Livestock
Reading Time: 2 minutes A year-old program to help Alberta livestock producers get a better handle on what s in their feed grain still has money to spend. The Alberta Feeding Initiative Program was allocated $750,000 to purchase high-tech equipment that can measure nutrient content in feed grains. Since its launch in 2010, a dozen grants, worth up to […] Read more
Finding The Fat In The Feed
Back To Basics For Nursery Management
Reading Time: 3 minutes Doing the basics well, especially during the crucial first week after weaning, is the key to successful nursery management, says Shawn Morton, who operates a 7,000-head specialist nursery barn located just east of Red Deer, Alberta. He focuses strongly on what he calls The Three Basics feed, water and environment. Combined with careful attention to […] Read more
High-End Market May Be The Destiny Of Canadian Beef
Reading Time: 3 minutes Technology has opened the borders of the world, allowing everyone to visit and do business in almost every corner of the Earth. From Internet advertising and promotion to social media, there is an opportunity to reach a variety of potential clients in seconds. Agriculture has been a bit guilty of traditionally looking at life and […] Read more
Protocols For Chronically Ill Cattle In Feedlots
Reading Time: 3 minutes Times are changing and with change comes new ways we should look at our chronic pens in feedlots. Each decision should be based on sound medical judgment, economics and the possibility for salvage. All these factors must be weighed on each individual case to determine the course of action. There are no cookbook answers to […] Read more
Manitoba urges caution over horse herpes exposure
A group of out-of-province horses showing in southwestern Manitoba in recent weeks may have been exposed to a notorious equine virus before making the trip, provincial animal health officials warn. Manitoba’s chief veterinary officer, Dr. Wayne Lees, on Wednesday posted a notice to Manitoba horse owners and veterinarians about three horses at an out-of-province horse […] Read more
Alta. kills sale of Crown grassland for potato development
A plan to sell a 16,000-acre spread of provincial grazing land and wildlife habitat in southeastern Alberta for irrigated potato production has been shut down by the province’s new premier. The province on Wednesday announced it has cancelled the request for proposals (RFP) that would have led to the land’s sale in a deal dubbed […] Read more
Man. ag minister reappointed, named finance minister
Manitoba’s minister of agriculture, food and rural initiatives will remain in the same post he held before the Oct. 4 election, but will also be the province’s fill-in finance minister. Dauphin MLA Stan Struthers, the province’s ag minister since November 2009, was reappointed Wednesday to handle the farms file but was also named acting finance […] Read more
Maple Leaf plans expansions, closures across prepared meats business
In what it calls the final phase of its “value creation plan,” one of Canada’s most iconic food firms plans sweeping consolidations and staff reductions in its processed meats operations across the country. Maple Leaf Foods’ latest plan, announced Wednesday, calls for construction of a new $395 million prepared meats facility at Hamilton, Ont., and […] Read more
Calgary feed additive maker buys Ont. capacity
Feed additive and enzyme maker Canadian Bio-Systems has bought itself “added presence” in the Ontario market. The Calgary company on Wednesday announced it has bought Oshawa Specialty Products, a major provider of feed supplements, yeast products and feed flavourings, for an undisclosed sum. The deal “enhances our capacity and services across the board and brings […] Read more
Quebec veal processor to shut Mauricie-area plant
Family-owned veal packer Montpak International plans to shut one of its processing plants in Quebec’s Mauricie region and consolidate its further-processing at Montreal. The Laval-based company on Friday said it will shut its veal and lamb processing plant at Sainte-Angele-de-Premont, about 45 km west of Trois-Rivieres, by Nov. 11. Layoffs for some of the plant’s […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
