The co-operative behind one of Canada’s biggest names in organic dairy goods is in creditor protection and aiming to negotiate new terms on the eight figures owing to its creditors and members. Organic Meadow Co-operative announced Monday it had filed for creditor protection “in order to complete a restructuring of its operations.” The company said […] Read more
Ont. organic dairy co-op in creditor protection
Top tips for feeding for rumen health
Cattle — and microbes in their rumens — need a consistent supply of both dry matter and nutrients to improve performance and reduce digestive diseases
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cattle feeders aren’t just feeding cattle — they’re also feeding the microbes that live in the rumen. And those little critters are picky. “Regardless of the production system, the challenge that we face is variation in dry matter intake and total nutrient intake,” said Greg Penner, assistant professor of animal and poultry science at the […] Read more
Kraft to combine with Heinz in deal led by 3G, Buffett
Reuters — Ketchup maker H.J. Heinz, owned by 3G Capital and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, is acquiring a majority stake in Kraft Foods Group to create the third-largest North American food company, executives said on Wednesday. Shares of Kraft — which operates 35 plants in Canada, the U.S. and Puerto Rico — were up more […] Read more
EU farmers fear ‘roller coaster’ as milk market deregulated
Belview Port, Ireland | Reuters –– Billions of euros and thousands of jobs will flow from the historic deregulation of Europe’s dairy sector, a string of Irish ministers promised at the opening this week of a vast new plant to make dried milk for developing markets. But elsewhere in the European Union, many farmers are […] Read more
McDonald’s to phase out human antibiotics from U.S. chicken supply
Reuters — McDonald’s U.S. restaurants will gradually stop buying chicken raised with antibiotics vital to fighting human infections, the most aggressive step by a major food company to change chicken producers’ practices in the fight against dangerous “superbugs.” The world’s biggest restaurant chain announced on Wednesday that within two years, McDonald’s USA will only buy […] Read more
Saputo buys further into Australian cheese market
Canada’s biggest dairy processor has reached a deal to buy further into the Australian market, by buying the “everyday cheese” business of Australian beverage and dairy giant Lion. Saputo on Monday said it had reached a deal for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory, its 88 per cent-owned Australian subsidiary, to buy Lion’s “EDC” business for […] Read more
China to block Canadian beef as BSE probe continues
China has set up “temporary trade restrictions” on Canadian beef and beef products in the wake of Canada’s first case of BSE in a domestic cow since 2011, federal officials report. Born in 2009 and confirmed with BSE Feb. 11, the latest case — Canada’s 19th since its first such finding in 2003 — has […] Read more
Parmalat to shut Quebec mozza plant
The Canadian arm of Italian dairy giant Parmalat plans to close a mozzarella processing plant near Montreal and consolidate its Quebec cheesemaking work at one major facility. Parmalat said Thursday it will close its plant at Marieville, about 40 km east of Montreal, at the end of September. A new production line for mozzarella will […] Read more
BSE case born after tightened feed ban imposed
The beef cow that became Canada’s 19th case of BSE is now confirmed as Canada’s first-ever case to be born after tighter limits were imposed on use of cattle parts in livestock feed. Without specifying a home municipality, spokesmen for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said on a conference call Wednesday that Case 19 […] Read more
Help for managing risk in cattle operations
Modules will range from financial literacy and market cycles to currency and market dynamics
Reading Time: 1 minute Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association has partnered with Lethbridge College to develop a business-risk management curriculum. The programming, available in class, online or in a blended format, will start in fall 2015 as part of the Cor Van Raay Agribusiness Program. “Developing this important curriculum with ACFA and other producer groups will ensure that we are […] Read more