In the dead of night unsuspecting cows are flipped over by groups of giggling friends and left on their sides, officially tipped. Or not. A zoology professor and a student at the University of British Columbia say they have disproved the decades-old myth of cow-tipping. “I thought it was a good idea (for the student) […] Read more
Stories by Lindsay Jean
Pill found to boost pork marbling, flavour
A pill a day could eventually solve the problem of increasingly drier and tougher pork, says an American animal physiologist. “Animals are so lean and so the fat deposition has decreased so much,” said Gary Hausman, a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Athens, Georgia. “You’ve started losing some of […] Read more
Angus lead pack at fair
The market is responsible for Angus cattle stealing the show as the largest group of purebreds at this year’s Saskatoon Fall Fair. Fifty-seven Black Angus and 33 Red Angus were shown at the Nov. 17-19 fair, marking an above-average count. Last year, 63 Angus were shown. Corinne Gibson, president of the Saskatchewan Angus Association, said […] Read more
Pigs especially sensitive to fusarium toxins
A significant amount of fusarium-contaminated grain in Manitoba means swine producers in the province should be cautious when buying feed grain. “The concern with fusarium-contaminated grain is that it reduces feed intake in pigs,” said Jim House of the department of animal sciences at the University of Manitoba. Fusarium head blight is a fungal infection […] Read more
Don’t ship apples, residents warned
The emergence of the apple maggot in Alberta has British Columbia’s commercial fruit growers on guard. Joe Sardinha, president of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association, said the Okanagan Valley is the only maggot free commercial apple growing area in North America. “We really don’t wish to see apple maggot here. The main thing is, do […] Read more
Newly weaned foals need comforting
Horse owners who bought freshly weaned foals this fall can ease their transition by offering comfortable surroundings, says a livestock specialist. “Whatever you can do to make it easier is all helpful,” said Jim Graham from Saskatchewan Agriculture. There are approximately 475,000 horses across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Graham said many foals are sold in […] Read more
Gun courses reduce accidents
Carol Metcalfe’s breath looked like a puff of gunpowder in the crisp morning air on Oct. 15 as she squinted to align her target in the sights of a .357 revolver. She steadied her arms, took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. Her arms kicked back slightly from the force and a big smile […] Read more
Chance discovery starts night blindness research
Strange behaviour in several Appaloosa horses has sparked one of the most extensive research projects about night blindness in horses ever conducted. On a cold, moonless winter night several years ago, Sheila Archer tossed a feeding tire over the fence to her Appaloosa horse. “She came walking very slowly, with her head down almost touching […] Read more
Outfitters net fine
Environment Canada may appeal a sentence relating to 56 counts of wildlife legislation violations handed down to a waterfowl outfitter and three hunting guides on Oct. 25. Gary Carriere, owner of Mistik Lodge near Cumberland House, and guides Delvin Laliberte, Cory McKenzie and Claude Dussion, were fined $30,000 for breaking 51 laws under the federal […] Read more
Harvest funds senior’s home
DEBDEN, Sask. – There was no shortage of labour or equipment at a recent farmer fundraising event for a senior’s home in northern Saskatchewan. “Oh boy, it’s unbelievable,” said Phil Demers, committee chair for the Debden Personal Care Home. Ten combines, 13 grain trucks, four semis, two bins, and four augers occupied a 140-acre field […] Read more
