Livestock Management
RULINDO, Rwanda (Reuters) — Marie Chantal Akingeneye has had no source of manure for her fruits and vegetables since she lost her only cow to an unknown illness, but she hopes a new phone app could help. After attending a training session by the United Nations, which developed the technology, she thinks the app will […] Read more
Livestock Management
Good cattle prices in Manitoba despite adverse weather in 2018
As 2018 wraps up and Manitoba’s cattle auctions wind down their operations for the holidays, the total number of head sold so far has already surpassed the previous year’s numbers. While there is some optimism in the cattle industry for better numbers in 2019, it comes down to ‘wait and see.’ Going into December, 365,791 […] Read more
Dreams of herd expansion dashed
Cow marketings are up 16 percent in Canada this year, which puts the beef cow culling rate at liquidation levels
Higher than normal numbers of cows and heifers have gone to market this fall, dashing any hopes of growth in the beef herd for another year. Getting rid of females at a time of limited feed supplies because of severe drought and reasonable market prices was the best option for many. “Watching the yearling run, […] Read more
Report calls for standardizing animal welfare rules
OTTAWA — Laws governing animal welfare across Canada are inconsistent, a virtual patchwork quilt of legislation. There are federal livestock provisions within the Criminal Code, transport regulations under the Health of Animals Act, regulations for federal slaughter and for transport and still other regulations for provincial slaughter and transport, to cite a few examples. Those […] Read more
Producers must know how to interpret EPDs
Expected progeny differences can ease bull buying, but producers must first determine their breeding objectives
Using statistics like expected progeny differences can make the job of buying a new bull easier. “Expected progeny differences are the best estimate we have in terms of how a bull or a cow’s future progeny will perform on average compared to that of another potential parent,” said Matt Spangler, beef genetics professor at the […] Read moreThese tips can help improve vaccination programs
Cattle producers pay good money for vaccines and spend a lot of effort developing a sound vaccination program for their farms. As a result, they don’t want it failing because of poor storage or administration technique. Using a cooler to protect product from freezing or thawing is one really good idea. I used the Cross […] Read more
Beef exports poised for big jump, thanks to new trade deal
Ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership was music to David Haywood-Farmer’s ears. “It will put us in a great spot to get things done,” said the president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Getting the deal done on the CPTPP was a top lobbying goal for the CCA, even though there were […] Read more
Industry wants new animal health approach
It’s hoped the formation of Animal Health Canada will reduce the risks that deadly diseases could enter the country
OTTAWA — If foot-and-mouth disease or avian influenza attacks Canadian livestock, there is a specific response plan to address it. That’s not the case for African swine fever (ASF) or any other deadly livestock disease that might threaten the livestock industry. Stakeholders in the animal health and livestock industry have long understood this gap in […] Read more
Sask. delays end to Livestock Loan Guarantee Program
The wind-down of Saskatchewan’s Livestock Loan Guarantee Program has been extended to July 31, 2019. Last August, the province announced it would discontinue the program that guaranteed loans to breeder and feeder associations. Originally, the government said the program would end Dec. 31, 2018, but that was pushed to July after discussions found that more […] Read more
Weekly Manitoba cattle report
Manitoba cattle auction yards were still keeping busy during the second week of December, as ranchers cleaned out cattle and feedlots looked to fill some pen space. Roughly 5,600 head of cattle were sold in the province during the week ended Dec. 14, which was well below the 10,000 cattle that moved through the rings […] Read more
