Two international organizations are calling for global action to stop the spread of African swine fever. In a joint news release, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) called on countries to join forces against the deadly pig disease. “Today, 51 countries are affected […] Read more
Livestock — page 2
Hog prices hit a wall
George Matheson has been raising pigs since 1982. He’s seen good and bad times in Canada’s pork industry, but he’s beginning to lose faith in the future. “For a young person, I wouldn’t encourage them to go into pig production. And those are pretty strong words from the chair of Manitoba Pork,” said Matheson, who […] Read more
Cattle theft charges laid in Sask.
RCMP have charged two Saskatchewan people for trafficking cattle in Alberta and Saskatchewan. RCMP in Lanigan, Sask., charged Monika Ribi, 59, and Andre Ribi, also 59, of the Rural Municipality of Prairie Rose after a five-month investigation at Caprina Farms and Ranching near Jansen, Sask. According to RCMP, a search June 9 by Lanigan RCMP, […] Read more
Agribition hiatus disrupts marketing
Producers say they are in ‘uncharted territory’ now that the livestock show won’t be going ahead this fall due to COVID
Typically, Trent and Janelle Liebreich would be gearing up for the fall cattle show circuit right about now. The Radville, Sask., family operates Merit Cattle Co. and participates in the major shows in Western Canada to promote their Black Angus genetics. “Agribition is the one show that carries more international clout than any in the […] Read more
Better late than never
Friends and neighbours helped the Longson ranch move 140 cows and calves to a grazing lease near Fitzsimmons Creek in the Alberta Foothills July 9. The cattle were herded across the Highwood River and then seven kilometres to the base of Mount Armstrong. The animals’ arrival at the summer pasture had been delayed by a […] Read more
Sunburn can cause significant problems for livestock
With the arrival of summer when animals become more exposed to ultraviolet light, cases of photosensitization can occur. In ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats), many causes can be caused by ingestion of certain plant species. As well, infectious causes such as liver flukes or leptospirosis can spark cases. The bottom line is that liver damage […] Read more
Barley silage performs as well as corn in trial
Researchers expected better performance from steers fed corn silage-based diets because of their higher starch content
A recent feeding trial that compared barley and corn silage in backgrounding diets revealed unexpected results. “What they ended up finding was virtually no meaningful differences in animal performance, either in the backgrounding periods when they were growing them, or in the finishing period when they were fattening them up for slaughter,” said Reynold Bergen […] Read more
Canada’s family hog farmers need help immediately, says CPC
Waiting months will see many leave the industry
Canada’s independent hog farmers are being crushed by a pricing system that short-changes them on pigs but pays processors and grocers top-dollar at the same time. If it isn’t fixed soon, many of the remaining family hog farms will disappear, says the Canadian Pork Council. “Something’s gotta give here, otherwise guys are going to be […] Read more
Farmers deserve to have government-imposed costs connected to international prices
Why are some production costs treated like a domestic issue when prices are set in the world market?
A commodity price can be an honest, pure and shockingly efficient signal. Through that one number, posted and based-off around the international marketplace, farmers, marketers, shippers and processors can figure out whether they can make money producing, procuring or selling something. A single price number can contain hundreds of variables, but they all add up […] Read more
Animal protection agency makes significant cattle seizures in Sask.
Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan has seized hundreds of cattle recently, leading some to question whether the agency has too much authority. After a seizure near Buchanan and then another last week near Hubbard, several people contacted The Western Producer with concerns about how APSS works. Each time a seizure is made public, other producers, […] Read more
