(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. working on limited bird flu vaccination for turkeys

No decision yet made, U.S. official says

Paris | Reuters — The United States is working on a bird flu vaccination scenario focusing on turkeys in the few states that gather the largest number of turkey farms, a move that would best meet a benefit-cost strategy, its chief veterinary officer said on Tuesday. However, no decision to vaccinate has yet been made, […] Read more

File photo of chicks on a genetic map of a chicken. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Animal health body backs bird flu vaccination to avoid pandemic

Vaccination should focus on free-range birds, WOAH chief says

Paris | Reuters — Governments should consider vaccinating poultry against bird flu, which has killed hundreds of millions of birds and infected mammals worldwide, to prevent the virus from turning into a new pandemic, the head of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) said. The severity of the current outbreak of avian influenza, commonly […] Read more



Foot-and-mouth disease is regularly found in many parts of the world and threatens Canada’s livestock industry.

Much to learn about foot-and-mouth disease: Part 2

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious, acute, viral disease affecting cloven-hooved animals including pigs, cattle, sheep and goats. Controlling FMD in countries previously free of the disease and wishing to re-establish freedom is a sophisticated process requiring technical expertise, persistence and tough decisions. The disease is characterized by formation of vesicles and erosions inside […] Read more


Farmer With Vet Examining Calf

New drug regulations require adjustment

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

No issue over the past 15 years occupied more space in agriculture, veterinary or public health-related press than antimicrobial resistance (AMR). No single topic appears more often on conference and seminar agendas than topics addressing the use, abuse and prudent use of antimicrobials in humans and animals. Petitions, a plethora of committees of every description, […] Read more

Farmer With Vet Examining Calf

One Health: Recreating the future

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

On November 3, 2016, individuals, academics, nonprofit organizations and the corporate world recognized “One Health Day.” This was an opportunity to address the inextricable interaction between animals, environment and humans, and how the veterinary and medical health professions should interact. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD speaking at the 2016 Hill’s Symposium, recognized that the human medical community […] Read more


Prepping for the politicians

Prepping for the politicians

A few notes from the CCA’s semi-annual meeting

Late last month the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association published a political wish list on behalf of the beef industry for candidates running in the federal election. You can find it on the CCA website. The week before that document came out I had a chance to hear some of the background discussions that went into setting […] Read more

cow in a feedlot

CCA Report: COOL decision set for May

2015 CCA annual general meeting sees president and vide-president affirmed by acclamation

March was a busy month with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) 2015 annual general meeting (AGM) in Ottawa. I am pleased to report that myself and vice-president Dan Darling were acclaimed to our roles for another year. It is a great honour and tremendous privilege to serve the CCA and I thank the board for […] Read more


virus under a microscope

Out of the ebola virus tragedy, are there lessons to be learned?

The West African outbreak should be a wake-up call for the livestock industry

Global health authorities watch with uncertainty as the human ebolavirus tragedy in West Africa unfolds. First recognized in the summer and fall of 1976, the ongoing Zaire ebolavirus outbreak is the largest since its discovery — nearly 9,300 cases and over 4,500 deaths. It continues to spread through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (or […] Read more