Livestock Management
Influenza and its causes in people can be an ever-evolving process. At one time we rarely heard about influenza in cattle because there appears to be different factors in cattle serum and their immune response that causes a hindrance to the influenza virus. That is a great thing. It changed in about 2010 when reports […] Read more
Livestock Management
Heat, humidity kill at least 2,000 Kansas cattle, state says
CHICAGO, June 15 (Reuters) – Extreme heat and humidity killed thousands of cattle in Kansas in recent days, the state said, and sizzling temperatures continue to threaten livestock. The deaths add pain to the U.S. cattle industry as producers have reduced herds due to drought and grappled with feed costs that climbed as Russia’s invasion […] Read more
Beef cattle processing brings with it many challenges
ASSINIBOIA, Sask. — Adding capacity to Saskatchewan’s beef processing sector can be done but with competitive challenges, according to study results. Consultants Willie Van Solkema, former president of XL Foods, and Kevin Grier, long-time industry analyst, conducted the study for the Saskatchewan government and Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association. The government has a goal to double […] Read more
Stressed animals seized by RCMP near North Battleford
Charges have been laid against a North Battleford, Sask., area producer after 308 cattle were seized by Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan in April. Morris Tokaryk has been charged under the Criminal Code of Canada for causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to the animals, and for failure to provide adequate water, food and care. […] Read more
B.C. livestock must register
Anyone in British Columbia who owns or cares for livestock must register their premises as of July 1 under a mandatory program that helps producers deal with emergencies such as natural disasters or disease outbreaks. “Most things when they go mandatory, we don’t approve of,” said Kevin Boon, general manager of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. […] Read more
50 years of horsing around – photo essay
For the past 50 spring seasons Pat Siemens has organized the Annual Fiske Horse Show, at Fiske, Sask., between Saskatoon and the Alberta border. Last week’s event was the last she will run. Her community, along with the Fiske Recreational Co-op, came out to thank her for the passion, dedication and commitment to the central […] Read more
Alta. veterinary medicine school expands diagnostic services
The University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine plans to further expand its diagnostic services to help Alberta producers guard against animal diseases such as avian influenza. “We are already working on the next expansion because we can’t cope with the work… and I think that is obviously to the benefit of a province where […] Read more
Investigating scour challenges: ask what’s changed
As a swine veterinarian, I think of myself as a disease detective. Investigating root causes of poor health on farms, many of which are not obvious, is part of my job. Let’s consider an example of a farm experiencing an increase in scours in newborn piglets. Diseases, including diarrhea, are never a random event. Asking […] Read more
Heat recruited to kill viruses in feed
Researchers determine that a storage period of 30 days at 24 C reduces risk of viral contamination in plant-based feed
Multiple disease-causing viruses have been proven to survive for extended periods in imported plant-based animal feed, but what temperature can kill them? Researchers released data on the issue earlier this year. They want to develop science-based procedures to safely import essential ingredients from countries afflicted with animal viruses. “We wanted to determine at 30 days […] Read more
4-H in the ring – photo essay
Photo essay | The Vermilion Clandonal interclub 4-H beef show was held outdoors and open to the public May 30 for the first time since 2019. | Robyn Wheat photos
The Vermilion Clandonal interclub 4-H beef show was held outdoors and open to the public May 30 for the first time since 2019. | Robyn Wheat photos
