Livestock
Canada’s beef demand has been strong during the pandemic. “Unlike previous disease outbreak issues, COVID-19 has not been about food safety or consumer confidence or issues with food products,” Canada Beef president Michael Young said during a recent online town hall. “Beef demand at retail is up 50 to 70 per cent. Consumers have aggressively […] Read more
Beef demand soars as consumers ‘aggressively’ stock up
Surge in sales accompanied by a jump in people looking online for recipes
U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit 17-1/2-year low
Cattle also sink as virus measures disrupt markets
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures fell on Friday to the lowest point since late 2002 on tumbling pork prices and slowing slaughter rates as measures to control the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic shuttered schools and restaurants and sent U.S. unemployment rates soaring. Cattle futures also dropped as wholesale beef and cash feedlot cattle prices […] Read more
Canada’s pork sector up to speed, aware of challenges
Processing plants enhancing biosecurity; producers being urged to watch their stress levels
They’re adding protective plexiglass shields, bringing in trailers to separate groups of workers, and boosting communication on biosecurity. It’s all part of an ongoing effort to ensure pork processing plants aren’t disrupted by COVID-19. “I’m very impressed by our packers, and for the workers for coming to work every day and being there and realizing […] Read more
Pandemic planning leads to staff cuts at Agropur
Dairy co-operative enters 'business continuity' mode
Dairy co-operative Agropur’s “business continuity” plan against the COVID-19 pandemic calls for job cuts and layoffs for about three per cent of its total workforce. Longueuil, Que.-based Agropur announced Thursday it will eliminate 60 positions and temporarily lay off another 200 employees, all from its Canadian operations. In the “unprecedented context” of COVID-19, Agropur said […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures drop to 3-1/2 year low
Cattle also limit down on coronavirus pandemic
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures dropped to a 3-1/2 year low on Thursday while cattle tumbled as recession concerns and surging U.S. unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic triggered broad liquidation across the battered livestock markets. Both live and feeder cattle and lean hogs dropped by their daily trading limits for a second […] Read more
Co-operation and nimbleness the order of the day in cattle sector
COVID-19: ‘Everyone is taking this very seriously and it’s showing,’ says CCA president Bob Lowe
Reading Time: 4 minutes The cattle industry has adopted new measures needed to work under COVID-19 — and so hope endures and business continues. “We’re working on trying to make sure that we keep plants open, keep borders open and keep cattle moving and supplies coming in,” said Rich Smith, executive director of Alberta Beef Producers. For the most […] Read more
Tips for branding and safe processing of cattle
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has a COVID-19 information sheet offering tips for branding and processing cattle. Among the tips are to divide tasks as much as possible, using a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) to frequently disinfect equipment and supplies, encouraging people to speak up if they feel unwell or think […] Read more
Alberta’s goat community is taking care of each other
It’s a small but diverse group but having someone to talk to is key, says goat association vice president
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s goat sector is small but its members are doing what they can to support each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Alberta Goat Association has been reaching out to its members to let them know that we’re here and if they have any questions we are here to support them with anything that they […] Read more
Alberta’s provincial meat inspectors to train for federal duty
Provincial inspectors to be seconded to CFIA-inspected packers
Provincial meat inspectors in Alberta could soon be seconded to federally inspected packing plants under a new work-sharing arrangement between the province and Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The federal and Alberta governments announced Wednesday they would partner to “increase food inspector capacity” in the province and thus “ensure the continuous operation of Alberta’s food supply […] Read more
Livestock or pets not considered a risk for COVID-19
Reading Time: < 1 minute There is currently no evidence that animals become sick with COVID-19 or spread the infection. Imports and exports of plants and animals to and from Canada are not currently affected. However, the CFIA will take any necessary action to protect the safety of Canada’s plants and animals. (Updates will be posted at inspection.gc.ca) There have […] Read more
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