(Thinkstock photo)

Canada again declares as avian flu-free

With an Ontario duck farm depopulated and disinfected, and no new outbreaks in the three following months, Canada has again declared itself free of notifiable avian flu. The federal government announced Wednesday it has informed the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that Ontario is considered free of avian influenza as per OIE guidelines. About […] Read more


sheep

Alberta Lamb Producers forms new group with Ontario and Quebec

The trio, which has three-quarters 
of the national flock, had all quit the 
Canadian Sheep Federation

Reading Time: < 1 minute Sheep farmers in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec have formed a new partnership called the National Sheep Network. Alberta Lamb Producers, the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, and Federation des producteurs d’agneaux et moutons du Quebec represent 75 per cent of the ewe-flock in Canada. The new alliance “will leverage the resources of the sheep industries in […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Quarantined Alberta ranches to get AgriRecovery

Ranchers in southeastern Alberta having to feed and maintain quarantined cattle they can’t move or sell can expect a federal/provincial AgriRecovery plan to help cover those costs in the next few days. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and his Alberta counterpart Oneil Carlier on Wednesday announced producers faced with “extraordinary costs” due to federal quarantines […] Read more

Compensation promised for ranches under TB quarantine

Compensation promised for ranches under TB quarantine

Ottawa promises financial help while Alberta Beef Producers trying to arrange for feedlots to take in calves

Reading Time: 5 minutes Beleaguered ranchers with quarantined herds are getting some relief as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has approved a beef industry plan to allow calves to be sent to feedlots. “We’re working with the CFIA on the conditions and requirements,” said Rich Smith, executive director of Alberta Beef Producers. “Obviously, it would be hard to get […] Read more



Most of the cicer milk vetch in this pasture was established by cattle depositing seed through their manure. Since it takes three days for feed to completely go through a cow’s digestive system, moving these cows to a new paddock will bring seeds to that area.

Let cattle do the seeding

When cattle graze on mature legumes, they will distribute species 
such as cicer milk vetch to areas where there were few or none before

Reading Time: 5 minutes Cattle can be managed to produce calves, beef and milk — but can they also be put to work reseeding pastures? As long as you’re not in a hurry, the answer is ‘yes,’ say producers who have managed beef cows and yearlings so they distribute legume seeds through their manure. There doesn’t appear to be […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle prices climbing

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were trading $5-$7 above week-ago levels, with higher-quality cattle trading as much as $10 higher. It’s difficult to quarrel with one’s bread and butter; feedlot margins are now in positive territory and cattle feeders are keen on ownership with the positive outlook into the March timeframe. Feature presort calf sales […] Read more