Livestock Management
A major player in the western Canadian lamb market is filing for creditor protection to try to restructure more than $50 million in debt. North American Lamb Company (NALC), along with its six subsidiaries, filed for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) on Aug. 8 for its vertically integrated operations which include a […] Read more
Livestock Management
Consolidation trend reaches vet sector
Private equity makes inroads as more rural veterinarians sell to large companies seeking to capitalize on profit potential
Gone are the days of veterinarians hanging out their shingle on a store front in the small, rural towns that dot Alberta as they run mixed animal practices and function like any other independent, locally owned small business. The James Herriot-style vet trundling around to farms and ranches has become a thing of the past, […] Read more
Contest on the hunt for creativity
Alberta Beef Producers hopes to draw attention to the health benefits of burgers and promote ground beef consumption
A federal proposal to put health warnings on ground beef helped spark a contest that invites Canadians to declare their burger-eating style for a chance to win a prize package worth about $1,000. “It’s definitely something that we took into consideration when we were developing this,” said Lindsay Roberts, marketing and communications manager for Alberta […] Read more
Shrinking herd expected to bite into packer margins
American beef processor Tyson Foods’ stock price took a hit recently following a pandemic-driven boom of the last few years that saw the company’s share price reach an all-time high earlier in the year. Brenna Grant, executive director of Canfax, said beef processors’ margins will likely tighten as the effect of shrinking inventories becomes apparent. […] Read more
Clostridium perfringens good reason to keep up vaccines
In the cattle industry, we don’t pay much attention to the clostridium perfringens group of diseases because most producers vaccinate for it in one form or another. These diseases are covered in the multivalent clostridial (blackleg vaccines). Also, certain ones are covered in the scours vaccines so calves get protection in the colostrum and then […] Read more
Sask. irrigators urged to make straw available for feed
Irrigation district organizes a drop straw campaign again this year for livestock producers who may face shortages
Grain producers are again being encouraged to drop their straw at harvest so it can be baled and used by others for feed and bedding. For the second straight year, the South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District No. 1 (SSRID) in Outlook, Sask., is co-ordinating a drop straw campaign for livestock producers who may face feed […] Read more
National day helps consumers celebrate food
Food Day Canada evolves into a celebration for Canadians to share their food, stories, recipes and favourite restaurants
Canadians had an opportunity to take a seat at the table to celebrate Food Day Canada on July 30. It was an occasion to acknowledge the work of farmers, chefs, researchers, home cooks and barbecue masters. From bison tartare to black oysters to corn on the cob and bottled wines, foodies spent their long weekend […] Read more
Beef sector faces genomic roadblocks
Researcher urges industry to make the most of new technology, but producers say it must be worth the time it will require
Producers must keep better records in order for the cow-calf industry to use the full potential of genomics to select cattle for desirable traits, says a scientist. “If you’re going to take advantage of any of the new technologies, having a comprehensive individual cow record-keeping system is essential,” said John Basarab, a research scientist with […] Read more
Public considers calf age in views on slaughter
Survey finds practice is generally acceptable, but the age of the calf when it is slaughtered influences opinions
What happens to surplus or unwanted calves in the dairy industry and what is the public’s attitude to that? Those are questions on a recent survey conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, who wanted to assess public attitudes toward how surplus dairy calves are managed and how calf management practices influence these […] Read more
Aural plaques in horses can increase handling difficulty
Ever wonder about those little white spots in horses’ ears? They are called aural plaques, also known as ear papillomas. The white areas are where the skin is thickened due to infection with an equine papillomavirus. Papillomaviruses, with and without associated skin changes, infect a wide range of species, including monkeys, dolphins, mice and cattle, […] Read more
