Photo: Serficus/Getty Images Plus

Newcastle disease identified in British Columbia

Movement controls placed around two commercial pigeon operations

Newcastle disease has been detected on two commercial pigeon operations in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a June 19 notice to industry it’s the first time the virus has been detected in a commercial operation in Canada since 1973.

a group of cattle in a feedlot

Biosecurity on beef cattle operations

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

The term “biosecurity” is used throughout all aspects of food production, from growing food to moving commodities between different sectors, placement on grocery shelves and finally consumption and waste management. They are all related and all have their biosecurity plans. Those plans seldom account for what comes before and what follows. For the livestock industry, […] Read more


calf in a barn stall

Stress, biosecurity and bovine respiratory disease

Bovine respiratory disease isn’t going away, but there are things ranchers and farmers can do to reduce disease prevalence

Shipping fever. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Whatever name you give it, it remains the number one cause of death in feedlots. It pops up on cow-calf operations, too. The Beef Cattle Research Council’s website notes that BRD is a leading cause of death, illness and antibiotic treatment in calves from three weeks of age to […] Read more




Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow speaks Nov. 24, 2021 in the House of Commons. (Screengrab from supplied video)

Anti-activist bill back before Commons committee

Bill adds protections for biosecurity, farmers' mental health, Barlow says

A bill to create harsher penalties for unlawful entry onto farms and biosecure zones is back before the House of Commons after a previous iteration died on the order table in 2021. Conservative MP John Barlow brought forward Bill C-275, “an Act to amend the Health of Animals Act (biosecurity on farms),” as a private […] Read more


(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Avian flu outbreaks climb in Quebec poultry

Thirteen outbreaks reported in province so far in April

After a relatively quiet March with just one outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic poultry, Quebec has turned up 13 outbreaks so far this month. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency in April has reported detections of high-path avian flu at 13 sites in that province, including: three commercial barns in the regional county […] Read more

Stock photo of Corriente cattle. Whether buying roping steers or breeding stock, basic biosecurity is a must. Photo: flariv/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Cheap steers bring more than bargained for

Veterinary Case Study: An effective biosecurity plan is essential to prevent infectious diseases from entering your herd

Jim visited the office one morning and asked if we could talk. He looked worried, a bit like a child that had gotten into the Halloween candy early. Two years ago, Jim had started team roping with a local club. Good crops and strong cattle prices allowed Jim to build his own small arena. His […] Read more