A disease that transfers from poultry to cattle is more likely to prove deadly than one that transfers between buffalo to cattle.

Livestock infections deadliest when host species are distant relatives

Research: News Roundup from the May 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

University of British Columbia researchers have found that taxonomy can help predict infection severity when pathogens or parasites leap to a new species, Bovine Veterinarian reports. Some pathogens can infect multiple species. Researchers Maxwell J. Farrell and T. Jonathan Davies found that when pathogens move between distantly related species, the infection is more likely to […] Read more

(DusanPetkovic/iStock/Getty Images)

Ottawa looks to speed up emergency access to livestock drugs

Livestock drugs not currently available in Canada could become easier to access in emergencies, if proposals for amended federal drug regulations get on the books. Health Canada, proposing to streamline the processes for emergency access to drugs for livestock as well as people and pets, on Friday announced a public comment period on its proposals, […] Read more


ontario flag

No automatic renewals this year for Ontario’s RMPs

With a new option this year for coverage under Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP), producers won’t be able to let previous decisions ride. Agricorp, the province’s farm program delivery agency, on Thursday released full 2019 program details for the RMPs for grains/oilseeds, cattle, hogs, veal and sheep, including premium rates and updated program timelines. As […] Read more

“Since we’ve been doing a better job of rotating and alternating cattle and sheep, we see a lot less parasite issues — less bottle jaw, less anemia, a lot less parasite-related morbidity and mortality.” – Markus Wand

One plus one equals more than two

These producers grazing sheep and cattle together can make the pasture and the animals more productive

When Ontario grazier Markus Wand hit on the idea of adding sheep to the family’s Northern Ontario cow-calf operation, parents Klaus and Ursula Wand weren’t too keen. “I think it was outside my dad’s comfort zone,” Markus says. Seventeen years later, sheep fit the two-generation farm like a well-worn wool sweater (or maybe a flock […] Read more


Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s final map of designated areas for the livestock tax deferral provision for the 2018 tax year, as of Jan. 30, 2019. (Agr.gc.ca)

Livestock tax deferral map expands again for 2018

Some northern and southwestern Ontario producers who had to sell breeding livestock due to drought in the 2018 tax year can now defer chunks of the income from those sales when filing their income taxes. The federal government on Wednesday rolled out its final list and map of designated regions for 2018 under its livestock […] Read more

(Screengrab from Allflex video via YouTube)

Merck bolsters animal health unit with Allflex deal

Reuters — Merck and Co. said on Friday it will buy privately-held French company Antelliq Group, which makes digital identification products for livestock, for about 2.1 billion euros (C$3.19 billion) to bolster its fast-growing animal health business. The move affirms the drugmaker’s commitment to the business, which Wall Street analysts have long seen value in […] Read more



Are you ready for December 1, 2018?

Are you ready for December 1, 2018?

Nutrition with John McKinnon

December 1, 2018, is an important date that all Canadian beef producers should be aware of. It marks the end of the phase-in period, after which Health Canada will enforce new regulations as to how medically important antimicrobials (MIA) that were previously sold over the counter without veterinary prescription are regulated, dispensed and used within […] Read more



An animal health tale about us

An animal health tale about us

Animal Health: News Roundup from the October 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

October. The cattle come off the mountain pastures and the prairie grasslands into the corrals where the calves will be separated from their mothers. The lucky ones will stay on the farm or ranch as replacement breeding stock or be fed on the home place so the stress of weaning is minimal. Others will be […] Read more