Livestock Management
ROSSBURN, Man. – As he walks into his pasture, Ray Armbruster points to what looks like a large, white rock lying between a small herd of cattle. After a few more steps, the white object moves and Alpo the dog slowly rolls over, stretches and saunters toward his owner. After a quick sniff of a […] Read more
Livestock Management
Man’s best friend guards against TB
SCA to collect beef checkoff
As voting wound up last week for Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association directors, the provincial government moved to change the laws to give the organization more authority. The Agri-Food Amendment Act will repeal and change legislation to allow the SCA to handle beef check-off money. The Cattle Marketing Deductions Act and its regulations have been in place […] Read more
CCIA defends tag price hike
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – Alberta producers want to know why the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency increased the amount of money it collects on every radio frequency ear tag to 60 from 20 cents. During an Alberta Beef Producers zone meeting in Fort Macleod, Larry Sears of Stavely questioned the need for the extra money. “I […] Read more
Pig genome sequencing will advance breeding
Researchers will soon be able to peer inside the black box that is the pig’s genetic code, says Andy Robinson, chair of the University of Guelph’s animal science department. Scientists from around the world gathered in England Nov. 2 to announce that the genome of a red-haired Duroc pig at the University of Illinois has […] Read more
Cattle group debates checkoff collection
Alberta cattle producers are becoming interested in the idea of asking the province’s brand inspection agency to collect beef cattle checkoffs. Cattle producer Darren Hebbes proposed a resolution to that effect during a recent Alberta Beef Producer fall producer meeting in Camrose. He said once the checkoff becomes refundable, it should be collected through an […] Read more
Anaplasmosis options reviewed
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture Canada have formed working groups to consider alternative ways to deal with anaplasmosis in Canada. “It (the process) is looking at other options for managing the disease, one of which could be delisting,” said Dorothy Geale, senior staff veterinarian with the CFIA. That would mean anaplasmosis would no […] Read more
Crackdown against calf abuse urged
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture should tighten regulations for transporting and slaughtering veal calves to ensure they are not treated cruelly, says the Humane Society of the United States. The group petitioned the USDA to expand an existing regulation to ban the slaughter of veal calves that cannot stand on their […] Read more
Alberta beef producers vote on levy collection
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – More beef check-off money would be collected from cattle sales if Alberta’s brand inspection agency was in charge. That was the opinion of those who voted during a fall Alberta Beef Producers meeting in Fort Macleod Nov. 2 to support giving Livestock Inspection Services (LIS) the authority to collect the $3 […] Read more
Controversial minister OK with hog producers
Despite a history of “butting heads,” the chair of the Manitoba Pork Council said the hog industry can work with Stan Struthers, the province’s new minister of agriculture. Karl Kynoch said Manitoba’s hog producers didn’t always see eye to eye with Struthers when he was conservation minister. But he respected Struthers’ open door policy and […] Read more
Refundable checkoff could pressure Alta. lamb group
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – Alberta lamb producers are not only trying to sell more lamb to Canadians but are trying to sell the merits of their organization to producers. The small organization with an annual budget of $157,000, is caught in the crossfire of a bigger battle among beef groups over a refundable checkoff. Alberta […] Read more
