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U.S. FDA suspends milk quality tests amid workforce cuts

Washington | Reuters – The Food and Drug Administration is suspending a quality control program for testing of fluid milk and other dairy products due to reduced capacity in its food safety and nutrition division, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. The suspension is another disruption to the nation’s food safety programs after […] Read more

Kee Jim presents at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference on beef-on-dairy systems.

Beef-on-dairy provides opportunity and challenges for producers

Important traits include good growth, carcass characteristics and feed conversion

Though beef-on-dairy seems to be discussed more now than ever, the intersection of the two types of cattle isn’t as new as you may think. According to Dr. Kee Jim, senior lead of animal agriculture at Telus and managing director for G.K. Jim Farms, we’ve been eating beef-on-dairy cattle for decades. Now, it’s only increasing. […] Read more


(John Greig photo)

Dairy farm milk price drops for 2025

The Canadian Dairy Commission announced Nov. 1, 2024 that a decline in feed prices and the stabilization of other costs on dairy farms across the country means that the benchmark on-farm price for milk will decline by 0.0237 per cent starting in February 2025.

Photo: File

Study indicates methane emissions from dairy farms higher than previously thought

To reach net zero by 2050, the UK must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and methane emissions from farm livestock pose a thorny problem. Ruminants such as cattle and sheep emit methane from their digestive systems and their manure. Scientists are trying to find ways to reduce these methane emissions without wiping out large parts of […] Read more


Tough decisions ensue when rabies infects dairy cow

Veterinary Case Study: A farmer with a rabid cow wonders whether he and his family could be at risk

Jim stopped by the clinic to pick up vaccine, dewormer and meloxicam for processing calves on the weekend. He asked if we could talk privately. We went to my office and closed the door.  “I think I have a problem and need your advice,” Jim said.  “Just before coming to town, my 15-year-old son came […] Read more



Though the spread of avian influenza in dairy farms is increasing, the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. said the risk to humans remains low.  Photo: File

Bird flu continues to spread in U.S. dairy farms

The number of dairy farms in the United States that have reported bird flu among their livestock increased to 94 in a dozen states, according to reports. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control said the risk to humans remains low. The CDC noted it’s monitoring more than 500 people with 45 tested for bird flu. […] Read more

Test tubes labelled “Bird Flu” and eggs are seen in this picture illustration, January 14, 2023.
 Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File

Two dozen companies working to find bird flu vaccine for cows, US agriculture secretary says

Reuters – Twenty-four companies are working to develop an avian flu vaccine for cattle, as the virus spreads among U.S. dairy herds, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Reuters on Wednesday. Bird flu has infected 90 dairy herds across 12 states since late March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Three dairy farm workers […] Read more