Reading Time: 3 minutes Some livestock producers think about saving a buck when feeding their animals. But for sheep producers, it comes down to cents. “With sheep, you’ve always got to think about costs,” said Paul Luimes, a livestock nutrition researcher at the University of Guelph. “You’ve got to look for pennies to save because there’s not a lot […] Read more
Efficiency in sheep production measured in pennies
We have the ability to do something about food waste
Reading Time: 4 minutes Lois Schultz of Wetaskiwin won top honours in the 2017 Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto last month. Here is her prizewinning speech. Seven hundred and fifty million is a huge number. But it seems even more gigantic when you discover that it represents the number of […] Read more
Veterinary association lambastes province over ‘intrusion’ on fees
The organization is upset with consumer protection bill that would allow vets to advertise their fees
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the second time in two months, the association representing Alberta’s veterinarians is crying foul and accusing the NDP government of taking short-sighted actions with no consultation. Proposed changes “constitute alarming overreach and intrusion into the veterinary profession’s ability to self-regulate and were made without consultation,” the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association said in a press […] Read more
Mycotoxins — the invisible danger for livestock
Ruminant nutritionist offers tips to ensure feed doesn’t pose a health hazard to your cattle
Reading Time: 3 minutes Mould and mycotoxins can be tricky, but there are a few tips that can help prevent them from hurting your cattle. That was the message that Amanda Van De Kerckhove, ruminant nutritionist with Co-op Feeds, brought to Northlands’ first BeefTech event. “It can be a little overwhelming when you look at all the factors that […] Read more
AFAC appoints new executive director
Reading Time: < 1 minute Annemarie Pedersen is the new executive director of Alberta Farm Animal Care. Pedersen is an agricultural communications expert and a former industry relations director with Canada Beef. The livestock welfare organization, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, promotes best practices in livestock care and handling. Among the programs it supports is the ALERT […] Read more
How’s your relationship with your vet?
Antimicrobials will soon require a prescription, but a vet can’t write one if he or she hasn’t worked closely with a producer
Reading Time: 3 minutes When it comes to antimicrobials, one shoe has dropped and the other soon will. And that means livestock producers who don’t have a working relationship with a vet better start developing one. As of last month, producers can no longer import antimicrobials for use on their ranches and farms, and growth promotion claims have been […] Read more
How antimicrobial use will change in a year’s time
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta Beef Producers highlighted changes for medically important antimicrobials (MIAs) that will take effect on Dec. 1, 2018. “While current research does not point to any clear, direct link between antimicrobial use in cattle and resistance in people, it is in our best interests to use these products appropriately,” the organization stated in the Nov. […] Read more
Farmers demand invisible Irish border, post-Brexit
Florencecourt, Northern Ireland | Reuters — Northern Irish sheep farmers like John Sheridan collectively transport more than 1,000 lambs a day over the Irish border for slaughter and shipment to shoppers across the European Union. At the moment, the process is seamless. But Sheridan sees a threat to his life’s work, his family’s future and […] Read more
No kidding around – goat expert offers breeding advice
Have some very good fencing, a pregnant-looking animal often isn’t, and have a chat with your vet
Reading Time: 3 minutes Everyone wants their goats to kid, but there are a few things they can do to ensure that breeding is done well, says a leading North American goat expert. “A female goat likes a choice,” Mary Smith said at the recent Alberta Goat Breeders Association conference. “Does do have preferences in which bucks they will […] Read more
Calling Alberta deer hunters
Reading Time: < 1 minute The University of Calgary faculty of veterinary medicine is looking for help from deer hunters. Researchers at the faculty are conducting a study on gastrointestinal parasite diversity in deer. For that, they need fresh feces samples. Hunters who see deer defecate are asked to collect samples and send by courier to the department. Samples can […] Read more