Livestock
The Yukon government wants public input on plans to update its animal protection laws and expand the powers available to its protection officers. The territorial government on Monday released a discussion document in advance of a series of public consultations during April and May. Proposed amendments to the territory’s Animal Protection Act include: requiring owners […] Read more
Yukon to broaden animal protection powers
Atlantic Beef cuts weekly slaughter: CBC
About 30 workers at Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Beef Products have been laid off as the plant cuts back its weekly slaughter, CBC reported Friday. The weekly slaughter has been reduced to 280 head, down from over 400, as a cost-control measure, CBC said, noting that the plant has recently been losing about $250,000 a […] Read more
Public partners back Que. organic packer
Capital Financiere agricole, the investment branch of Quebec’s provincial ag lending agency, plans to invest $300,000 in a new organic meat plant. Viandes biologiques de Charlevoix, which raises and markets hogs and chicken and produces organic meat at Baie-St-Paul, about 90 km northeast of Quebec City, plans to build a 6,300-square foot plant to Eco-Cert […] Read more
Sask. to process cull pork for food banks
The Saskatchewan government will pay up to $440,000 to process animals from the federal cull breeding swine program and donate the pork to food banks throughout the province. Sask Pork, the province’s pork industry development board, will administer the funding and co-ordinate the processing of sows with hog farmers and processors, then handle distribution to […] Read more
Atlantic Vet College names new dean
The University of Prince Edward Island has named Donald Reynolds, a U.S. professor and veterinarian, as dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College. Reynolds, whose appointment was announced Thursday, will officially take the job for a six-year term starting in August. He replaces Timothy Ogilvie, who steps down from the role after two terms. Reynolds is […] Read more
B.C. tops up fund for small slaughterhouses
Small-scale meat producers in British Columbia will get another $3.8 million in available funding to help with upgrades that comply with the province’s new meat inspection regulations and build the province’s slaughter capacity. The new money is “over and above” $5 million put up in April 2006 through the province’s meat transition assistance program, Health […] Read more
BSE-infected feed likely in Case 11: CFIA
The Alberta cow found to be Canada’s 11th case of BSE probably caught its “atypical” version of the disease through an infectious feed supplement, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The agency on Wednesday released its report on its investigation of Case 11, a 13-year-old unregistered Hereford cow on a cow/calf operation in east-central […] Read more
Hog producers await China ruling on Paylean
Canadian market access to China is expected to improve in the latter half of the year with Chinese officials expected to decide this summer whether or not to approve the use of the hog feed additive commonly marketed under the brand name Paylean, according to an Canadian pork industry official. “Hopefully by July China will […] Read more
Federal cull breeding swine program begins
Canadian hog producers can apply for compensation under the Cull Breeding Swine Program as of April 14th, 2008. That’s when the $50 million program, funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and delivered by the Canadian Pork Council, will start accepting applications. The Cull Breeding Swine Program will help the industry restructure by facilitating the […] Read more
Weanling slaughter planned for Manitoba
Manitoba hog producers are working on a plan for a mass cull of weanling pigs that are abruptly without a market in the United States. Manitoba ships up to four million weanlings a year to the U.S., but buyers there are said to be walking away from contracts because of concerns over impending country of […] Read more
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