Reading Time: 2 minutes As spring approaches, many ranchers prepare a clean, dry and warm place for newborn animals. Frigid temperatures make it a challenge to keep newborn livestock warm and protected from harsh winter elements. One option is to provide supplemental heat from heat lamps but severe risks can accompany their use inside a barn. “As livestock producers, […] Read more
Take precautions when using heat lamps for newborn livestock
They’re a valuable tool for warming calves and lambs, but also a fire hazard
CFIA seeks feedback on traceability, animal ID amendments
Producers have until June 16 to comment on proposals
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is now seeking comment on its proposed amendments to livestock identification and traceability regulations. The regulatory proposal would address what the agency calls “gaps” in the current system, including: adding goats and cervids as animal species that share diseases with other regulated livestock, and therefore subject to traceability requirements, shortening […] Read more
Alberta bucks trend in live lamb prices
Préval Ag plant and feedlot purchase seen as positive for the sector
Reading Time: < 1 minute Provincial live lamb prices reported by Statistics Canada show an annual decrease in 2022 compared to 2021 for all provinces except Alberta, says Ann Boyda, provincial livestock market analyst with the Alberta government. “Alberta average live weight price was reported at $242.44 per hundredweight for 2022, up 4.7 per cent from 2021. Ontario has normally […] Read more
Quebec company aims to boost Alberta’s lamb sector
Meat processing giant says it wants to grow the sector and ensure everyone benefits
Reading Time: 4 minutes The new Quebec owners of the province’s major lamb processing plant are vowing to revitalize the sheep sector in Alberta. “The pie is going to get bigger — and we want everyone to benefit from it,” said Stéphane Beausoleil, an executive of Préval Ag who is now running the former SunGold lamb processing plant in […] Read more
Alberta lamb business sale finalized
Reading Time: < 1 minute Quebec company Préval Ag has completed its purchase of the Alberta lamb processing plant and large feedlot of the defunct North American Lamb Company. “For us, sourcing locally is essential, and we will therefore be working closely with local producers to expand the marketing of our lamb products in the Canadian market,” Alex Fontaine, president […] Read more
Research resources for livestock producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute An Ontario livestock organization has a series of resources aimed at helping farmers put research into practice. The podcasts, videos and webinar recordings on the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation website “offer timely and credible information that will help them make the best possible decisions in how to manage their farms and raise their livestock,” said […] Read more
Préval closes deal for Alberta lamb processor, feedlot
Quebec firm picks up defunct NALCO's Alberta assets
Quebec agrifood firm Préval Ag has wrapped up its deal to buy the Alberta processing and production assets of the defunct North American Lamb Co., marking Préval’s first move into the lamb sector outside its home province. As per Alberta Farmer’s report last week, Préval confirmed Monday its divisions Westfine Meats and West Excelamb are […] Read more
Alberta lamb sector gets boost as Quebec powerhouse moves in
Fast-growing Préval Ag buys troubled Innisfail processing plant and major lamb feedlot
Reading Time: 3 minutes A Quebec company that is an emerging powerhouse in the meat sector has struck a deal to purchase the Alberta lamb processing plant and large feedlot of the defunct North American Lamb Company. “They seem to run a fair-sized conglomerate of businesses related to agriculture and the livestock industry,” said Neil Narfason, an official with […] Read more
Prairies’ warmer spell to be usurped by arctic front
MarketsFarm — While the Prairies have so far this month experienced rather non-January-like temperatures, a cold front coming south from the Arctic will soon descend on the region, according to Scott Kehler, president and chief scientist of Weatherlogics in Winnipeg. “What we are seeing is a big change in the weather pattern. For most of […] Read more
Assessing lameness in livestock for transport
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has created a simple one-page infographic that can be used to assess the fitness of an animal for transport. The ‘Assessing lameness for transport’ poster outlines the yes/no questions to be answered when rating an animal, which is either placed in a ‘Go,’ ‘Unfit’ or ‘Compromised’ category. Depending on the […] Read more