Livestock Management
American claims of missing health documents and ear tags on Canadian cattle bound for the United States appear to be unfounded. John Masswohl of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said the claims, reported in U.S. media last week, were taken out of context to discredit the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its efforts to implement a […] Read more
Livestock Management
Cattle trade controversy baseless, says CCA official
Side dish of peas turns out tender steak
Cattle finished with pea rations produce juicier, more tender steaks, says an American research scientist. In studies conducted at North Dakota State University, Vern Anderson found cattle performed well eating peas, and their meat tasted better. He said there is great potential for competitively priced peas to be used for cattle feed, citing the 2.5 […] Read more
Britain whittling down BSE cases
With more than 189,000 reported cases of BSE in Great Britain since 1986, the main goal of scientists in that country is to stop recycling the fatal brain wasting disease, says a British veterinarian. “The truth is the origin of BSE is unknown and may never be known with certainty,” said Ray Bradley, a former […] Read more
New BSE strain baffles scientists
A new form of BSE has been discovered in a small number of animals. Atypical BSE has been found in 18 cases among cattle older than 10 years, says Ray Bradley, a former veterinary surgeon who was head of pathology in Great Britain when BSE hit. The infected cattle were found through BSE surveillance programs […] Read more
Study looks at social impact of BSE on public
When Josie Smart asked farm families what could have been done to help them through the BSE crisis, the common response was, “nothing.” The social anthropologist from the University of Calgary found that troubling as she pursued studies into how the BSE crisis in Canada continues to affect farm families and rural communities. Her study […] Read more
CFIA warns B.C. dairies to cover treated wood
Dairy farmers in British Columbia must remove or cover treated wood from silage bunks and areas near cattle or risk losing their shipping licence after dioxin was found in milk samples from two farms. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency discovered the dioxin in milk samples as part of its national chemical monitoring program last year. […] Read more
Meat industry seeks national standard
VANCOUVER – Canada needs a single national meat inspection system and all plants should meet the federal standard, say industry officials. Executives of the Canadian Meat Council argue a myriad of food safety standards across the country is no longer adequate and it confuses consumers. One standard would be easier to administer. “Provinces should take […] Read more
Some calves need help taking first breath – Animal Health
Calves lost at calving may be born dead, victims of disease or a prolonged dystocia, or born alive but succumb because they fail to breathe. These latter animals can be helped if producers understand the breathing process and know what to do. Before a calf is born, its lungs are collapsed and its airways filled […] Read more
Cattle producer maps out strategy
Taking advantage of ultrasound technologies and sound genetics produces profits for Wade Shrimpton and his customers. Speaking at the Saskatchewan Beef Symposium in Saskatoon Feb. 7, the owner of Key Lake Ranch said the fastest way to make high performance improvements in his herd is through the bulls. He spends hours poring over bloodlines and […] Read more
Vaccination program leads to profitability
LACOMBE, Alta. – The goal of every cattle producer is for each cow to wean a live, healthy calf every 12 months, but an array of diseases can get in the way. Each cycle of a cow’s life from prebreeding, breeding, preweaning, weaning and precalving requires different nutrition and management adjustments. Among the important management […] Read more
