Reading Time: 3 minutes Changes to Health Canada’s policy on medically important antimicrobials, which came into effect Dec. 1, include those medications administered in water and in feed. This change is in response to antimicrobial resistance and the assurance of a safe food supply. It will also, I feel, be a positive step to further assure accuracy in milled […] Read more
There’s a learning curve with new rules on medication
Now is the time to get up to speed on the ins and outs of the regulations on medicated feed and additives
Gabert family given 50-year membership award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Rick and Sharon Gabert of Crooked Creek Angus Ranch were honoured for 50 years of consecutive family membership in the Canadian Angus Association at this year’s Farmfair. The Fort Saskatchewan-area ranch began as a dairy and grain operation, started a herd of commercial Angus in 1964, and purchased its first registered Angus cows in 1968. […] Read more
U.S. House approves farm bill without tighter food stamps criteria
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the farm bill on Wednesday, capping months of acrimonious debate to finalize the legislation funding the nation’s US$867 billion food and agriculture programs. The bill, which passed by a vote of 369 to 47, will be submitted to President Donald Trump for his signature into […] Read more
Delegate results from ABP fall meetings
Reading Time: < 1 minute Six new producer delegates, along with many returning ones, were elected or acclaimed at Alberta Beef Producers’ fall meetings. In Zone 5, Katlyn Benedict (Wimborne) and Kelly Fraser (Pine Lake) were elected and in Zone 6, Jill Burkhardt (Gwynne) and Assar Grinde (Bluffton) were elected while Cecil Andersen (Drayton Valley) was acclaimed as the Cattle […] Read more
Premises ID system proves its worth
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s Premises Identification System is 10 years old and now contains more than 43,000 premises, which provides a way of linking livestock and poultry to specific pieces of land, or premises. This information can be critical in notifying livestock owners in relation to an outbreak, natural or other disaster. The notification process was used during […] Read more
Livestock producers and vets need to communicate in the new VCPR world
The days when you could just phone a vet and ask for a prescription are now done and dusted
Reading Time: 5 minutes Producers, do you have a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship? As of Dec. 1, all antimicrobials used in animals will require a prescription from a registered veterinarian — and vets can only write a prescription if the four conditions that define a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) are met. Some producers may be wary of this new set of regulations, […] Read more
The nuts and bolts of a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship
A veterinarian needs to know your operation and you need to agree to his or her recommendations
Reading Time: 2 minutes The requirement for a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship for obtaining a prescription for an antimicrobial isn’t just a Canadian thing. “It’s much bigger than us, it’s a global initiative,” said Dr. Mike Jelinski, a partner in Veterinary Agri-Health Services in Airdrie. This whole initiative of tightening up on antibiotics came down from Health Canada because it is […] Read more
Vet award winners announced
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association has announced the recipients of its 2018 ABVMA awards. Dr. Robert (Bob) Jones has been named Veterinarian of the Year while Dr. Peter Martin will receive the Meritorious Service award when the association holds its awards banquet in February. The Young Veterinarian of the Year award will go to Dr. […] Read more
Bayer to shed animal health division, others after Monsanto deal
Frankfurt | Reuters — Bayer, the German drugmaker that bought U.S. seed company Monsanto, announced on Thursday the sale of its animal health business and a number of others, around 12,000 job cuts and 3.3 billion euros (C$4.98 billion) in impairments. CEO Werner Baumann is under pressure to boost Bayer’s share price after a drop […] Read more
Bovine TB case turns up in southern B.C.
Federal food safety officials are now looking into the life story of a slaughtered British Columbia beef cow confirmed with bovine tuberculosis. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced it has launched an investigation after a mature beef cow was confirmed Nov. 9 with bovine TB. The case comes a few months after the […] Read more
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