Talking to a seller about disease history in their herd and asking about herd records is a good idea, says the research chair at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

Comment: Beware Trojan cows

You’ve probably read the story of the Siege of Troy, or at least watched the movie with Brad Pitt. If not, here is a summary: Queen Helen of Sparta absconded with or was abducted by Paris. They sailed back to his hometown of Troy. Her husband, King Menelaus, was displeased and roped his friends Odysseus […] Read more

cattle and sheep

Vet Advice: Disease control ineffective when puzzle pieces missing

Knowledge gaps remain on a bacterial pathogen known to affect sheep, but also found in cattle

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi or Movi) is a respiratory pathogen associated with variable degrees of pneumonia in domestic sheep and goats. Movi first appeared in 1972 and has been on the list of respiratory diseases for sheep and goats since. Healthy bighorn sheep populations, originally naive to Movi, suffer severe outbreaks of mixed microbial pneumonia […] Read more


(FatCamera/iStock/Getty Images)

Beekeepers call to reopen cross-border package bee trade

Ten years after the last risk assessment, some say it’s time to re-evaluate

Canadian beekeepers are calling for the federal government to reopen the border to the importation of U.S. package honeybees. Witnesses at a meeting of the House of Commons standing committee on agriculture and agri-food last Wednesday presented recommendations for what the government could do to resolve issues of honeybee health decline and bee mortality. The […] Read more

Whether to use risk-based vaccines in your herd requires careful thought and at least a yearly discussion with your herd veterinarian.

Core vaccines recommended for western Canadian beef herds

When looking at vaccinating for diseases beyond the core vaccination recommendations, consider the disease risk, vaccine efficaciousness and the cost-benefit of each vaccine

Just because there is a vaccine on the market to prevent or reduce disease risk, that doesn’t mean that you need to use it in your herd, unless it is a core vaccine and proven effective and safe. Base your vaccination decisions on sound, objective scientific data. Weigh the pros and cons of vaccination for […] Read more


File photo of goats on display at the Hanover Agricultural Fair in Grunthal, Man. in August 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

CFIA seeks feedback on traceability, animal ID amendments

Producers have until June 16 to comment on proposals

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is now seeking comment on its proposed amendments to livestock identification and traceability regulations. The regulatory proposal would address what the agency calls “gaps” in the current system, including: adding goats and cervids as animal species that share diseases with other regulated livestock, and therefore subject to traceability requirements, shortening […] Read more

If foot-and-mouth reared its ugly head in Canada, the hope is to find it quickly enough to isolate it.

Comment: Is Canada ready for a foot-and-mouth outbreak?

Last column I outlined a brief history of the 1951- 52 foot-and-mouth outbreak around Regina, Sask. We haven’t had a foot-and-mouth outbreak in this country since, but it remains a global threat. The World Organization for Animal Health estimates that it affects 77 per cent of the global livestock population, circulating in Africa, the Middle […] 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

If you suspect a cow in your herd has Johne’s disease, have your veterinarian collect fecal samples for testing as soon as possible.

Johne’s disease — not gone but often forgotten

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

Johne’s disease is sometimes compared to an iceberg — the visible cases are only a tiny fraction of the problem. The biggest part is hidden beneath the surface, particularly in the early stages of disease. In the silent stage, cattle that were infected as calves by a manure-contaminated udder, water or feed show no clinical […] Read more


Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts taken from a human. Producers dealing with a crypto outbreak should keep in mind that the parasite can infect both cattle and people.

Introducing outside calves heightens crypto risk

Cryptosporidium parvum is a disease that’s easy to introduce and hard to manage in a beef herd

In the cold, wet pastures of a gruelling Manitoba spring near Oakville, Man., Garth McCormick needed a calf to put on one of his cows who had lost her calf, but didn’t have any he could use on his own farm. His hired man brought a calf from his own place to McCormick’s. Immediately, the […] Read more

File photo of piglets at a hog operation in China. (KuLouKu/iStock/Getty Images)

Federal funding lined up for programs, planning against swine fever

Two-year package to go toward pork industry work

The federal government is putting up an eight-figure funding wall to help prevent African swine fever from ever reaching Canada’s hog farms — and to prepare against any breach. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Aug. 26 the government will provide up to $45.3 million toward a three-pronged effort to boost disease prevention and preparedness: pork […] Read more