Reading Time: 4 minutes As the equine version of an early teenager, the yearling is a bit of a peculiarity within the modern-day horse world. Yearlings generally appear and act physically ungainly, have a naive mindset and are often emotionally raw. So pressure and haste are often placed upon the yearling to be more than it is and to […] Read more
There are several keys to getting a yearling on the proper path
Horse Health: Sound nutrition, plenty of exercise and social interactions are the foundation for the horse’s future
Schoepp: Failing to deliver on its promise sparked the backlash against globalization
The huge amount of food waste because of inadequate infrastructure is a big part of the problem
Reading Time: 3 minutes In 2014 the world economy stalled and for the first time the rapid pace of globalization slowed. The consequences were felt immediately in a measurable drop in GDP and in food insecurity. Undernourishment rose in 2015 and is now at levels not seen since 2010. Economists were quick to blame the slippage in globalized trade […] Read more
Keep a close watch for these issues when calving
Recognizing the signs of trouble and acting quickly can be a true lifesaver
Reading Time: 3 minutes With spring approaching, I am going to attempt to summarize the many ways we can collectively (and hopefully) maximize calf survivability and productivity starting at calving time. Each of you will have different management styles, strategies, and numbers — but if there are one or two new things, techniques, or observations you can learn from, […] Read more
Schoepp: Climate change policies — how will they impact your farm?
One of the newest initiatives is called rewilding and it illustrates the gulf between farmers and the public
Reading Time: 3 minutes Will changes in climate policy impact land use on your farm? We don’t know yet in Canada but here are some considerations and examples from around the world. Agriculture, and in particular animal agriculture, has long been proclaimed by special interest groups as climate culprits and has been accused of a litany of woes, stemming […] Read more
Transitioning the shod horse to barefoot can be challenging
Start with a hoof assessment and look for problems that may have gone unnoticed
Reading Time: 4 minutes Horse owners decide to transition their horses from shod to barefoot for a number of reasons — curiosity, cost, research, friends, frustrating lamenesses, and unfortunately at times a death sentence due to a diagnosis of intractable navicular disease or laminitis. But the journey towards barefooting is often not without its challenges — yet this is […] Read more
Schoepp: Who will win the battle for the plates of consumers?
The rise of meat created from plants or in a lab is a fascinating, and multi-faceted, affair
Reading Time: 3 minutes Who will win the plate on the battlefield of food animal versus plant- or cell-based meats? I have often wondered about the outcome of this raging war for the shelf, especially after I first noticed food animal companies investing in plant-based technologies. There is mounting evidence for the use of food animal over alternate meats […] Read more
What to do when the expiry date has passed
Beef 911: While there are some grey areas, products have an expiry date for a good reason
Reading Time: 3 minutes We as veterinarians and you as producers run into many questions in our careers regarding whether we can or cannot use expired medications in cattle production. Veterinary clinics cannot sell product that has been expired, so if you see that a product has expired, simply take it back as a mistake has been made. In […] Read more
Schoepp: The plight of the banana has implications for all of agriculture
Overreliance on chemical control has brought this hugely important global crop to a crisis point
Reading Time: 3 minutes Regardless of the season there are some foods that are always available and one of them is the banana. It’s an interesting fruit because of the dominance it has in terms of trade and its unique characteristic of being a non-seed-bearing clone. Most bananas come from Ecuador, Philippines, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia and another 125 […] Read more
The decision to end a horse’s life is often an agonizing process
Horse Health: One of the hardest decisions for a horse owner can also be the best for the welfare of the animal
Reading Time: 4 minutes The term ‘euthanasia’ comes from the Greek words meaning a ‘good death’ and is the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. At times the decision to euthanize a horse is clearly obvious. This can occur when a horse has a severe injury or an unrelenting and non-responsive illness such as […] Read more
Schoepp: A tedious task offers up some lessons on life
Those who came before us have given us a gift and we must preserve it for future generations
Reading Time: 3 minutes Surrounding my new rural house is a rock garden that stretches 30 metres long and is 10 metres deep. It’s steep and rugged and has not been tended to for several years. The task of pulling established grasses, invasive ground cover and weeds from this huge space seemed a monumental task. I began the process […] Read more