Livestock Management
Many important diseases can affect the brains of cattle, sheep and goats. One of the more common brain infections is a condition known as listeriosis. The bacterium that causes this disease is Listeria monocytogenes, named after Joseph Lister, a prominent British surgeon who advanced the field of sterile surgery at the end of the 1800s. […] Read more
Livestock Management
Avian flu hits turkey farms hard
Fresh turkeys might be a little hard to find this fall due to avian flu, but supplies of the frozen product should be easy to locate, according to Turkey Farmers of Canada. While the impact to consumers from the avian influenza outbreak this year will be modest, the highly viral strain is having a bigger […] Read more
U.S. nears record poultry deaths from bird flu; virus type complicates fight
CHICAGO, (Reuters) - A near-record number of U.S. chickens and turkeys have died in this year’s outbreak of avian flu, as a different form of the virus than farmers battled before has infected more wild birds that then transmit the disease, officials said. More than 47 million birds have died due to infections and cullings. This has spurred export bans, lowered egg and turkey production, and contributed to […] Read more
The case against rest stops for calves
Three studies have now concluded that a rest stop during long transport does not benefit weaned calves. However, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it does not plan changes to its regulations that require an eight-hour rest stop, during which cattle are to be unloaded, fed, watered and rested, and then re-loaded, after 36 hours […] Read more
Low stress is best when moving cow-calf pairs
The separation of pairs on the trail often results in animals bawling and leaving the herd seeking their mother or calf
It’s sometimes easier to trail cattle rather than haul them to a new pasture, depending on the distance involved. Some people use quads but in many situations, cattle are moved using horseback riders, especially if the herd is being moved across open country with difficult terrain. When cows with calves are trailed, they often get […] Read more
Climate program focuses on grazing
Young farmers and ranchers expected to benefit the most from federal program; rotational grazing to be key component
A federal program that provides up to $75,000 per applicant to help producers tackle climate change by improving farming practices will especially benefit young farmers and ranchers, says an expert. Although the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) aims to help all qualifying applicants, it can be a challenge for younger or first-generation farmers, said Greg […] Read more
Idea floated to improve feedlot water quality
Researchers test ability of man-made islands to remove smells, antibiotics and heavy metals from feedlot holding ponds
The ability of man-made floating islands to control odour and contaminants in feedlot holding ponds is being tested in Alberta. Scientists are researching the ability of the islands, which are planted with vegetation, to remove smells, antibiotics and heavy metals. “This is really exploiting what nature does best to improve water quality,” said Daniel Karran, […] Read more
Sexually transmitted infections can hurt bull performance
Bulls can be long-term carriers of various infectious bacteria and parasites that can potentially cause a loss of fertility in cow-calf herds. Some of these pathogens are transmitted through sexual activity and can lead to early embryonic loss or abortion, which results in a higher percentage of cows being open at pregnancy testing time. I […] Read more
Man., Sask. fund more seats for vet students
Increased funding will allow Western College of Veterinary Medicine to accept 10 additional students starting in 2023-24
A shortage of veterinarians in rural Canada is an ongoing problem. Now, provincial governments in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have announced more funding for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. That means more students from those two provinces will soon be enrolled for vet training. Starting in 2023-24, Manitoba will pay for five more […] Read more
U.S. experiences boom in beef, pork exports
The U.S. is the world’s top beef exporter with sales of $6.19 billion in the first half of 2022, ahead of Brazil’s $6.14 billion
America’s red meat exports are booming, says an industry official. The United States shipped a record US$18.7 billion worth of pork and beef products around the world in 2021 and is on pace to exceed that total this year. Beef exports have topped $1 billion in six of the seven months that data is available […] Read more
