Livestock
Biotech firm Bioniche Life Sciences of Belleville, Ont., plans to use $2 million in Ontario government funding to build up production of a vaccine expected to cut down levels of E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria in cattle. The vaccine, which is “indicated” to reduce the amount of E. coli bacteria cattle shed in their dung, will […] Read more
Funding to spur E. coli vaccine production
Maple Leaf looks to ramp up Brandon hog kill
Winnipeg (Resource News International) —With the addition of a second shift at Maple Leaf Foods’ hog plant at Brandon, Manitoba on September 4, the company expects a ramp-up in slaughter capacity over the next six to eight weeks, according to an official with Maple Leaf. “The current hog slaughter capacity of 45,000 to 50,000 hogs […] Read more
Ridley asks Supreme Court to toss BSE lawsuit
Feed manufacturer Ridley Inc. is making another legal bid to halt a proposed class action suit before it can begin, this time appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada. Ridley, along with the federal government, is the targeted defendant in four co-ordinated lawsuits filed by cattlemen in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec. All four seek […] Read more
Cheques roll on Ontario COP top-up
Cheques will be in the mail in the next few days to about 30,000 Ontario farmers qualifying for $55 million in funding through that province’s Cost Recognition Top-Up program, the government reported today. The program, first announced June 8 and to be delivered by Agricorp, is a 40 per cent-matching provincial contribution to the $400 […] Read more
Quebec farms gear up for “Portes ouvertes”
Over 100 farms across Quebec are preparing to open their gates to provincial residents during the fifth annual “Portes ouvertes” (“open doors”) day on September 9. The event, organized by l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), is an “extraordinary occasion” for Quebecois to familiarize themselves with the different aspects of farming in the province, said provincial […] Read more
Cattle feeders “alarmed” over slaughter capacity loss
The National Cattle Feeders’ Association, a Canadian feedlot owners’ group, yesterday went public with its concerns over recent closures and cutbacks at several meat packing plants and the consequent drop in Canadian beef slaughter capacity. Citing recent shutdowns such as at the Ranchers Beef packing plant in Alberta and the Zenon Billette abattoir in Quebec, […] Read more
Dried distillers’ grains find way into Canadian rations
(Resource News International) — Dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), the byproduct of ethanol production, are seen starting to find their way into Canadian livestock rations. While the price may be right, the actual volumes are still relatively small as the product does create some difficulties of its own. Feed grain merchant Dave Guichon of Feedlot Strategies […] Read more
Canadian feeder pig market weakens as feeding shifts to U.S.
(Resource News International) — More and more Canadian hogs are being finished in the U.S., as lower returns domestically, the strong Canadian dollar and high freight rates, among other factors, limit the profitability of keeping the animals in Canada, said market sources. As a result, prices are relatively weaker for those pigs that stay in […] Read more
Closure possible for second Maple Leaf plant in Winnipeg
Winnipeg (Resource News International) — The closure of a second hog facility in Winnipeg owned by Maple Leaf Foods is a distinct possibility after employees at the plant voted against opening up the current collective agreement, according to officials with the union representing the workers. “Maple Leaf Foods has threatened to close its Warman Road […] Read more
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