Livestock
Reading Time: < 1 minute Major meat importer Russia will from Oct. 15 lift all remaining meat import bans related to the H1N1 virus as the risk of infection through food products is low, Rosselkhoznadzor its animal and plant health watchdog said Oct. 14. The last remaining bans to be removed apply to live pigs and raw pork imports from […] Read more
Russia to lift all H1N1-related meat bans
Federal Govt. Boosts Food Security Funds
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has announced a funding boost for food security programming and research as part of its new Food Security Strategy. CIDA will focus its food security efforts on three priorities: sustainable agriculture development, food assistance and nutrition, and research and innovation, the federal aid agency said in a release. Food […] Read more
More Packers Won’t Solve The Basic Problem
Reading Time: 3 minutes There has always been healthy debate on the subject of packer ownership. The fact that Alberta has only two major packers has done little to snuff the flame of hostility toward the packing industry. Packers, like cattle feeders and cow-calf operators, are margin players. Volume is often related to profitability as economies of scale kick […] Read more
Piglet Fostering — Art Or Science?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Sometimes where litter size is very large it is necessary to foster piglets soon after birth. Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting Ltd. of Lacombe, Alberta, and editor of Western Hog Journal. Fostering of piglets from one sow to another soon after birth is a technique that has been used for many years, […] Read more
Dealing With Those Chronic-Bloating Cattle
Reading Time: 3 minutes A chronic bloater is by definition a free gas bloat which keeps reoccurring. Every cattle producer is plagued by the odd chronic bloater and the dilemma is often what to do with them. A chronic bloater is by definition a free gas bloat which keeps reoccurring. The gas can readily be let off with a […] Read more
First U.S. Case Of H1N1 In A U.S. Hog
Reading Time: 2 minutes The pandemic H1N1 flu virus was confirmed for the first time last Monday in a U.S. hog, which was exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair where four teenagers became sick, the Agriculture Department said. USDA said the discovery does not suggest infection of commercial pig herds raised for slaughter. Health officials say the virus, originally […] Read more
CFIA tightens border net on U.S. horses
An outbreak of equine piroplasmosis in Texas has the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordering more certifications and paperwork on horses entering Canada from the U.S. CFIA said in a notice Friday that it has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to suspend any endorsements or issuance of export certificates for horses originating from Texas. USDA […] Read more
U.S. postpones Canada’s day at WTO on COOL
The U.S., as previously predicted, has rejected Canada’s request for a dispute settlement panel at the World Trade Organization to hear Ottawa’s complaint on country-of-origin labelling (COOL), according to the Reuters news service. WTO rules allow members one opportunity to postpone such a request. Canada had filed its request with the intent of bringing it […] Read more
Canada blocks Swiss birds over Newcastle
Canada has suspended imports of live birds, bird products, byproducts and feathers from Switzerland until further notice due to confirmation of Newcastle disease in that country. Only commercially sterile, cooked canned avian meat products from Switzerland will be allowed, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a notice to industry participants Thursday. The suspensions take […] Read more
Australia’s new BSE policy a strong signal: CCA
A major beef exporting nation, Australia has never bought much Canadian beef, but its decision to allow beef from countries with “controlled risk” status for BSE may be symbolically important for Canada. Australia’s agriculture and health ministries announced Tuesday that the country will “adjust” its food import policies for beef and beef products starting March […] Read more
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