Livestock Management
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – For Canada’s most prominent cattle industry market analyst, news of a near-record decline in cattle numbers during the past year was hardly a surprise. Anne Dunford, with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Canfax service, said shrinkage in the record herd that built up during the BSE crisis was predictable because the open […] Read more
Livestock Management
U.S. takes Canada’s overflow of cattle
Japanese demand safe, cheap beef
JUMPING POUND, Alta. – Food safety and price are the most important considerations for Japanese beef buyers. More BSE testing, although not scientifically necessary, could improve sales, said Tatsuo Iwana, executive director of the Japan Meat Traders Association. He was invited to speak at the Western Stock Growers summer meeting held Aug. 11. Japan’s first […] Read more
Latest BSE case different
A different strain of BSE has been found in Canada’s sixth case of the disease diagnosed in early July. Of the 200,000 confirmed BSE cases found worldwide, this strain has only shown up in about 100 animals in the United States, Italy, France and Germany, said Cornelius Kiley of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The […] Read more
Genetic research may unlock swine industry dollars
Fatter sows producing leaner litters is a match that should enable Canadian farmers to bring home more bacon, say researchers. Genetic testing has recently created the opportunity to reliably produce leaner pigs in response to consumer demand. When a boar’s DNA contains the right insulin-like growth factor 2 gene, it passes on an important trait […] Read more
On-line bidding drives cattle auctions
When the Calgary Stockyards opened for business in 1903, it was a noisy, busy place full of livestock, cowboys and cattle buyers. It stood near the railroad tracks of a little city with its eye on growth. Nowadays the historic location has given way to progress and the former site is filled with gleaming, glass […] Read more
Composting animals could limit disease
LETHBRIDGE – Composting livestock and poultry that died of anthrax or avian influenza may be an effective way to kill deadly bacteria or viruses. Scientists with Alberta Agriculture, Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are measuring how long it takes to kill pathogens using superheated composting. Kim Stanford with Alberta Agriculture worked with […] Read more
Science intervenes in mammal, insect battle
LETHBRIDGE – The centuries old face-off between man and insect continues at a special facility at Agriculture Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre. As the only one of its kind in North America, the controlled-atmosphere building allows researchers like Doug Colville to investigate methods to manage troublesome livestock pests. Chemical control works, but most insecticides were designed […] Read more
Youngster sounds like pro in show ring
The six-month-old red and white Holstein is alert, freshly shorn and preened for its close-up in the 4-H show ring. Ruby’s owner, Neline Kielstra, spends hours preparing the calf for events like the recent Prairieland Junior Ag Showcase in Saskatoon. On the night before a show, Kielstra hauls Ruby to the show barn from the […] Read more
BSE tests to focus on high-risk cattle
Canada has changed the way it measures BSE surveillance testing from the total number of animals tested to a point system based on the kinds of animals tested. The changes are based on those adopted by the OIE, the world animal health organization, to get a better measure of each country’s BSE surveillance, said Gerald […] Read more
Spring calving not easy switch
Producers considering a change to spring calving instead of winter calving were advised last week that challenges can arise during the transition. Glen Duizer, an extension veterinarian with Manitoba Agriculture, sees several merits in spring calving, particularly the potential to prevent scours by having calves born on pasture instead of in pens. However, experience has […] Read more
