Livestock Management
Few livestock producers would say border closures are good for business, but Jersey Canada’s Russell Gammon said it’s been a gold mine. “BSE came along, we weren’t exporting cows out of the country, so our Canadian stock got replenished,” said Gammon. Before the closure, most Canadian Jersey cows were exported to the United States. “It […] Read more
Livestock Management
BSE helped boost Jersey numbers
Colostrum ultimate in scour prevention
A vaccination program is one option for producers trying to control scours in their calves this year, but it shouldn’t be considered a replacement for colostrum. “If you vaccinate the dam and don’t have a colostrum program, why bother vaccinating?” says Dr. Chris Clark, an assistant professor at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in […] Read more
Biomarkers measure stress
Stress causes disease. Researchers know it, animal behaviourists preach it and livestock producers live it. Researchers at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan have made a breakthrough measuring the types and levels of stress that cause economically damaging disease. In a $165,000 study that lasted three years and ended last […] Read more
Old horses need special care
RED DEER – Like humans, some horses age gracefully while others develop a host of problems as they grow older. New research shows horses older than 20 years of age require different care in terms of feed, water and exercise, said equine specialist Katharina Lohmann from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. The […] Read more
Have horse prospects examined
RED DEER – People in the market to buy a horse should have their prospects examined by a veterinarian. Mike Scott, a private veterinarian based in Alberta, has examined about 3,500 horses offered for sale. The checkup is not set up to set a pass or a failing grade for the horse, but provides a […] Read more
Alberta firm finds international market for hog genetics
An Alberta export company has shipped two plane loads of hogs to China and Chile to help diversify its hog operation. Albert Eringfeld of Polar Genetics Group in Edmonton said selling breeding hogs to international markets is an important marketing tool during tough times for Canadian hog producers. “It’s one way to diversify the hog […] Read more
Grass-fed beef value chain in the works
Ranchers have had varying degrees of success marketing their beef directly to the public hoping to capture more value from their herds. But pounding the pavement and knocking on doors doesn’t appeal to most producers, who, even if they had time to do it, would rather stay focused on production. Bragi Simundsson of Arborg, Man., […] Read more
Producers fail to satisfy growing demand for lamb
Warren Moore sells about 150 lambs per week to discerning customers who know what they want. “There are 400 lambs a week consumed in Calgary each week,” says Moore, who owns Second Chance Livestock in Stavely, Alta. “As a producer I would never have thought that.” His customers are restaurants, small retailers in Calgary and […] Read more
Countries slow to open doors
Canadian beef producers had hoped that frustrations over foreign restrictions on Canadian beef would be long over by now. Arno Doerksen told people attending the Alberta Beef Producers recent annual meeting in Calgary that the world animal health organization granted Canada minimal risk status for BSE in May, which made Canada eligible to export beef […] Read more
Cloud lingers over cattle industry
A gloomy message of continuing poor cattle prices and high production costs was delivered to the Alberta Beef Producers annual meeting in mid-December. Canfax market analyst Bart Halowath told delegates that Canada is carrying a higher than normal inventory of cattle and calves at a time when poor returns are dragging the industry down. The […] Read more
