Livestock Management
A survey to learn about animal welfare concerns related to livestock in transport has been launched by the National Farm Animal Care Council. The council is in the process of updating the code of practice for the care and handling of farm animals related to transport and has opened the survey to anyone wishing to […] Read more
Livestock Management
More PED found on Alberta hog farms
Updated – March 4, 2019 – 1430 CST – Alberta Pork has updated their announcement made last week to note the third reported case of PED has been found to be a “false positive.” The third and fourth cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in Alberta were announced by Alberta Pork mere hours apart March […] Read more
Three hundred cattle seized from Sask. farm
The owner of more than 300 cattle seized earlier this month by Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan says his animals were in good condition, had adequate feed and water, and weren’t in distress. Warren Russell has not been charged and still has cattle and horses on his property. He alleges Farm Credit Canada had a […] Read more
Natural rhythms are key to milk production
Barn management practices still important, but researchers find evolution is critical to milk fat and protein production
It has long been recognized that there is an annual rhythm in the composition of milk from dairy cows with higher milk fat and protein in winter and lower levels in summer. The thinking until now was that milk composition was influenced by environmental factors such as heat, cold and humidity. But research out of […] Read more
Moving cows to pasture always an adventure
The author remembers being part of a move as a nine-year-old in the spring of 1972 that almost ended in disaster
It was like any other gorgeous spring day for a nine-year-old boy living on a farm in west-central Saskatchewan. But little did I know that the memories from this day, May 27, 1972, would stay with me for a long time. It was cattle moving day, which involved a trek of nearly 10 kilometres on […] Read more
Transport rules slammed on all sides
Livestock sector fears regulations will increase animal stress while welfare groups say transport times are too long
Fanfare is decidedly lacking in the livestock industry for amendments to Canadian livestock transport regulations announced last week. Cattle and hog producer groups say evidence is lacking on whether the changes will improve outcomes for livestock in transport, while animal welfare groups say reduced transport times are still too long. Jaspinder Kamal, Canada’s chief veterinary […] Read more
Work on codes of practice receive funding
Feds contribute $4.56 million to update codes for livestock transport, dairy cattle and goats and write a new one for fish
National codes of practice for livestock transport, dairy cattle, goats and fin fish can progress this year because of a $4.56 million funding announcement from the federal government. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced the funds Feb. 19, which will be provided to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition on behalf of the National Farm Animal Care […] Read more
Canadian, U.S. officials keep watch for African swine fever
WASHINGTON, D.C. — African swine fever is a top of mind concern for Canada’s agriculture minister. Lawrence MacAulay has discussed the disease and the potential threat to North America’s hog industry on a couple of occasions with United States Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “We have to realize it’s in China, it’s in Vietnam, it’s right […] Read more
Sheep sector proves blockchain tracking works
A batch of sheep is traced using a system that keeps a record of transactions across a network of linked computers
The Canadian Sheep Federation has proven that sheep can be successfully tracked from pasture to plate using blockchain technology. In a proof-of-concept field trial, animals originating at Brookwater Farms in Prince Edward Island were tracked through shipping and processing at Northumberland Lamb, a sheep co-op in Truro, N.S. Such livestock traceability isn’t unusual. The unusual […] Read more
Sask. tightens licence upgrades for cattle trucks
Producers who haul cattle out of province will need to upgrade their training and licence by March 15
Producers who haul cattle to out-of-province feedlots or slaughter plants will have to follow new drivers’ licensing rules once they take effect in Saskatchewan March 15. Although farmers are exempt from the mandatory training to obtain a Class 1A licence, and can get an F endorsement on their Class 5 licences if they intend to […] Read more
