dutch sow pig

New swine health network to track animal diseases

Network relies on vets to paint a picture of swine animal health seen in their practices

Reading Time: 2 minutes The newly created Western Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network will help keep producers informed about swine disease monitoring and disease knowledge transfer in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “This is a wonderful system. It keeps people informed about what’s going on in the industry. We’re encouraging all vets to participate,” said Dr. Egan Brockhoff, a swine […] Read more

pigs feeding

Making a plan helps alleviate the stress of euthanasia

A detailed, written plan and standard operating practices are better for both the animals and staff

Reading Time: 3 minutes No one likes having to euthanize an animal, but it’s easier with a clear plan and proper protocols in place. Part of that is using “end points” as recommended by Canadian Council of Animal Care, said Craig Wilkinson, a professor and director of animal care for the faculty of agriculture, life and environmental sciences at […] Read more


(Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Canada preparing shorter list of tariff targets in COOL fight

Winnipeg | Reuters — Canada is whittling down its list of U.S. products that it may hit with steep tariffs in retaliation against contentious meat-labeling laws, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said on Tuesday. The Canadian government is likely to target beef, pork, California wines, mattresses, cherries and office furniture, possibly along with other goods, from […] Read more

(CMEGroup.com)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close mostly weak

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures Tuesday settled mostly weaker on profit-taking and the morning’s soft wholesale beef prices, traders said. The reversal of a trading strategy known as bear spreads implemented on Monday propped up the June contract and further pressured August futures. June closed up 0.15 cent per pound […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rally on discount to cash prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed higher on Monday and erased Friday’s losses, supported by short-covering and futures’ discounts to last week’s cash prices, traders said. June closed 0.825 cent per pound higher at 153.15 cents, and August rose 0.875 cent to 152.15 cents (all figures US$). “They (traders) can’t fight […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: Slumping beef prices rattle CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Friday, pulled down by profit-taking in response to the day’s sharp drop in wholesale beef values, traders said. June closed 1.175 cents per pound lower at 152.325 cents, and August fell 1.475 cents, to 151.275 cents. Friday morning’s choice wholesale beef price […] Read more



piglets in a barn

Massive biosecurity effort in hog sector proves its worth

The list of changes is long and no detail was deemed too small in the effort to keep PEDv out of Alberta

Reading Time: 3 minutes When it comes to biosecurity, all the rules, time, and expense are worth it. And the proof can be seen in the successful effort to keep PEDv (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus) out of Alberta, attendees at the recent Canadian Livestock Transport conference were told. “Everybody in the chain has done their job to prevent PEDv […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle shrug off early weakness

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed higher on Wednesday after initial selling, helped by short-covering and futures’ discounts to last week’s cash prices, traders said. June closed 0.675 cent per pound higher at 152.475 cents, and August ended up 0.8 cent at 151.425 cents (all figures US$). Last week, most market-ready […] Read more