Livestock Management
Saskatchewan hog farmers lead the nation when it comes to downsizing herd numbers and reducing pork production. But industry leaders warned last week that reducing production too much could devastate the industry. Neil Ketilson, general manager of the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board, said industry retraction is needed in North America but the loss of too […] Read more
Livestock Management
Sask. hog sector warned against downsizing too much
Trade advisers tell feds to beef up beef promotion
The House of Commons trade committee, including its Conservative members, is urging the government to increase financial support for promoting cattle and beef exports. In a motion approved Nov. 17, the committee said Ottawa’s support for beef export promotion falls far behind competitor countries. The all-party committee said the government should “support the marketing of […] Read more
Few new faces on Sask. cattle group board
Eleven men elected in the recent Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association board members’ election will officially take office in January. They and four appointed directors from the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association will take over during the SCA’s first annual general meeting Jan. 22. The association’s first elected board includes only three new […] Read more
Small breed draws big crowds
The Nelsons of Colinton, Alta., have been promoting their cattle, including their Dexters, at Edmonton EDMONTON – Regular visitors to the cattle barns at Farmfair International in Edmonton often see familiar faces among those who show and promote their cattle. Probably no couple is more familiar to Farmfair goers than Allyn and Rita Nelson of […] Read more
Aerosol ban raises hair on some necks
The trend to aerosol-free cattle fitting products has moved from Herefords to Angus, but is not without detractors. As part of a new environmental policy, the Canadian Angus Association has eliminated aerosol products from its Gold Show series of shows, including Farmfair International in Edmonton. Association president-elect Kirk Wildman said it was one step to […] Read more
Cattle insurance requires producers to do homework
Cattle insurance is no different than automobile or house insurance. We get it because we cannot afford the loss, in this case the death of the animal or the loss of its reproductive ability. Many livestock insurance policies are initiated at high end purebred sales. At the fall of the gavel the animal is deemed […] Read more
Welcome to the clone farm
Similar looking cows are huddled in similar looking pens. However, some of the cattle don’t just resemble each other. They are identical, clear down to their genes. Of the approximately 400 cattle in Barry Pollard’s herd of mostly Black Angus cattle, 22 are clones, genetic copies of some of the most productive livestock the world […] Read more
First hog exit cash coming
A federal program that pays Canadian pork producers to mothball hog barns for three years is expected to issue its first cheques soon. The hog farm transition program is a $75 million initiative designed to reduce Canadian pork production and lower North American pork supplies. Canadian Pork Council public relations manager Gary Stordy said 261 […] Read more
Big Sky founder optimistic
The founder of Big Sky Farms is optimistic the company will emerge from court protection with a plan to continue operating and pay off its debts. Florian Possberg said he is disappointed the company is in trouble, but isn’t surprised considering the state of the industry. “The hog industry has always been cyclical, but you […] Read more
Pork sales threatened without trade deal: official
Canada could lose its fourth largest market for pork exports if it does not quickly negotiate a trade deal with South Korea, a senior pork export official says. Pork sales to South Korea will exceed $130 million this year, Canada Pork International executive director Jacques Pomerleau told MPs on the House of Commons international trade […] Read more
