Livestock Management
The technology gender-types embryos before they hatch, avoiding the standard practice of euthanizing day-old male chicks
Most of us are familiar with salmonella bacteria as a potential cause of gastrointestinal disease in humans. The severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headaches and dehydration can cause serious consequences in people, especially in the elderly and young children. However, there are numerous strains of salmonella bacteria, and some of them are adapted to cattle […] Read more
Livestock Management
Stacking the deck against African swine fever
The hog industry prepares for a quick and overwhelming international response should the disease be found in Canada
Glacier FarmMedia – The fallout if African swine fever arrives in Canada is enough to keep the pork sector up at night. There would be direct animal health impacts from a virus that devastated hog barns in China and other Asian nations only a few years ago. The impact on markets and trade, however, is […] Read more
TMR mixers no longer just for dairy
Beef producers are beginning to pay more attention to how total mix ration mixers can be put to work on their operations
Glacier FarmMedia – Although total mixed ration mixers have historically been popular on dairy farms, they are also becoming more common on beef operations. TMR mixers are used primarily for ruminant animals. For both dairy and beef, there are benefits and challenges to implementing them into an operation. TMR mixers usually combine hay, silage, straw […] Read more
Corn intercrops can work
Glacier FarmMedia – Intercropping can have significant benefits for extended grazing cattle on shoulder seasons, says Emma McGeough, associate professor in the department of animal sciences at the University of Manitoba. She and her research team of graduate students have been working for the last number of years on the intercropping of corn for fall […] Read more
Removing extra teats is usually a good idea if possible
The other day I saw supernumerary teats in the middle or intercalary position — between the normal teats on an udder — on a bred heifer close to calving and it got me thinking. Are these of much significance and what have I done with them in practice? Are there many negatives or can we […] Read more
Winter care helps lead to healthy spring calves
Mineral supplements are called the ‘superhero’ of cattle diets, but making sure the right ones are used is important
Glacier FarmMedia – As snow flies across the Prairies, calves are shipped and bulls are removed from the cow herd. Winter feeding is next on the list and good nutrition is vital to ensure the health and growth of calves and bred cows. Stephanie Hansen, professor of animal science at Iowa State University, notes the […] Read more
Plant material may help reduce antibiotic use in chickens
Alta. researcher attempts to determine if naturally occurring plant extracts could prevent or slow the growth of bacteria
Glacier FarmMedia – An Alberta researcher is looking for plants that can fight pathogenic E. coli in chickens. Sophie Kernéis-Golsteyn, a microbiologist, teacher and head of the microbial research lab at Lethbridge Polytechnic, is testing phytobiotics to see if the material can be used instead of antibiotics to treat chickens. “Phytobiotics are basically everything coming […] Read more
Separate silage for more milk, cheaper ration
A dairy producer has been successful feeding the stover portion of corn silage to dry cows and the rest to the milking herd
Glacier FarmMedia – A dairy farmer is separating the coarser fibres in his corn silage to create different feeds for the milking and dry cow herd. He’s now selling the Fodd machine to other dairy farmers to reduce feed costs and improve the ration fed to milking cows. Greg Friendsbruh says feeding coarser fibres to […] Read more
Happy pigs are more productive
Adopting swine enrichment measures can create significant savings for producers as well as improve animal welfare
Glacier FarmMedia – Incorporating swine enrichment could save producers as much as $10 per animal, according to research from the industrial research chair in swine welfare at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Martyna Lagoda, a post-doctoral research fellow involved in the project, told the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium last fall in Saskatoon that supporting […] Read more
Beef sector works on SRM rules
REGINA — The Canadian beef sector continues to push for harmonized specified risk material standards with the United States. A new risk analysis has been done that stakeholders hope will result in a regulatory policy that helps them be more competitive. The industry has been working toward the goal of harmonization since the country was […] Read more
