Livestock Management
BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) – China’s sow herd at the end of November was 4.7 percent higher than the previous year at 42.96 million heads, the agriculture ministry said late last week. The size of the herd was down 1.2 percent from the previous month, according to the latest data released on the website of […] Read more
Livestock Management
Growth for Manitoba livestock producer controlled by labour availability
ROBLIN, Man. – Henrik Thomsen likes his job. He likes being a farmer and he enjoys owning Canmark farms, a company with hog barns in Roblin, Gilbert Plains and Swan River, Man. But his life would be much simpler if it was easier to find employees. “I love raising hogs. I’ve never had a bad […] Read more
Biogas system an option for sustainable livestock farms
On-farm biogas systems use anaerobic digestion to recycle livestock manure and crop residue, which can create environmental and business opportunities
Rob and Rachel McKinlay say they have future-proofed their Woodstock, Ont., dairy farm. Using a factory-built anaerobic digestor, Harcolm Farms has created a closed-loop system to supply the total electrical needs for the family’s dairy operation and household. Through summer heat and winter cold, the system breaks down manure to produce methane-based gas used for […] Read more
Tipping the scales with technology
Scales, and the practice of weighing, have been around since the first humans placed stones on the plates of the earliest recorded overhead beam balancers. While the act of weighing objects persists, the validity of the physical variations of the scale must at some point be improved upon, said Sergio Monge, global sales manager for […] Read more
Small farms near cities boast sustainability, education
A 29-acre farm may seem small by many prairie standards, where farms seem to get bigger every year. But for Mike and Carolyn Reimer, who live within the city limits of Winnipeg, 29 acres are just enough. “Farms keep getting bought up and huge corporations are taking over, and if we can provide something that’s […] Read more
Bull’s must be kept in breeding shape
The hardest time for a young bull is when it’s turned out with cows for its first breeding season after being well fed all winter. Most bulls are confined after weaning and are fed high-concentrate feed for fast growth. Some have gone through bull test or feeding programs to measure rate of gain and feed […] Read more
Nose pumps can help keep the water running
Constantly raising and lowering the system’s piston keeps water in the pipe from freezing in cold winter temperatures
Frozen water and frozen water systems can be a nightmare in cold weather. Jim Anderson, a rancher near Rimbey, Alta., solved his winter water problems 25 years ago by creating an innovative water system in which cattle pump water for themselves via shallow wells, water that never freezes even at -40 C. Anderson’s innovation uses […] Read more
Frostbite at calving time can have marketing implications
Whether you are in the purebred or commercial cattle business, frostbite at calving time happens. It can cause death or the sloughing off of feet, tail or ears. There may or may not be long-term health consequences, but marketability can be affected due to shorter tails or shorter ears. It is frustrating for producers when […] Read more
South Korean BSE ban not expected to last long
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is downplaying news today that South Korea is restricting beef imports following the case of atypical BSE being found in Alberta last week. CCA executive vice-president Dennis Laycraft said the move stems from Canada’s particular export agreement with South Korea requiring verification of information of BSE cases by Seoul. “We would […] Read more
Vaccine resistance may threaten truck traffic
Canada and the U.S. will soon require truckers to be vaccinated if crossing the border, potentially disrupting movement of goods if too many won’t get the jab
Canada-United States agricultural trade could become backed up once vaccine mandates hit truckers in January. People in the grain logistics system say they fear many Canadian and American truckers might be unvaccinated and therefore banned from crossing the border after mid-January. “It is going to have an impact, no doubt,” said Diane Gray, president and […] Read more
