Livestock
Cattle emit less methane in the winter than in summer, a recent study has discovered. And now that the results have been sent to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scientists will use it to develop a more accurate picture of the true contribution of ruminants to global warming. Previously, the IPCC had not […] Read more
Cattle ease up on the gas in winter, study finds
Northern flow of U.S. DDGS stalled
High prices and ample supplies of domestic feed grains are limiting the amount of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) finding their way into western Canadian cattle rations from the US. That situation is now expected to continue as long as the price spread between domestic wheat and barley and the U.S. imports remains wide. […] Read more
Ont. egg farmers take names for new-entrant plan
Egg Farmers of Ontario will accept applications from would-be egg producers until the end of May to borrow quota from a new provincewide pool. The group launched its New Entrant Quota Loan Pool program at its recent annual meeting in Toronto, with chair Carolynne Griffith describing the plan as “a great way to ensure constant […] Read more
Live hog exports to U.S. stabilizing
After taking a significant hit for nearly four years, Canada’s live hog exports to the U.S. have begun to stabilize. Tyler Fulton, director of risk management with H@ms Marketing Services in Winnipeg, said the Canadian hog herd has also been stabilizing, so there are more animals that can be shipped. “The Canadian herd had been […] Read more
Quebec budgets $10M to showcase ag “multifunctionality”
Projects that provide benefits both to Quebec’s farms and their surrounding communities will share a new $10 million pot of provincial funding. The Quebec ag ministry (MAPAQ) on Monday announced a four-year pilot program designed to support development of “multifunctionality” in the province’s ag sector. Multifunctionality — a concept that’s gained traction in agricultural policy […] Read more
Man. budget extends, expands farmers’ tax credits
Tax credits for investments in processing equipment and farm odour control are to be extended past their expiry dates in Manitoba’s latest provincial budget. Tuesday’s budget, seen by several observers as a pre-election document ahead of the next provincial vote on Oct. 4, also sees a sales tax exemption expanded to include sales of heat-generating […] Read more
Bison becoming more attractive to producers
Even though prices have been rising significantly, it is expected that bison numbers in Canada will have declined from five years ago. However, with the prices trending higher, more and more producers are looking at getting into the industry and building herd numbers. Mark Silzer, president of the Canadian Bison Association in Regina, said surging […] Read more
Klassen: Beef demand sustains feeder prices
Feeder cattle prices in Western Canada were $1-$4 per hundredweight (cwt) lower on average for the week ending April 8. Feeder steers weighing 625 pounds sold for $155/cwt in southern Alberta while good quality 720-lb. cattle brought back $135/cwt. The Alberta slaughter market was $2 to $3 lower finishing at $113/cwt. Good framed healthy bred […] Read more
Costs, lower attendance lead to loss for Agribition
Record revenues in 2010 for one of Canada’s biggest livestock shows were topped only by its record expenses, leaving Canadian Western Agribition with a loss of just over $200,000. Agribition on Thursday reported a loss of $204,769 on revenues of $3.12 million for its fiscal year ending Jan. 31, down from a profit of $1,361 […] Read more
XL to shut Calgary and Idaho beef plants
Alberta beef packer XL Foods plans to shut down its two facilities in Calgary next month until this fall at the earliest, and close its plant in southwestern Idaho indefinitely. Production will halt at XL’s processing and fabrication plants in Calgary sometime in May, due to a “significant decrease” in Western Canada’s cow herd that […] Read more
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