Reading Time: 2 minutes Good foundation stock kept in healthy condition make it easier to be profitable in the goat industry, says Dr. Kathy Parker, a veterinarian from Three Hills. Speaking to the Alberta Goat Association here last month, Parker emphasized the importance of keeping animals as healthy as possible to avoid the cost of medication and vet bills. […] Read more
Goats — use only the best in your herd
Goats can take pasture productivity to a whole new level
Reading Time: < 1 minute You can make pastures more productive by taking grazing to a different level — literally — says Lee Sexton of Sexton Grazing and Consulting in Hanley, Sask. Sexton told the Alberta Goat Association conference that goats and cattle don’t compete for forage, which means you can have more animals per acre. Goats stand on their […] Read more
Harvesting Alberta’s peat moss resource
Reading Time: 2 minutes Many people have dipped their hands into the dark, earthy soil known as peat moss, but few have thought about the industry’s contribution to Alberta. Peat moss, also known as sphagnum peat moss, is a natural, organic soil conditioner. It absorbs high amounts of moisture, acting as a sponge to release water as plants need […] Read more
Severe lack of rural firefighters a cause for concern
Reading Time: 3 minutes When there’s an emergency, firefighters are often the first on the scene, and not only when there’s a fire. In rural areas, they deal with vehicle accidents and other emergency calls, so a shortage of firefighters can be a serious concern. Firefighters in rural areas perform essential services, but they have other jobs. Over 10,000 […] Read more
Pigeon fever outbreak in southern Alberta horses
The disease can be treated with care to the infected area, but vaccines or antibiotics are not effective
Reading Time: 3 minutes Southern Alberta horse owners are being advised to watch their animals for large lumps on their chests, following what are apparently the first-ever cases of pigeon fever in the province. Pigeon fever is a disease common in the southern states, said Dr. Connie Fancy, veterinarian with Claresholm Veterinary Services. This year, Fancy and three other […] Read moreModern farmer finds success with heritage grains
Reading Time: 2 minutes When John Schneider got the urge to farm, he figured livestock would be a good fit for a small acreage but the economies of scale worked against him. Then he discovered heritage grains. “I think that’s the key to being successful in small agriculture — it’s just to create a niche for yourself and do […] Read more
Researchers at the University of Calgary help sequence genome of deadly parasite
Reading Time: 2 minutes Calgary researchers have helped sequence the genome of the barber’s pole worm, and that will aid efforts to control the intestinal parasite that affects goats and sheep. “Without the actual genome sequence, we can never get to the applied ends of what we’re trying to achieve,” said John Lilleard of the University of Calgary’s Faculty […] Read more
Pigeon fever arrives in southern Alberta horses
Southern Alberta horse owners are being advised to watch their animals for large lumps on their chests, following what are apparently the first-ever cases of pigeon fever in the province. Pigeon fever is a disease common in the southern States, said Dr. Connie Fancy, veterinarian with Claresholm Veterinary Services. This year, Fancy and three other […] Read more
Alberta scientists make a significant finding in prion research
Reading Time: 2 minutes Adecade after BSE rocked the Canadian cattle industry, two University of Alberta scientists and their Swiss colleagues have taken a major step towards finding a way to block prion infection which leads to BSE and scrapie. “My lab contributed how the antibodies interact with the various parts of the prion molecule,” said biochemistry professor, Michael […] Read more
Barley and wheat commissions share same office
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta Barley Commission (ABC) and the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) have teamed up and will soon be working out of the same office in Calgary. AWC’s new general manager Doug Cornell said the arrangement will save grower checkoff dollars because the two commissions will be able to share infrastructure and office costs. They will […] Read more