Reading Time: 3 minutes The non-professional bucking horse is a conundrum to the equestrian community and there is limited information on how bucking behaviour can best be investigated. Simply correcting the behaviour with assertive training methods, without understanding the root cause for the bucking, has limited success in preventing this unwanted and potentially dangerous activity. In fact, all horses […] Read more
Look deeper when dealing with a bucking horse
There’s almost always a root cause for this behaviour that must be addressed first
Leptospirosis and reproductive losses in beef cattle
While clinical cases are not common in Western Canada, detection of lepto titres in AI bulls can be a problem
Reading Time: 2 minutes Leptospirosis is rare in Western Canada. The three large pharma companies have leptospirosis vaccines, usually in combination with the standard five-way viral vaccines. They do not sell many doses, which indicates low frequency. In veterinary practice, we suspect it when we see bloody diarrhea or a high open rate or abortions. Leptospirosis titres are often […] Read more
Schoepp: There has been a big price to pay as farms expanded
Reading Time: 3 minutes The rapid expansion and increase in farm size have had a large societal cost as enterprises grew and the communities they once supported began to shrink. The demise of small towns is not so much from the past attrition of young people leaving for the city as from the lack of a nearby rural population […] Read more
Red sky at night? Maybe. But snow from fog in August?
Our weather columnist analyzes some common sayings, and would like to hear some more
Reading Time: 4 minutes This summer I have crisscrossed this great country of ours. I started in early July heading east into the Muskoka region of Ontario to compete in an Ironman 70.3 triathlon. After spending a couple of weeks there, I returned home and did some quick gardening before heading west to Canmore for a wedding. What a […] Read more
Some tips for dealing with the seasonally ‘itchy’ horse
Allergies, biting insects and the myriad of things horses are exposed to can all be factors
Reading Time: 3 minutes There is an increased occurrence of the itchy horse during spring and summer associated with seasonal allergies. While there are no published data on the number of allergies in horses, it would appear numbers are rising and parallel similar findings in humans and dogs. The most obvious symptom of a seasonal allergy is itchiness. A […] Read more
Schoepp: Farmers are innovative and resilient — our food system should be, too
The globalized commodity model is needed, but so are regional and local alternatives
Reading Time: 3 minutes Today’s farmers show resiliency, whether they are highly technical mass producers or deliver fresh to the farm gate. In agriculture, technology continues to rapidly advance in areas such as robotics and precision farming. Nutrient attributes can now be added or taken away in plants through genomics. Machinery can do the work of humans in picking […] Read more
Let’s do what we can to keep our animals safe from blue-green algae
Reporting suspected algae blooms and checking provincial advisories are both good steps
Reading Time: 3 minutes Over the years with increased phosphorus and nitrogen getting into bodies of water, there have been more blue green algae blooms and that means more contact with cattle, as well as dogs, birds, wildlife and, of course, people. With cattle, most of the time we get sudden death but also neurology cases. Wildlife, including birds, […] Read more
Schoepp: Don’t be brought down by the constant drumbeat of bad news
Yes, the world faces a lot of troubles right now but we remain fortunate in Canada
Reading Time: 3 minutes Each day we are bombarded with negativity — often regarding food, fuel and housing, those core foundational building blocks in our hierarchy of needs. Without them we start to lose our sense of belonging and of control in our lives and begin to fear for our future. Added to inflation and declining markets is the […] Read more
Shwetz: The frog can be a bellwether for horse hoof health
You can learn a lot just by examining this elastic cushion that plays such a critical role
Reading Time: 3 minutes So much detriment comes to the horse when its feet are not comfortable. The robust development and expression of the back half of the horse’s hoof and by association, the frog, plays a major role in cushioning a comfortable landing of the equine foot. The weak or ‘sick’ frog has become so common that its […] Read more
Schoepp: When we put values ahead of winning, good things happen
Of course we play to win but those who dare to be different often reap exceptional rewards
Reading Time: 3 minutes I have found a cousin — or rather he found me. Years ago, I had placed a little post on Facebook with a short message in which I said I was looking for information on my maternal grandmother. I knew her name and when she passed, but that was nearly all. And I wanted to […] Read more