Livestock
(Resource News International) — Canada’s 17th case of BSE was discovered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) last month but has only now been publicly announced. The federal government’s communication strategy for reporting cases of bovine sponsgiform encephalopathy (BSE) now involves only providing information on a monthly basis. A CFIA spokesperson could only confirm […] Read more
Alta. cow tests positive for BSE: CFIA
Man. egg farmers move toward “five freedoms”
Manitoba’s egg producer group plans to set up a new policy that will see any new or renovated hen housing after 2018 follow the “five freedoms” standard. The well-known “five freedoms” guidelines for livestock housing would require layer barns built or retrofitted after that year to either have “enriched” cages or an alternate housing model […] Read more
Ontario’s major bee losses blamed on varroa
Unexpectedly high overwintering losses in Ontario’s honeybee colonies over the past three years can be blamed largely on varroa mites, according to a new University of Guelph study. The study, spearheaded by environmental sciences professor Ernesto Guzman, notes about a third of Ontario’s colonies died off in the winter of 2006-07, followed by another third […] Read more
Alberta Pork names new chiefs
Alberta’s hog farmers’ organization has filled its vacancies at the top. Alberta Pork on Tuesday named its vice-chairman, Jim Haggins of Calgary, as its new chairman after the resignation of chairman and Region 2 representative Herman Simons. As well, the board has named Darcy Fitzgerald, currently the director of industry investments for the Alberta Livestock […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder prices grind lower
March 8 — Cash feeder prices in Western Canada have been grinding lower over the past week despite stronger demand from the feedlot sector. The market continues to struggle due to the strength in the Canadian dollar and slower export pace. However, exports should start to pick up later in March as the U.S. market […] Read more
Alta. to ponder changing status for grizzly bears
Alberta ranchers are expected to have input on an upcoming decision that may change the status of the grizzly bear species in the province. A report released Tuesday by the province on the status of grizzly population and habitat will now go to the province’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee (ESCC) to help make a recommendation […] Read more
Ont. backs dairy to boost cream cheese output
A southeastern Ontario dairy processor has picked up public funds for new equipment to make cream cheese bars that’ll take another seven million litres of milk from the province’s goats and cows. Skotidakis Goat Farm, based at St. Eugene, about 70 km west of Montreal, will get $350,000 for its expansion project from the Ontario […] Read more
Sask. to eliminate irrigation, game farm fees
Saskatchewan farmers considering irrigation on cropland or entering the game farm business will get a break on fees charged by the province. The province on Thursday rolled out a list of changes to various fees and charges for the 2010-11 fiscal year across all departments, including irrigation site fees and the game farm license fee. […] Read more
Olymel puts Que. pork plant plans on hold: report
Quebec meat packer Olymel’s plans for $15 million in expansions at its pork slaughter plant in the province’s Beauce region are now on hold, according to Le journal de Quebec. The newspaper reported Tuesday that the company has set aside its plans to expand cold storage and other operations at its Vallee-Jonction facility, about 60 […] Read more
Oats acres likely higher, but by how much?
(Resource News International) — Oats acres in Western Canada are generally expected to increase in 2010 despite recent price weakness, as the crop still stacks up favourably compared to other options. Prices going forward will be dependent on the size of that increase, however, with opinions rather wide-ranging for now. A recent survey of producers […] Read more
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