Reading Time: 3 minutes An Alberta processor is putting a face to the farmers behind a new line of lamb products. SunGold Specialty Meats’ Lamb Tonight line of meats began selling at Sobeys, Safeway, and Thrifty Foods stores across Canada earlier this summer. It features 10 ready-to-cook lamb products, including lamb burgers, sausages, meatballs, kabobs, and seasoned ground lamb. […] Read more
New meat products hit the spot for lamb producers
Veterinarians needed for meat inspection program
Reading Time: < 1 minute Veterinarians are being sought to act as meat inspectors under the Appointed Inspector Program. Participants must be registered under the Veterinary Profession Act and licensed by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. “More participants are needed in many areas across the province. In some parts of Alberta, there are currently no appointed inspectors available in the […] Read more
Dispose of unwanted pesticides and livestock meds this fall
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers in the Peace Region and central Alberta can safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and equine/livestock medications at one of the designated collection sites this fall. Obsolete or unwanted agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label) will be accepted. Livestock medications that are used by primary producers in the rearing […] Read more
Canada books bigger beef cattle herd
New estimates from Statistics Canada show the country’s cattle producers hanging onto more breeding stock and holding more calves as of July 1 compared to the same date last year. StatsCan’s livestock estimates as of July 1, released Thursday, showed 13.2 million cattle on Canadian farms as of July 1, up 1.3 per cent from […] Read more
Little-known infection could be widespread
The infection, which can affect both animals and livestock handlers, usually doesn’t produce symptoms but can sometimes be very serious
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s an under-reported disease and people who catch it often don’t show any symptoms. But an Alberta medical doctor still wants to know more. Q fever, known as coxiella, is an infection that can affect livestock handlers and their animals. “In Alberta, we only have about six human cases a year that are recognized — […] Read more
Passionate about livestock? AFAC needs you
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) is seeking volunteers to help with the ALERT line. Volunteers need to be passionate about livestock welfare and knowledgeable about current practices of care. AFAC is especially in need of volunteers with knowledge of any livestock species in northern Alberta and in remote locations, but welcomes volunteers from anywhere in […] Read more
Alberta Lamb Producers to quit national federation
The move follows Ontario’s decision to quit, which left the national group representing less than half of Canadian production
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Lamb Producers is pulling out of the Canadian Sheep Federation, saying the national body can “no longer effectively represent the sheep industry.” The move, effective Oct. 20, comes on the heels of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency’s decision to withdraw its membership. Ontario accounts for 30 per cent of the national flock, followed by […] Read more
If you’re going to feed hail-damaged crop to livestock, test it first
Doing a feed test ‘is much cheaper than losing an animal,’ says beef extension specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes Hail damage this summer is approaching an all-time high — and with many producers putting livestock on their ruined fields, the risk of nitrate poisoning is also shooting up. So be sure to do a feed test first, said a beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “A feed test is much cheaper than […] Read more
Focus on nutrition will also help pastures
World-renowned holistic management specialist says green is not the only right colour for grass
Reading Time: 3 minutes Many graziers have a theory that if you look after the soil, the rest of the operation will take care of itself, but Ian Mitchell-Innes looks at it the other way around. “The biggest mistake that people make after learning about holistic management is they try and save the ground. I did this also when […] Read more
The other side of the temporary foreign worker story
Sunterra Meats has helped dozens of ‘temporary’ employees become permanent residents — and they’re revitalizing the town of Trochu
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa’s decision to grandfather the number of temporary foreign workers is being welcomed by food-processing companies. “It’s good news to the extent that we won’t have to send anybody back,” said Ray Price, president of Sunterra Meats, which runs farms, markets, and a small meat-processing plant in Alberta. Federal Employment Minister Mary Ann Mihychuk announced […] Read more