Reading Time: < 1 minute The University of Alberta Heritage Chicken program is again offering small flock enthusiasts the chance to order heritage chicks until supply sells out. “Heritage chicks are vaccinated and hatched at the U of A’s Poultry Research Centre,” says Dawn Hage, program co-ordinator. “This year, we’re offering Brown Leghorn, Light Sussex, Plymouth Barred Rock, Random Bred […] Read more
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Gene-edited chickens planned in bid to halt next pandemic
London | Reuters — British scientists are developing gene-edited chickens designed to be totally resistant to flu in a new approach to trying to stop the next deadly human pandemic. The first of the transgenic chicks will be hatched later this year at the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, said Wendy […] Read more
U.S. top court won’t hear Quebec farmers over foie gras ban
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected the latest challenge to California’s ban on foie gras, a delicacy produced from the enlarged livers of ducks and geese that have been force-fed corn. The court declined to hear an appeal by producers of foie gras, including the Association des Eleveurs de Canards […] Read more
Maple Leaf to consolidate Ontario poultry processing
A new $660 million plant at London, Ont. will house Maple Leaf Foods’ Ontario fresh poultry processing operations by mid-2021 as the food processing firm prepares to shut three older facilities. Toronto-based Maple Leaf announced Monday it will build a 640,000-square foot plant at London, billed as “one of the most technologically advanced poultry-processing plants […] Read more
Chicken welfare program enhanced
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicken farmers across Canada are rolling out the latest changes to the Raised by a Canadian Farmer Animal Care Program. The program will enhance environmental care and bird monitoring and handling as well as health-care practices, and emergency management and preparedness. “Our Animal Care Program is a clear demonstration of farmers’ commitment to animal care,” […] Read more
Get Cracking: It’s boom time for egg farmers
All-day breakfast has the egg sector scrambling to keep up with demand
Reading Time: 3 minutes The latest hot trend in fast food is boosting the fortunes of egg farmers in Alberta and across the country. “Egg sales have gone up all across Canada because of the all-day breakfast,” said Egg Farmers of Alberta chair Beatrice Visser. “We have increased the consumption.” That’s putting it mildly. Egg sales have been rising […] Read more
Olymel to pick up Ontario chicken processor Pinty’s
The meat packing arm of agrifood co-operative La Coop federee is set to boost its stakes in the Ontario packaged chicken and appetizer markets with a deal for Pinty’s Delicious Foods. Olymel announced Thursday it will buy Burlington, Ont.-based Pinty’s, including its three southern Ontario chicken slaughter and processing operations at Port Colborne, Paris and […] Read more
Greig: Why IBV is such a tough bug
Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) continues to find ways to keep itself relevant to poultry farmers, researchers and veterinarians across North America — much to their dismay. Why it matters: Despite lots of research and efforts to find ways to manage it, the virus continues to mutate and show up in flocks with different symptoms in […] Read more
Heritage chicken program at the U of A continues to grow
Program brings heritage genetics into small flocks and supports university’s breeding efforts
Reading Time: 2 minutes The eggs came first, but the chickens are really coming on strong for the University of Alberta’s heritage breed program. The Poultry Research Centre’s ‘Adopt a Hen’ program has been running for many years and is an unqualified hit. Starting with 175 supporters, there are now 504 participants in the Edmonton area, and a waiting […] Read more
Cargill to replace chicken plant’s stunning system
Agrifood firm Cargill has budgeted $22 million to swap out an electric stunning system at its London, Ont. chicken processing plant in favour of a new controlled atmospheric stunning (CAS) system. The CAS system, expected to be up and running this spring, “will help reduce handling stress with chickens, resulting in a higher-quality, more consistent […] Read more
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