Livestock Management
LEDUC, Alta. – In fashion, green is the new black. In livestock, “Baa is the New Moo.” The Alberta Lamb Producers is using the new logo as part of a campaign to let other livestock producers know the sheep business is booming. “We have demand and we need more people,” said executive director Margaret Cook. […] Read more
Livestock Management
Lamb demand grows; producers sought
Firm uses DNA to trace pork
An Alberta pork processor is the first Canadian company to adopt DNA technology for tracing the origins of food. Sturgeon Valley Pork in St. Albert started working six months ago with the international DNA company IdentiGEN to identify and trace individual fresh meat cuts. The logo “DNA Traceback, Guaranteed Alberta Pork. It’s in our DNA” […] Read more
Euthanasia can be done in field
The goal of euthanasia is to induce immediate loss of consciousness followed by rapid death without pain or distress to the animal. Cattle can be euthanized under field conditions in a variety of ways. Which method depends on the technical proficiency of the person and the equipment available. Producers perform euthanasia to meet their obligation […] Read more
Hog experts aim to lower short-haul stress
Packers and truckers have noticed the same weird phenomenon for years: the shorter the drive to the slaughter plant, the more likely a pig will die prematurely. It’s something researchers now understand better since putting heart monitors on pigs and studying their heart rate during loading, transport and unloading. “It makes sense,” said University of […] Read more
Candidates outline platforms in Sask. cattle association race
ASSINIBOIA, Sask. – The four candidates took different approaches to winning votes, but the men seeking election to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association board agreed they have producers’ interests at heart. About 175 people attended the District 3A meeting in Assiniboia Oct. 22, capping off the first week of voting by registered cattle producers. Results in […] Read more
Canadian hog herd shrinks again
WINNIPEG (Reuters) – Canadian hog farmers have reduced the country’s herd to its smallest size in at least five years, but more dramatic reductions may lie ahead once hard-hit farmers receive government downsizing incentives. The hog inventory fell 7.3 percent between the third quarter of 2008 and the third quarter of 2009, Statistics Canada said. […] Read more
Colostrum saves lives
LEDUC, Alta. – Colostrum is like a life preserver for lambs, a veterinarian told the recent Alberta Sheep Symposium. Dr. Chris Clark said most problems at lambing can be solved with good shepherding skills and colostrum. One of the first questions Clark asks sheep farmers who are having problems with lambing deaths is if they’re […] Read more
International deal a preferred option – WP editorial
CANADIAN agriculture is beset by trade issues of many descriptions. Last week, it was China’s announced intention to require Canadian canola imports to carry certification that they are free of blackleg. This, even though blackleg is endemic to China, as it is to Canada, and even though Canadian canola seed is destined for processing, not […] Read more
Electric prods cause stress, affect meat
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Humane hog producers don’t like using electric prods when loading pigs onto trucks. But they work, and other methods aren’t usually as effective, many producers believe. However, electric prods are probably causing premature pig deaths and meat quality problems, researchers told hog transportation workshops in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. “Some […] Read more
Animal rights fight needs new media
LEDUC, Alta. – Livestock producers need to embrace the new social media if they want to compete against animal rights activists for consumer trust, says a leading animal behaviour scientist. Temple Grandin told the Alberta Sheep Symposium Oct. 24 that livestock producers need to enlist the help of a teenager, grab a video camera and […] Read more
