New vet students
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan has the largest class for the present semester since the college opened in 1965.
The 76 students come from 50 communities in Western Canada and the Northwest Territories.
The 20 students from Saskatchewan include a Regina resident who helped co-ordinate pet spay and neuter clinics in the province’s north, a graduate student from Ebenezer, who is completing her master of science degree in environmental biology and an agriculture student from a cattle and grain farm near Marshall.
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First-year veterinary students are selected based on their academic record, animal-related experience and knowledge, insight into the profession and their communication skills.
The students were welcomed to the college at a “white coat ceremony,” at which they received a personalized lab coat from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and a stethoscope from their home province’s provincial veterinary medical association.
Grazing program
The federal government has extended its funding of the Sustainable Grazing Mentorship Program.
The program, which will continue for another year, provides mentoring in sustainable grazing management practices.
It was developed by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to encourage producers to share their knowledge and was implemented last year.
Many of last year’s mentors will remain with the program this year.
Producers pay $100 to receive approximately 16 hours of assessment from an experienced grazing mentor.
Program extension
The federal government has extended until Dec. 31 the deadline for producers participating in a Verified Beef Production (VBP) workshop who want to apply for equipment purchase assistance.
The program helps producers buy equipment eligible under the program, including chutes with neck extensions or shoulder restraints, animal health software, hand-held radio frequency identification readers and calibration equipment for medicated feed.
Producers who buy equipment under the program must participate in a VBP workshop.
To ensure equipment qualifies for funding, eligibility should be assessed before it is bought.
Copies of equipment purchase invoices must be submitted to the producer’s VBP provincial co-ordinator no later than Dec. 31.
Producers who will buy equipment in December and are experiencing time constraints this fall may participate in a workshop in January. However, arrangements must be made in advance with their provincial co-ordinator.
The VBP program is Canada’s national on-farm food safety program and was developed by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
For more information, visit www.verifiedbeef.org.
