Livestock Management
A voluntary insurance program is available to protect sheep producers against bluetongue. Coverage is available for deaths and production losses. The Canadian Sheep Federation and Agriculture Canada developed the program because of increased bluetongue risk now that Canada doesn’t require American cattle imports to be tested for the disease. The insect that carries the virus […] Read more
Livestock Management
Bluetongue protection available
Drought areas face high sulfate risk
Cattle producers in drought areas should monitor their herds with extra vigilance this summer to protect against diseases caused by poor feed and reduced water quality. Dr. Chris Clark, a large animal veterinarian from the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says dry weather and hot summer temperatures can result in unexpected herd […] Read more
Don’t write off sudden death
Cattle producers who have sudden deaths in the pasture should stop looking at dead animals as a financial loss and start looking at them as potentially valuable evidence. Dr. Chris Clark, a large animal expert at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, says dead animals can provide key information about herd health and […] Read more
Mexico takes heifers again
Canadian dairy heifers are back in Mexico after a five year hiatus. Five trucks carrying 192 bred Holsteins arrived in Mexico May 2 and were destined for several farms, said Rick McRonald of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association. More shipments were due to leave the second week of May from Walker Farms in Ontario and […] Read more
DNA test helps build ideal animal
A single hair from a 2,000 pound bull can reveal more information about that hulking beast than could ever have been imagined 10 years ago. Canadian purebred beef and dairy breed associations have submitted thousands of DNA samples over the years to the Saskatchewan Research Council’s laboratories in Saskatoon, which will soon change their name […] Read more
CFIA finds few surprises in BSE study
Steers deliberately infected with BSE at a Lethbridge laboratory have all died of the disease as expected. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency launched the project nearly three years ago by surgically infecting cattle with BSE. The steers were observed from the time of infection until they developed symptoms. By the time they were 24 to […] Read more
Experts seek CWD-human link
An international study to learn about potential human health risks associated with chronic wasting disease started May 1. Stefanie Czub of the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine and a senior pathologist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is leading the five-year, $5 million project. The Canadian-German study hopes to learn more about the […] Read more
Happy horse wears custom made saddle
RED DEER – One saddle does not fit all horses or riders, says a saddle maker, horse trainer and show judge from Penhold, Alta. Todd Bailey told the Mane Event horse show held in Red Deer April 25-27 that improved education about horse movement, comfort and performance has prompted changes in the way saddles are […] Read more
Vet urges West Nile booster
The number of horses infected with West Nile virus is down since the peak of 445 cases in 2003, but that’s no reason to become complacent, says Gerald Ollis, Alberta’s chief veterinarian. Last year saw 111 cases: 46 in Alberta; 57 in Saskatchewan and eight in Manitoba. Veterinarians say widespread use of vaccines is probably […] Read more
Now is time to deal with trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is showing up in Alberta. The venereal disease, which is typically introduced by bulls, has been diagnosed in herds over the past two years, says Gerald Hauer, a senior veterinarian with Alberta Agriculture. The disease can be economically devastating because it can result in a large number of cows aborting calves or failing to […] Read more
