Reading Time: 3 minutes The sheep have returned to Fort Saskatchewan for the summer. But for the first time in 28 years, they’re being managed by new shepherds. The Alberta community’s flock has become an institution over the past three decades, and a major tourist draw. So many were worried when Ralph and Kathy Playdon, who have been tending […] Read more
The sheep are baa-ck — and Fort Saskatchewan is thrilled
Anthrax kills southeastern Saskatchewan sheep
Spores forced up by changes in soil moisture
Dramatic shifts in soil moisture are again bringing anthrax spores to the surface on the Prairies, this time in a southeastern Saskatchewan sheep pasture. Lab results on Wednesday confirmed anthrax as the cause of death of one animal in a flock of sheep in the R.M. of South Qu’Appelle, about 50 km east of Regina, […] Read more
Shepherds (really) wanted
Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. is seeking shepherds' services for its unique tourist attraction
Reading Time: 3 minutes Fort Saskatchewan is looking for some new shepherds, as Kathy and Ralph Playton are hanging up their shepherd’s crooks. The Alberta city inadvertently created its very popular tourist attraction nearly three decades ago. “In 1992, the railroad moved out of town and it left a huge space of land that was very difficult to mow […] Read more
Blast kills at least 23 at Afghanistan livestock market
Area shelled in clashes between government forces, Taliban
Kabul | Reuters — At least 23 civilians were killed in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province and dozens were wounded when rockets hit a cattle market on Monday, Afghan government and Taliban officials said. The warring sides blamed each other for the attack on the open-air weekly cattle market in Sangin district, where hundreds of villagers […] Read more
Uruguayan shearers flown in to relieve sweltering Spanish sheep
Expert shearers authorized to enter country amid COVID-19 pandemic
Villafale, Spain | Reuters — Brought to Spain on a special flight amid the coronavirus lockdown, some 250 Uruguayan sheep shearers race against time to shear millions of Spanish sheep as sweltering summer temperatures hit. The Uruguayan shearers come to Spain every year, where farmers value them for their skills, their speed and particular care […] Read more
Ontario extends RMP deadlines for crops, livestock
Move won't create coverage gaps, Agricorp says
Ontario grain, oilseed and livestock producers will get extra time to apply for, make changes to or cancel coverage under the provincial Risk Management Program (RMP). Agricorp, the province’s ag program delivery agency, announced Wednesday the new deadline for applications or coverage changes for 2020 will be June 30. The previous deadlines to apply or […] Read more
Cattle inventories continue to decline, StatsCan says
Canada's hog herd also down on year
MarketsFarm — Canada’s cattle herd in 2019 continued on its generally consistent path of declining numbers, according to new data Statistics Canada released Tuesday. Aside from a few slight increases in 2012, 2013 and 2018, Canadian cattle inventories have moved lower since 2005. At 11.2 million head, the reported number of cattle on farms in […] Read more
Sheep industry starts new organization to tackle challenges
Alberta lamb producer chairs the newly formed National Sheep Network
Reading Time: 3 minutes Demand for lamb continues to grow — and the sheep sector continues to struggle to meet it. In fact, if more fresh Canadian lamb was available, demand would be growing even faster, says the managing director of the North American Lamb Company, the biggest player in the sector. “With a bit of marketing and new […] Read more
Colombia cleared of foot-and-mouth
Country now aims to double meat exports
Bogota | Reuters — Colombia will look to double its meat exports now it has regained its status as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease, President Ivan Duque said on Thursday. Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease found in animals and is one of the most serious to affect livestock, including cattle, sheep and […] Read more
More lamb being imported into Canada
Reading Time: < 1 minute More lamb is being imported because there’s less Canadian product coming to market, says a provincial livestock market analyst. While slaughter rates in federally inspected plants in Western Canada are up nearly 13 per cent this year, they’re down in Eastern Canada as well as in provincial plants in both the East and the West. […] Read more
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