There are many potential stressors for cattle during transport, as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein pointed out at the recent Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association conference and annual general meeting. Animals have to contend with handling (often by unfamiliar people), a unique environment, mixing with new animals, feed and water restrictions and the energy/focus required... Read More
Category: Livestock
As with other aspects of farming, automation is finding its way into the process of managing mortalities. Dutch Industries, based at Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan, has designed what looks like a big top-heavy green box that it calls the "BioMulcher." The unit heats, grinds and mixes, composting up to 2,500 pounds of material per batch. "After... Read More
Proposed amendments to Canada's Food and Drug Regulations were outlined in more detail this week, after a brief announcement by Health Canada on June 30, 2016. The potential changes look to "strengthen rules governing the importation, sale and use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock." "Health Canada's proposal to strengthen the rules around the use of... Read More
Just ten days after Mexico announced it will drop its remaining import restrictions on Canadian beef, Taiwan has lifted its temporary ban on Canadian beef, effective July 8. The ban was issued following the February 2015 case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta. "The Government of Canada welcomes the news of another restored market,"... Read More
It's easy to jump to conclusions when diagnosing issues in livestock. But, when a team from the University of Calgary, stumbled upon a case of lameness that just didn't seem to be going away, they knew to look beyond the oft-blamed culprit of footrot. "This was a very experienced producer. He had a lot of... Read More
Dairy farm expansion typically focuses on adding more cows to increase production. That’s certainly the case for Monkton, Ontario-based producers Rick and Theresa Portena, but the Portenas also want a better opportunity to milk cows themselves. In this inaugural episode of Real Agriculture’s Dairy School, the Portenas’ share the strategy on why they invested in... Read More
You go out to check the cows, and you see a calf with scours — what do you do? For many producers, the first course of action involves a bolus gun. But, it's actions like this that have led Franklyn Garry, professor at Colorado State University, to unabashedly assert that "we grossly overuse antibiotics." Neonatal... Read More
As of October 1, 2016, Mexico will fully re-open its border to Canadian beef, ending one of the few trade restrictions that still remain from the initial discovery of a case of BSE in Canada in May 2003. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement in Ottawa on... Read More
It's been an interesting week for market analysts. According to Gateway Livestock's Anne Wasko, cattle prices had a tough week leading up to Friday, then "Brexit — the 'leave' victory — sort of sent markets into an upheaval." Commodity Analysts, Traders and Media React to Brexit Decision The news that the United Kingdom had voted... Read More
Are carcass weights too high? Are we not putting enough emphasis on quality feet and legs? These are questions Temple Grandin, well-known cattle handling expert, had ranchers and reporters asking themselves as they filed out of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association's 103rd annual general meeting and convention. As part of her presentation, Grandin described a... Read More