Livestock Management
RED DEER – Rules for exporting horse meat to Europe are demanding more traceability and additional food safety measures. By July, Canada must provide horse identification and health documents that include treatment records for the last six months of animals’ lives, said Les Burwash of the Alberta Agriculture horse industry branch. “If we are going […] Read more
Livestock Management
New rules on horse meat
Exports of dairy genetics follow low milk prices
A global recession and collapse in international milk prices have reduced exports of Canadian dairy genetics. Strong customers like the United States and Mexico do not need replacements as domestic and international milk prices falter. The U.S. has been slaughtering dairy cattle to reduce its national herd in response to poor prices. “The result is […] Read more
Canfax Report – for Jan. 21, 2010
This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Fed steers were pressured lower this week due to a larger captive supply and larger cash offerings. […] Read more
Bovine lineage 29 million years old
LINDELL BEACH, B.C. – Researchers have created a detailed family tree for cattle and other ruminants that reaches back 29 million years. The international team of scientists prepared ancient DNA with a scientific technique developed specifically to genotype cattle. The genetic information will give scientists an insight into the evolution of cattle. As well, the […] Read more
In case of horse medical emergency, lift lid
First aid kits for people are a dime a dozen, but finding a good one for horses is not easy. Sandra Taylor always packed gauze and ointment to treat scratches and scrapes on trail rides with her horse, but when a cousin asked her what should be included in a good horse first aid kit, […] Read more
Heat destroys prions, produces fertilizer
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has approved an alternative for destroying infectious prions responsible for transmitting BSE. Specified risk materials such as cattle brains and spinal cords are now rendered and sent to a designated landfill in central Alberta. They are banned from commercial use such as animal feed and fertilizer. “The beef industry is […] Read more
Manitoba producers want brand inspections
It’s fine to have rules, but if they’re not enforced, those rules are meaningless. Which is why the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association wants the provincial government to establish a brand inspection program. “We’ve had registered brands in this province since God knows when. We’d never had inspection. The other provinces have and I’ve really wondered […] Read more
Changes to BSE testing boosts cattle eligibility numbers – Animal Health
Changes to Alberta’s BSE program implemented Jan. 1 should benefit farmers, especially in the spring calving season. The Alberta program is different than the rest of the country, but hopefully other provinces may follow suit. Provincial veterinarians in charge of Alberta’s program realized that the numbers of BSE submissions have dropped significantly, resulting in fewer […] Read more
Maple Leaf improves wages, pension
The 2,200 employees at Maple Leaf Foods’ hog processing plant in Brandon have a new union contract that is expected to make life easier for foreign workers. Last week, 78 percent of the Maple Leaf workers voted in favour of the five-year contract that provides pay raises up to nine percent and also improves the […] Read more
Western Producer Livestock Report – for Jan. 14, 2010
Bitter cold and snow in the U.S. Midwest made it difficult to deliver hogs last week, helping to lift prices. Stronger pork prices lifted futures prices, but cash prices might be weaker this week if better weather allows hogs that were held back to head to market. Iowa-southern Minnesota cash hogs delivered to plants rose […] Read more
