Lameness is the dairy industry's leading and most visible animal welfare concern. It's also among the top three health challenges, along with mastitis and reproductive problems. Veterinarian Dr. Laura Solano, dairy cattle extension specialist at Calgary, Alberta-based Farm Animal Care Associates, says that despite the negative impacts to lameness, studies show that 15 to 30... Read More
Category: Cattle
Earlier this year, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) informed the government it would no longer be carrying out animal welfare law enforcement. The announcement has spurred the need for an overhaul of Ontario's Ontario Animal Protection Act, but also left a gap between the current set up and the... Read More
The Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) have announced Carson Callum is stepping in to fill the vacant general manager position. Callum grew up on a mixed grain and beef farm in southern Manitoba. He previously worked with Corteva Agriscience as their market manager for grains and oilseeds. Callum has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in agriculture... Read More
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food along with the Minister of International Trade Diversification met with leaders of various Canadian pork and meat organizations earlier this week to discuss the latest in trade woes with China. "We are working closely with farmers, industry, provinces and exporters to restore market access to China as quickly as... Read More
Retiring alfalfa fields used to be a simple process. Conventional tillage farmers would just drop the mouldboard plow in the fall, while those under a minimum tillage system would rely on a glyphosate burndown before planting a new crop the following spring. With the introduction of glyphosate tolerant (GT) alfalfa, however, glyphosate is no longer... Read More
While some rainfall has returned to very dry areas of the Prairies, many ranchers have already made some tough calls on downsizing herds and flocks to conserve what grass is available for grazing and winter feed. Taking the pressure off existing pasture and hay ground is a smart move to make early. Janice Bruynooghe, of... Read More
Though there is still much to know about prions and prion diseases, we've come a long way since the first case found of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a domestic cow in Canada, and the launch of the Alberta Prion Research Institute. "I think we have come quite a ways," says Kevin Keough, executive director... Read More
Just days before the G20 Osaka Summit is set to take place, China has banned all Canadian meat exports. According to the Chinese Embassy in Canada, the investigation into last week's Ractopamine findings "revealed that the official veterinary health certificates attached to the batch of pork exported to China were counterfeit" and reflects "obvious safety... Read More
Beef is always on the plate as the main dinner for the Saskatchewan Stock Growers convention held at Moose Jaw each June. Increasingly, though, beef and other animal-based protein is being eliminated from the menu — in fast food restaurants and at home. Carol Harrison, registered dietician and consultant, spoke at the 106th SSGA convention... Read More
The 106th Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) annual general meeting was held this past week in Moose Jaw, Sask. More than 100 ranchers and industry from across the province came to the convention held on Monday to hear from keynote speakers with the formal AGM held on Tuesday. “We had a very productive AGM adopting... Read More