markets and short feed supplies. Alberta Farm Animal Care has developed an emergency response plan for livestock similar to the program offered last year when drought resulted in feed shortages across most of the province. This year bovine […] Read more
Fire razes hog barn
About 1,700 breeding hogs died in a fire at the DanBred North America facility near Beiseker, Alta., on Sept. 29. About 50 hogs were saved, but had to be killed later, said company spokesperson Grant McCormick. The Danish bred pigs were part of the terminal sire line created by the Canadian division in Lacombe. Cause […] Read more
Groups propose new BSE program
Two producer groups are proposing a long-term bailout package for the beef industry worth more than $1 billion in five phases. The program asks for partial compensation to producers for the loss of value of cattle since international trade halted May 20 because of one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The Agricultural Producers Association of […] Read more
Size matters to Alberta gardener
CARSTAIRS, Alta. – Eddy Zaychkowsky was a middle aged guy looking for a hobby. He found it in a pumpkin patch. This spring he decided to grow giant pumpkins and watched in wonder as the orange orbs swelled to more than 700 pounds. “All I ever wanted to do was 500 lb. That was a […] Read more
Livestock handling course geared to Alberta 4-Hers
Ten livestock handling workshops for Alberta 4-H members are being offered this fall. This five-hour course covers general animal behaviour and how to handle cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, bison, elk, poultry and llamas. Participants will also learn about recognizing illness, injury and distress in livestock, how to treat sick or injured animals, disease and human […] Read more
Strict rules govern cross border vet drug shopping
Livestock producers considering cross-border shopping to take advantage of lower-priced veterinary products need to follow specific rules. Prescription and non-prescription drugs come under different sets of rules, said Jean Szkotnicki, president of the Canadian Animal Health Institute, which represents companies that make and distribute drugs. “The rules are not as clear as many people might […] Read more
Larger animals give rise to shipping problems
Oversized cattle are a growing problem for the livestock industry. Big steers, cows and bulls are sometimes shipped to packing plants in Western Canada in overcrowded conditions, leading to stress, scrapes and bruises. “This started with an Alert call to AFAC,” said Susan Church, head of the Alberta Foundation for Animal Care. The Alert line […] Read more
U.S. feedlots at top of money cycle
When Iowa feedlot owner Richard Hartman was offered 92 cents a pound for his finished cattle, he could not believe his good fortune. “I took the money and ran,” he said. Profitability has been elusive these last few years. Last year he finished Holstein steers and lost money. This year he cannot find enough good […] Read more
