Los Angeles | Reuters –– Most large U.S. fast-food chains still serve meat from farm animals that have been routinely fed antibiotics, consumer groups said in a new report, which concluded that many companies have not yet laid out plans to curb the practice. Subway, Starbucks, KFC and Domino’s Pizza were among the industry leaders […] Read more
Study alleges U.S. fast food still mostly raised on antibiotics
How the pork sector survived the attack of a killer virus
PEDv decimated the U.S. hog herd, but Canada showed how to do biosecurity right
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you want expert advice on biosecurity, talk to a Canadian hog farmer — and cattle producers should probably do just that. The country’s outstanding record on controlling the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has a host of lessons for the cattle sector, says a swine veterinarian who was deeply involved in Alberta’s battle against PEDv. […] Read more
College farm completes Environmental Farm Plan
Reading Time: < 1 minute Lakeland College is the first post- secondary institution in Alberta to complete an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). From January to April, about 50 second-year students in animal science technology, crop technology, and other programs worked together to complete the EFP on the college’s student-managed farm at the Vermilion campus. The experience enabled the students to […] Read more
We need a better approach to dealing with wildlife
Beef 911: Farming has created a great environment for wildlife but farmers are paying a steep price for the damage it causes
Reading Time: 4 minutes There have been many articles on the escalating conflict between wildlife and agriculture (both livestock and grain production) in certain areas of Canada. Our governments are struggling as to what to do and the most recent survey on wildlife damage by Alberta Beef Producers and the Miistakis Institute shows a high percentage of farmers impacted […] Read more
Short on feed? You need a multi-pronged plan, says expert
Get your winter feed in place now, fatten up light cows, save your pastures, and talk to your neighbours
Reading Time: 4 minutes Faced with tight hay supplies and high feed prices, producers are naturally focused on how to feed their livestock over the winter — but they need a comprehensive plan, says a forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “If you don’t do a good job feeding these cows properly this winter it’s going to affect […] Read more
U.S. cattle herd expands
Reading Time: < 1 minute Exports are down for Canadian cows, says provincial livestock market analyst Jason Wood. “On the export front, year-to-date feeders are down one per cent, slaughter fed cattle are down 49.5 per cent, and slaughter cows are down 28 per cent to the U.S.,” said Wood. “We’re still seeing a strong pull for feeders to the […] Read more
Quebec plans new legal status for animals
Quebec’s agriculture minister has tabled a new provincial government bill to raise the legal status of domestic and farmed animals in the province beyond that of “furniture.” Pierre Paradis on Friday introduced Bill 54 in the provincial assembly, with the stated goal of enshrining animals in Quebec’s Civil Code as sentient beings — that is, feeling and […] Read more
Wal-Mart urges meat suppliers to curb antibiotic use
Chicago | Reuters — Wal-Mart Stores is pressing meat, seafood, dairy and egg suppliers to reduce the use of antibiotics, becoming the first large retailer to take a stand against the excessive use of drugs in raising farm animals. The guidelines announced on Friday would limit suppliers to using antibiotics to treat and prevent disease, […] Read more
Tax deferrals kick in for soaked and parched West
Ranchers under pressure from this year’s drought in B.C. and northwestern Alberta and excess moisture in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan may get income tax deferrals for their trouble. The federal government on Tuesday released its first list of designated areas for 2014, within which eligible producers who sold breeding livestock may be allowed to […] Read more
Ranchers give $5-million gift to boost animal welfare research
Jack Anderson and daughter Wynne Chisholm want U of C to be ‘No. 1 in terms of animal care and welfare research in the world’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Father and daughter cattle ranchers with a passion for animal care and welfare have donated $5 million to support research at the University of Calgary. Building on a commitment to best practices and the use of technology in their own operations, J.C. (Jack) Anderson and his daughter Wynne Chisholm from W.A. Ranches made the gift, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
