A unique method of separating nutrients in hog manure, based on European technology, may give livestock producers another way to deal with excess soil phosphorus in southeastern Manitoba’s livestock alley. The method involves separating out the solids in manure from the liquid, using an automated conveyor belt system. Solids in hog manure are high in
Manure separation could be key to P accumulation issue
Removing phosphorus-rich solids from nitrogen-rich liquid allows both local use and economical transportation to other farms
Pregnant mare urine sector to expand
Industry officials caution it is a small increase
An expected increase in contracted volumes of pregnant mare urine over the next two years is a small bit of good news for Manitoba’s long-beleaguered PMU industry. Pfizer Canada says it will increase the amount of PMU collected from ranches in Manitoba and Saskatchewan during 2016 and 2017. Pfizer uses estrogen from PMU to manufacture
New poultry code of practice drafted
The new code offers more specifics about raising birds
A proposed new code of practice for the Canadian feather industry doesn’t contain many changes but it does get a lot more specific about how to raise poultry. Besides offering guidance, the new code outlines detailed requirements and recommended practices for the care and handling of broiler chickens, turkeys, breeders and hatching eggs. It goes
Anhydrous ammonia could be losing favour
Is NH3 on its way out?
Sleek white anhydrous ammonia fertilizer tanks perched on wheels ready to roll out to farmers’ fields were once a common sight along rural highways. Not so anymore. The apparent case of the missing anhydrous tanks has some wondering if it’s just an aberration, or if it signals a quiet but significant change in farmers’ soil
Shipping manure by underground pipeline considered feasible
New study considers manure transport alternative
With an increasing number of railway spills causing environmental and human health risks, underground pipelines are touted as a safer way of transporting oil, natural gas and chemicals. Now, it appears, you could add manure to the list. A new study suggests it might be possible in Manitoba to send 60 million gallons of liquid
Avian influenza in U.S. poultry puts the squeeze on Canadian egg imports
Shipments are costing more and taking longer to get here
A major avian influenza outbreak in the United States is forcing Canada’s layer industry to scramble for imported eggs and pay through the nose for them. As the AI outbreak continues south of the border, Canadian importers must look further afield for processing eggs, increasing delivery times and transportation costs. Manitoba sources most of its
Processors’ concerns threaten to unravel national chicken allocation agreement
Provincial regulators asked to review the deal
A late appeal by western Canadian processors could jeopardize a landmark agreement aimed at settling a long-standing dispute among provinces over allocating broiler chicken quota. Chicken processors in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia are appealing a memorandum of understanding signed last summer by provincial chicken-marketing boards and Chicken Farmers of Canada for the allocation agreement.
PEDv is now a ‘new normal’ for hog producers
Swine seminar participants told that despite its virulence, the disease can be managed
For Dr. Sue Burlatschenko, the most striking thing about porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in swine is the eerie silence when you enter infected nursery barns, because the baby pigs are either sick or dead and the sows are too ill to rise. “You walk into a barn at feeding time and you won’t hear a
Pork producers warned of difficult year ahead
Hog profits last year will shrink in 2015
Despite racking up solid profits in 2014, Manitoba hog farmers face an uncertain year ahead because of falling prices, rising feed costs and problems in financing new barn construction. Last year was a turning point for Manitoba’s long-suffering pork producers, who finally saw a return to profitability after years of low prices, high costs and
Chicken industry reaches long-delayed allocation agreement
The provinces had to either find consensus or risk losing supply management
Canada’s broiler chicken industry has reached a new quota allocation agreement, avoiding a potential showdown with a federal regulator that could have thrown the system into chaos. The Farm Products Council of Canada had threatened not to approve Chicken Farmers of Canada’s allocation requests unless it came up with an agreement reflecting provinces’ comparative advantages
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