Pre-plan for emergency slaughter

Animal Health: An animal’s suffering should be ended as soon as possible

All producers run into the need for emergency slaughter from time to time to preserve the value of an animal and prevent the waste of good meat protein. By its very nature these are emergency situations so it is important to pre-plan the chain of events that would happen in cases when it becomes necessary. […] Read more

(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs end quarter mostly higher on short-covering

Chicago | Reuters — The bulk of Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts on Friday finished higher in the final trading session for the quarter, ignited by fund buying and short-covering, said traders. They said futures rallied from earlier losses on Friday and prior to late Thursday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture quarterly hog report. The […] Read more


Bovine respiratory disease from the farm to the feedlot

Bovine respiratory disease from the farm to the feedlot

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

Weed seeds and invasive species may be present even in well-managed pastures and rangelands, but it is hard for them to germinate, establish and spread in healthy, competitive forage stands. Stresses like severe drought, overgrazing, heavy traffic or excavation can weaken forage stands and create opportunities for unwanted plants to take root. Researchers are now […] Read more



(Skilcor.com)

Premium Brands buys up Ontario meat processors

Specialty food firm Premium Brands’ plans to build a “protein platform” in Ontario now include a pair of processors offering bacon, burgers, ribs, steaks and chicken. The Vancouver company announced Thursday it has bought Skilcor Food Products of Brampton, just over a week after closing a deal for Leadbetter Foods of Orillia. Financial terms of […] Read more

(USDA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs settle mostly lower before USDA report

Chicago | Reuters — Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts closed lower on Thursday, pressured by profit-taking ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly hog report at 2 p.m. CT. “The industry will no doubt show herd expansion and record-large production, it’s just a question of how much,” said Archer Financial Services broker […] Read more


The search continues for TB and JD vaccines

The search continues for TB and JD vaccines

Animal Health: Treatment for the elusive diseases grows closer

We could be lucky and find our vaccine candidates for bovine tuberculosis and Johne’s disease within a month, or it could take a year and a half. We hope within a two-year window we will have candidates ready to test out in the field.” These encouraging words come from Dr. Andrew Potter, CEO at the […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Short-covering pulls up CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday reversed some of their recent losses, with strength from technical buying and investors who covered previously held short positions, said traders. “Anyone who was short the market took a little money in profits,” said Oak Investment Group president Joe Ocrant. Wednesday morning’s wholesale […] Read more



Cow and a Calf

Malignant catarrhal fever — learn about it; guard against it

Animal Health: Most sheep in North America are assumed to be carriers

“It took her piece by piece. Without a doubt it is the most devastating (cattle) disease we have ever dealt with,” says a member of a farm family who finally had to euthanize a valuable young purebred cow after two months of intensive therapy and investigation. Laboratory tests confirmed malignant catarrhal fever (MCF). The only […] Read more