The risk of mastitis is highest just after calving and even higher in first-calf heifers. There are several strategies to avoiding the incidence and spread of this udder infection, and some key management decisions to make prior to treatment of the disease. Dr. Herman Barkema, DVM and professor of animal health at the University of... Read More
Category: Livestock
Responsible, appropriate use of antimicrobial products is a cornerstone of managing resistance to these products in both humans and livestock. For many outside the livestock industry, a lack of understanding about the use of these products, their administration and withdrawal times has created misconceptions and undue concern over the risk of antimicrobial resistance in beef... Read More
The federal government handed over the more than a million acres of Saskatchewan's PFRA community pastures to the provincial government last year, a move that some have argued jeopardizes the pastures' future. Though announced in 2012, the first hand-off of the land is not slated to happen until next grazing season, and all of the... Read More
If you cannot se the embedded video player above, Click Here Anne Wasko and Shaun Haney discuss the recent cow slaughter prices. As Anne mentions to Shaun there is some interesting issues at play here. Domestic cow slaughter 1st quarter is down 7% while exports are double last year meaning that disposals are up 20%... Read More
If you cannot seee the above embedded audio player, Click Here This morning I talked to Martin Unrau, President of the Canadian Cattlemans Association about his recent trip to Washington, DC to lobby for the repeal of the US mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) legislation. As Martin Unrau mentions in the interview, groups like... Read More
Johne's disease, a bacterial disease of ruminant animals, can be incredibly difficult to manage, as there is no treatment and production losses can occur even without clinical signs being present. What's more, few animals actually exhibit the wasting and diarrhea associated with infection, unless under stress. It means that for every visibly sick animal you... Read More
If you cannot see the above embedded audio player, Click Here Anne Wasko and Shaun Haney discuss the finalization of the JBS - XL Foods US plant purchases, why cattle packing plants cannot seems to get current, whether there could be further packing plant closures, basis outlook and the possible scenario for higher live cattle... Read More
Milk, in North America at least, is very much a commodity. There is little distinction between brands or types — a 4 litre jug is a 4 litre jug and not many have a preference as to what label it carries. This is changing, however, as family size shrinks and food trends increase the push... Read More
Developing a full understanding of antimicrobial resistance is imperative to managing its occurrence. Canada's beef industry has been studying the incidence of antimicrobial resistance in cattle for some time, but there is more work to be done. Building off this introduction on antimicrobial resistance by Dr. Reynold Bergen, this episode of the Beef Research School... Read More
On Tuesday, April 9th, a widespread day of protest will be held against – of all things troubling our country – GM alfalfa. Activists will be gathering at about 20 locales, including 12 in Ontario, to show their opposition to its pending arrival. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, a relatively benign group with agricultural ties... Read More