Livestock
Dairy co-op Agropur’s plans to serve the Centre-du-Quebec milk market have been scrapped, as it plans to permanently close a dairy business it bought just last year. The Laitiere Lamothe dairy plant at Drummondville, which had operated since 1913 and was bought by Agropur in March 2008 for an undisclosed sum, will close its doors […] Read more
Agropur to close Drummondville, Que. dairy
Locked-out XL workers vote down company’s offer
Unionized workers at XL Foods’ beef packing plant at Moose Jaw, Sask. have “solidly rejected” the latest contract offer from the company which locked them out last week. The workers, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada) Local 1400, voted against the offer at a meeting Sunday night in Moose Jaw, according […] Read more
Alta. provincial meat agency names CEO
The administrative agency for Alberta’s provincial Livestock and Meat Strategy (ALMS) has named a new president and CEO. Gordon Cove, who worked in upper management in the pork industry before joining the province’s ag department (AARD) in 2003, becomes chief executive for the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA). Cove has already manned the post […] Read more
An Initial Look At The Cattle Price Insurance Program
Reading Time: 4 minutes Once the program is available, even if unused, the government is off the hook. Aversion to risk is not a characteristic many would confer on the feedlot business here in Alberta. Consider how many cattle feeders “buy cattle on the come in the market.” In other words, market price needs to go up in order […] Read more
Bar Code Dangle Tags Soon Obsolete
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is reminding producers that as of January 1, 2010, all cattle must be tagged with approved CCIA radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags have been the only approved tags since September 1, 2006. However, producers were allowed (until December 31, 2009) to phase out bar code tags for […] Read more
Livestock Traceability Regulations Are In Effect
Reading Time: < 1 minute With the fall calf run under way, Alberta beef producers are being reminded about the province’s new livestock traceability regulations. New requirements now apply under the Animal Health Act as follows: Mandatory premises ID – All livestock producers and anyone who owns or keeps animals (other than household pets) and those who operate sites where […] Read more
Nominations Sought For Pork Award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are being sought for the Dr. FX Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production. awarded each year at the Banff Pork Seminar. The prize recognizes innovators in the Canadian pork industry that are making a difference by applying new technologies or management techniques. Up to three prizes to be awarded, valued at $1,800 each, which […] Read more
Targeting Breeding Herd Output Fundamental
Reading Time: 4 minutes Breeding targets can only be achieved when there is a ready supply of gilts available to replace sows that are culled or which die. Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting Ltd. of Lacombe, Alberta, and editor of Western Hog Journal. In my last article, I looked at some of the factors that influence […] Read more
Picking The Right Vaccines For Your Cattle
Reading Time: 3 minutes We are really comparing apples to apples when comparing the numerous vaccines available from the reputable companies. There are a multitude of diseases to consider vaccinating for, and vaccines come in a multitude of combinations with different types of administration (subcutaneous or intramuscular) as well as different dosage amounts (usually two to five cc). These […] Read more
India Sees Partial Late Monsoon Recovery
Reading Time: 2 minutes Late end-season rains will help narrow India’s total monsoon rainfall deficit to 15 to 18 per cent, boosting depleted reservoirs and helping winter crops, the head of the Indian weather office told Reuters Sept. 8. Since June 1, monsoon rains have been 20 per cent below normal and heavy showers in the past week have […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
