Anita O’Brien says saving a few minutes here and there during the day really adds up over the course of a year
A good handling facility for sheep is well worth the investment, says veteran sheep producer Anita O’Brien. “Handling facilities don’t have to be fancy, just effective,” O’Brien said at the recent Alberta Sheep Breeders Association conference. The producer, who runs 425 ewes on her pasture-based operation in Ontario, estimates her facility saves her 45 minutes
Structure your sheep operation to save time and labour
Using genomics takes guesswork out of selecting for feed efficiency
Despite all the talk about genomics, many in the cattle industry are confused by what it all means. But the bottom line is pretty simple, says William Torres, researcher at Cattleland Feedyards in Strathmore. “Cattle all gain different — you don’t know what is underneath the skin,” Torres told attendees at the recent Livestock Gentec
Pigeon fever outbreak in southern Alberta horses
The disease can be treated with care to the infected area, but vaccines or antibiotics are not effective
Southern Alberta horse owners are being advised to watch their animals for large lumps on their chests, following what are apparently the first-ever cases of pigeon fever in the province. Pigeon fever is a disease common in the southern states, said Dr. Connie Fancy, veterinarian with Claresholm Veterinary Services. This year, Fancy and three otherPigeon fever arrives in southern Alberta horses
Southern Alberta horse owners are being advised to watch their animals for large lumps on their chests, following what are apparently the first-ever cases of pigeon fever in the province. Pigeon fever is a disease common in the southern States, said Dr. Connie Fancy, veterinarian with Claresholm Veterinary Services. This year, Fancy and three other
Alta. researchers closing in on prions’ weak points
A decade after BSE rocked the Canadian cattle industry, two University of Alberta scientists and their Swiss colleagues have taken a major step towards finding a way to block prion infection which leads to BSE and scrapie. “My lab contributed how the antibodies interact with the various parts of the prion molecule,” said biochemistry professor
One step closer to solving the BSE mystery
Prion proteins act normally, until they misfold and become infectious A decade after BSE rocked the Canadian cattle industry, two University of Alberta scientists and their Swiss colleagues have taken a major step towards finding a way to block prion infection which leads to BSE and scrapie. “My lab contributed how the antibodies interact with
Faster E. coli detection — right in the packing plant
It’s the size of a postage stamp, but this little piece of technology could enable meat-packing plant workers to test samples for E. coli right on site. A University of Alberta project team is optimistic their PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology could be used in packing plants. The technology was initially focused on medical applications,
Growers needed for Alta. pea root rot survey
If you’re an Alberta pea grower, you can help researchers learn more about fusarium root rot in peas by offering up your field for research. Traditionally, Red Deer and Lacombe have been the primary area for peas in the province, but things have changed in recent years — and about half of the pea acreage
Export opportunities for forage producers are growing but every market is different
China’s bid to double milk production will mean a huge increase in forage imports, and opportunities abound in the Middle East
It’s a good time for forage producers to get into exporting — but there are pitfalls, too, says the chair of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s forage export committee. “One of the things we’re realizing is that good data is hard to find, especially when you are talking about exports to the U.S.,” saidDealing with calf malpresentations (but with no pressure)
UFA’s recent Cattle College here gave producers a hands-on demonstration on dealing with calf malpresentations, but it wasn’t exactly on a cow. Dr. Claire Ainsworth, a veterinarian with Mayerthorpe Veterinary Services, demonstrated using UFA’s educational plastic model, which contains a calf inside a cow. It was purchased by UFA and is now used by Olds
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