A new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock in central Nova Scotia isn’t expected to affect international trade in Canada’s feather sectors. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Tuesday confirmed a high-path H5N1 strain affecting birds on the property, describing it Thursday as a “non-poultry detection” among animals not produced […] Read more
No trade bans expected from Nova Scotia bird flu findings
High-path H5N1 a 'non-poultry detection'
Chicken abuse caught on video nets $600,000 in fines
Sofina Foods, chicken-catching company fined; other charges stayed
A poultry processor and its “chicken-catching” service provider whose handling of chickens in British Columbia wound up on network TV are now each on the hook for $300,000 in fines. The fines were levied against Sofina Foods and Elite Farm Services after the two companies pled guilty to two counts each of Health of Animals […] Read more
Second high-path avian flu case appears in Newfoundland
Case involves non-commercial 'small flock' farm in same area
A new appearance of highly pathogenic avian flu in birds at another farm on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula isn’t expected to affect Canada’s status as free of avian flu. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported Tuesday it had confirmed ‘high-path’ H5N1 avian influenza (AI) on Sunday in birds at an “additional” farm in the region. It […] Read more
No bans expected from Newfoundland avian flu outbreak
High-path H5N1 kills 360 birds on 'non-poultry' farm
Neither federal nor international animal health officials expect to see import bans imposed on Canadian poultry coming out of an avian flu outbreak at a farm on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Wednesday reported a confirmed outbreak of a highly-pathogenic (‘high-path’) strain of H5N1 avian influenza at an exhibition farm in […] Read more
University of Alberta’s heritage chickens dodge the budget axe once again
Egg-loving supporters and backyard chicken enthusiasts preserving this invaluable genetic resource
Reading Time: 5 minutes They’re a living piece of Canada’s history and a potentially invaluable genetic resource — but the University of Alberta’s heritage chickens are also proving adept at dodging the budget axe. “They’re living museums,” said Dawn Hage, co-ordinator of the university’s heritage chicken program. “It’s like a snapshot of the kinds of chickens that you would […] Read more
Poultry research funded
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Poultry Innovation Partnership (PIP) has been awarded $400,000 by Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) to support innovation adoption in the Alberta poultry industry. The partnership is a consortium of Alberta Chicken Producers, Alberta Hatching Egg Producers, Alberta Turkey Producers, Burnbrae Farms, Egg Farmers of Alberta, Egg Farmers of Canada, Government of Alberta, Maple Leaf […] Read more
EU’s bird flu outbreaks reach Poland
Country's outbreaks hit farms totalling 650,000 birds
Paris | Reuters — Poland has reported several outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu at poultry farms with flocks totalling nearly 650,000 birds, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said on Monday. Poland is the European Union’s largest poultry producer. Five outbreaks, of which four were at fattening turkey farms and one at […] Read more
Olymel CEO dies of ‘sudden’ cancer
Rejean Nadeau died Thursday at 71
The CEO of Canadian pork and poultry packer Olymel has died of a “sudden and virulent cancer” at age 71, his company reported Friday morning. Rejean Nadeau, the CEO of Sollio Co-operative’s meatpacking and processing arm since 1996, died Thursday at his home at Rougemont, Que., about 25 km south of St-Hyacinthe, Olymel said in […] Read more
Cargill, Continental Grain to buy chicken producer Sanderson Farms for $4.5 bln
Reuters – Commodities trader Cargill Inc and agricultural investor Continental Grain Co will buy chicken producer Sanderson Farms Inc for $4.53 billion, the companies said on Monday, at a time when meat prices have been soaring due to strong demand. The deal would see Sanderson Farms, the third-largest poultry producer in the United States, join […] Read more
Maple Leaf takes up Ontario poultry plant
Option exercised on Cericola Farms' remaining facility
A southern Ontario processing plant specializing in organic and antibiotic-free poultry products has gone to Maple Leaf Foods in a postscript to a previous sale. Toronto-based Maple Leaf announced Friday it had closed its purchase of the Sure Fresh Foods poultry plant at Schomberg, Ont., about 30 km north of Vaughan, for an undisclosed sum, […] Read more