Livestock Management
COCHRANE, Alta. — A polled red Holstein female was the high seller at the Rocky Mountain High sale held at Cochrane July 2. Westcoast Ladd Aspen sold for $197,000 to West Coast Holsteins of Chilliwack, B.C., after some active bidding in the sales tent, where more than 90 prime Holsteins were on offer. “We think […] Read more
Livestock Management
Polled red Holstein tops Cochrane sale
LIVESTOCK-Hogs near 3-week high on export optimism; cattle flat
CHICAGO, July 2 (Reuters) – U.S. lean hog futures rose as much as 2 percent on Thursday, lifted by large weekly pork export sales and hopes a deal between JBS USA and Cargill Inc could lead to more international shipments, traders and analysts said. Volume was light in an abbreviated session ahead of the U.S. […] Read more
Management key to tapping pasture potential
Matching the stocking rate to the capacity of the pasture requires a seasonal approach, says a grazing expert
Most pastures in North America are producing only one-quarter to half of their potential, says a grazing management expert. “Those that are producing at higher levels are often not doing so profitably because the operators have tried to substitute purchased inputs for sound management,” Jim Gerrish told the Western Beef Development Centre’s annual summer field […] Read more
Industry looks to get ahead of demands
An animal welfare assessment program specific to feedlots could be introduced early next year. The Canadian Feedlot Animal Care Assessment Program has been in development for about a year and a half. It is intended to be a companion to the national beef code of practice with dedicated requirements for feedlot animals to assure processors […] Read more
Fast food company seeks greater participation in sustainable beef pilot project
McDonald’s Canada is offering up to $20,000 per project to involve more ranchers and feedlots in its verified sustainable beef pilot project. Veterinary clinics, producer organizations, genomics companies and other allied groups are invited to develop projects to get more people involved, said a news release from the fast food restaurant company. Potential projects could […] Read more
Researchers look for alternatives to antibiotics
Bovine respiratory disease probably costs the North American beef industry $500 million a year. Its prevalence in feedlots is the main reason calves receive a dose of antibiotics upon arrival to prevent sickness, but that practice is coming under intense scrutiny with the rise of antimicrobial resistance. “Antibiotics are primarily used to treat and prevent […] Read more
Funding for food safety training
The Canadian sheep industry has received a major funding boost to implement a national food safety program. The federal government has provided $348,090 through Growing Forward 2 to combine food safety, a code of practice for handling sheep and biosecurity standards into one program. Further farmer training is also coming, said Corlena Patterson, executive director […] Read more
Canadian researchers seek BSE resistance
Fewer researchers are probing the mysteries of BSE, but new discoveries about the fatal disease continue. One of those findings is possible genetic resistance among some animals, said Stefanie Czub, research manager at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s prion unit in Lethbridge, which detected Canada’s first BSE case in an Alberta cow 12 years ago. […] Read more
Bat disease continues march west
In the winter of 2006, scientists noticed bats flying during the day when they should have been hibernating. When they examined the bats up close, they discovered a white, fuzzy accumulation on their noses, ears and wings. This led to the name “white nose syndrome.” The scientists quickly determined that the fuzzy material was a […] Read more
When cat food drives raccoons — and cowboys — crazy
Our boys enjoyed a series of books for awhile that had titles like Who Would Win? Tarantula vs. Scorpion or Who Would Win? Komodo Dragon vs. King Cobra? They had a lot of animal education, some drama and a showdown, which was a fitting read for the Taylor boys. We’re working on what might be […] Read more
