Livestock Management
Canada’s ability to trade overseas could be undermined by its openness in reporting animal health issues and disease outbreaks, says an agricultural industry consultant. Canada gets labelled as being riddled with animal health and disease issues because it has an effective surveillance system and is transparent in reporting outbreaks, says Ted Bilyea, a former senior […] Read more
Livestock Management
Traceability a detriment unless all countries comply
Belgian breeder hits big time
A love of Belgians prompted Gerald Hendry to buy his first draft horse in 1994. He liked the gentle giants so much, he became a Belgian breeder and has expanded his Kronau, Sask., herd to 25 breeding horses. The years of careful selection and calculations paid off when his three-year-old Belgian mare was named best […] Read more
Colony puts a wrap on stinky hog manure lagoon
STARBUCK, Man. – Few people would try to solve a chronic gas problem with rubber pants but the Starlite Hutterite colony hopes that principle will solve odour problems emanating from its hog manure lagoon. The colony also hopes that wrapping and sealing its manure lagoon will enable it to trap the methane and use the […] Read more
Flu scares help draw crowd to hog health conference
The timing couldn’t have been better for the new Canadian Swine Health Board to hold its first public forum. More than 145 swine industry stakeholders from across the country, including producers, veterinarians, researchers, marketers, drug manufacturers and government officials, gathered in Saskatoon last week to talk about health-related issues facing the industry. Discussions focused on […] Read more
Steer wins big at Calgary Classic
When it comes to steer shows, 2009 is the year Colby McLeod will remember. The 17-year-old Cochrane, Alta., high school student showed his crossbred steer in the grand championship spotlight, beating seasoned show people from across western Canada at the Calgary Stampede Steer Classic July 11. The steer competed at six shows this year and […] Read more
Auctioneer familiar face in winner’s circle
Auctioneer Brennin Jack is barely old enough to raise a toast and celebrate his award as international rookie of the year at the Calgary Stampede. The 19-year-old Saskatchewan native completed auction school two years ago and has been collecting accolades ever since. “This year was a triple crown for me,” he said after the Stampede’s […] Read more
Quality Holsteins take spotlight
Supplying the world with top end dairy genetics is the tradition at Rocky Mountain Holsteins. Holstein bidders from around the world crowded into a sales tent or joined via the internet to bid on highly rated females from across Canada at the Rocky Mountain High sale held July 2 at the farm west of Calgary. […] Read more
B.C. looks at beefing up cattle sector
British Columbia has established a task force it hopes will generate new ideas to help rebuild the province’s sagging beef sector. “The focus is on regulatory change and initiatives and steps that we can take within the current resources that the ministry has available,” said provincial agriculture minister Steve Thomson. There is no additional government […] Read more
Ducks get top billing on ranch
Ranching next to a Ducks Unlimited wetland project that includes 50 ponds has required David and Karen Reinhardt to be willing to make concessions on their property near Strathmore, Alta. Known as the Honan-Fresno project, the conservation plan first started in 1947 and was funded by California sportsmen. Honan was the name of the original […] Read more
Cattle producers take DIY trend to pasture
REGINA – Let your cattle work for you is a mission statement Jim Anderson is eager to advocate. The Rimbey, Alta., rancher and his wife Jackie, developed the frost-free nose pump, a device that allows cattle to pump water for themselves. “Our job is not to work for the animals. The job of the animals […] Read more
