Ottawa/Winnipeg | Reuters — Strong winds, freezing rain and heavy snowfall closed schools, cut power to homes and cancelled flights across Canada on Friday as a powerful winter storm swept across the country, prompting authorities to warn people to stay indoors ahead of worsening conditions. The storm is connected to the same freezing weather system […] Read more
Winter storm causes havoc across Canada
Alberta ranchers shelter cattle against winds
Refundable checkoff for lamb producers stays
Reading Time: < 1 minute A bid to make the checkoff for lamb producers non-refundable has been defeated in a plebiscite. “Most producers that voted were in favour of the status quo, a refundable service charge model,” Alberta Lamb Producers said on its website. Just over 15 per cent of eligible producers voted, with 147 in favour of keeping the […] Read more
Environment Canada sees ‘average’ Prairie winter ahead
MarketsFarm — An ‘average’ winter is in the forecast for most of the Canadian Prairies, according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast for December through February from Environment Canada, released Wednesday. The government department is calling for normal temperatures across all the agricultural areas of the three Prairie provinces — aside from the northernmost reaches […] Read more
We have very safe pharmaceuticals, but they must be used properly
Mistakes can happen if you don’t pay close attention to labels and used the correct route of administration
Reading Time: 4 minutes There are various toxicity tests that determine how effective a product is and how to safely use it. There is an acronym called LD 50 (for lethal dose), which is the concentration or amount of a product to kill 50 per cent of the patients. Fortunately, most cattle products we use are very safe. But […] Read more
Ontario seeking new rules on scope of vet services
Changes also considered to veterinary sector oversight
Updated Nov. 23 — Ontario’s government is considering new legislation to more clearly spell out who can provide what kinds of animal care in the province’s veterinary sector. The provincial ag ministry on Monday launched a round of public consultation on the Veterinarians Act, which governs licensing of veterinarians and accreditation of veterinary facilities in […] Read more
New vet database already a hit with livestock owners
It doesn’t fix the vet shortage, but can help find species-specific veterinary care closer to home
Reading Time: 2 minutes Having trouble finding a veterinarian? Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) recently created an online database of veterinary clinics in the province. The list is searchable in a radius of up to 200 kilometres and can be refined for specific species. “We often hear of people who have diverse livestock species like llamas, alpacas, honeybees, and […] Read more
Lamb sector roiled by fall of major player
Mounting losses sink company that was going to revolutionize the lamb business
Reading Time: 4 minutes Lamb producers in Alberta are facing a sea of uncertainly after a company that hailed itself as the future of the sector went into creditor protection owing more than $50 million. The two big questions are whether the massive flock owned by North American Lamb Company (NALCO) will flood the market and send prices into […] Read more
Lamb company had big ambitions but was never profitable
North American Lamb Company had an innovative business plan but expenses always exceeded sales
Reading Time: 3 minutes The North American Lamb Company (NALCO) started with lofty goals — and some sharp criticism of the sheep sector — when it was launched in 2018. “I will tell you right now that the sheep business, in my opinion, is a dysfunctional and declining business and I’m not saying that solely about the Canadian business,” […] Read more
Initial drought list ready for 2022 livestock tax deferrals
Much of Manitoba, southern Alberta designated for 2022
Many of the Prairie livestock producers forced by drought to make “difficult herd management decisions” in the 2022 income tax year are now eligible to defer the taxable income from those decisions. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Tuesday released the initial list of designated regions in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan where livestock tax deferral […] Read more
Lessons on stock dogs from Ag In Motion
'Our dogs do understand that they're worthy'
Ranchers, and perhaps even dog owners, gathered around the Cattle Pen at Ag in Motion on Wednesday to learn about stock dogs and what makes them tick. Jared Epp from the Saskatchewan Stock Dog Association led that day’s demonstration and drove home four main points: showing leadership is key, the appearance of the dog doesn’t […] Read more