Livestock Management
Commercial llama breeders have turned a potential disaster into a business opportunity. When Canadian producers were caught up in the BSE whirlwind in 2003 and banned from exporting their animals, they used the crisis to help them develop the commercial side of the business. “BSE affected the breeding stock industry but it opened up the […] Read more
Livestock Management
Llama sector gains ground
Low overhead pig production feels squeeze
Hog farmers who use low overhead straw-based production systems haven’t been able to escape the pain caused by high feed costs and a soaring Canadian dollar. Robert McLean, who along with his son Don produces about 1,700 feeder pigs a year on his farm near Manitou, Man., said their operation is losing $20 to $25 […] Read more
Ranchers greying; herds growing
Canadian beef cattle producers are getting older and they probably run larger herds than they did in 2001. The larger average herd size is credited to increased cow retention rates following the discovery BSE in Canada and the resulting border restrictions of older animals. Other trends in the industry point to an aging demographic, rising […] Read more
Packers off hook for price setting
A study funded by cattle producers has found the Canadian packing industry not guilty of price setting during the BSE crisis. “The debate at the time was whether or not a monopoly or collusive situation existed,” said Kee Jim, finance chair of the Canada Beef Export Federation. “While market power did increase, however, it was […] Read more
Russia: where the buffalo roam?
Rapid City, S.D. – Standing under one of the world’s most recognized American symbols, Rikard Högberg sees the irony of a Russian businessperson seeking money and bison in South Dakota. “It wasn’t so very long ago that this would seem too improbable,” he said as the familiar faces of Mount Rushmore loomed overhead. “Telling about […] Read more
Canadian researchers shed light on BSE Shadoo
The prion protein to blame for BSE has a shadow, or Shadoo, as scientists are calling their new discovery. Until recently the PrP protein that potentially folds over and accumulates in the brains of animals, causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy diseases, was thought to be unique. It turns out that it has a mysterious cousin, the […] Read more
American labels viewed as trade protectionism
HALIFAX – Canadian cattle industry leaders are resigned to the introduction of a country-of-origin labelling rule for food sold in the United States by autumn 2008 and they are frustrated the Canadian government has not been more vigorous in opposing it. On Aug. 16 during the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association summer annual meeting, the CCA foreign […] Read more
4-H helps brothers map out future
LACOMBE, Alta. – Lance and Cody Olson are a team. They qualified to judge as a team during a recent heifer show in Lacombe, Alta., which was part of the Canadian National Junior All-Breeds show held Aug. 16-18. The brothers belong to the same 4-H club. They publicly praise each other and they even finish […] Read more
Johne’s difficult disease to track
Cattle producers often don’t suspect they have Johne’s disease in their herd until an animal is obviously ill. That’s why dairy producers such as Michael Hall don’t think the country’s voluntary national Johne’s disease program goes far enough in its efforts to detect and eradicate the disease. Producers know little about the disease, he said […] Read more
Prevention best cure for Johne’s, says vet
Sanitation on the farm is critical to controlling Johne’s disease, researchers said during a national seminar on the wasting disease found in cattle, sheep and goats. A major source of infection is manure if it contaminates feed, water and pens. “Anything to keep manure out of the calf’s mouth is going to be a plus,” […] Read more
