No takers for ‘pasture swaps’

The studies show running goats with cattle could create a “serious win-win,” but Saskatchewan goatherd Brian Payne is having trouble getting buy-in. Payne, who runs 225 Savanna goats near Humboldt, has been running ads and making pitches at livestock meetings looking for cattle producers willing to enter into “pasture swaps.” “I haven’t found anybody yet,”

Flooded markets push prices lower

The Winnipeg Livestock Auction received 350 sheep and goats for the sale. The eastern and western markets have become filled with the constant supply of sheep and lambs — with the assistance of regionally supplied animals. Following other meat trends, store prices have not followed producer prices down. The buyers put extreme pressure on the


Slight decrease in lamb prices at April 3 sale

Producers delivered 200 sheep and goats to the Winnipeg Livestock Auction April 3 sale. Buyers showed limited interest in ewes. The price ranged from $0.42 to $0.54 per pound, compared to the price range from last sale of $0.51 to $0.90 per pound. The ewes placed in the lower class ranged from $0.20 to $0.35

Easter lamb prices disappoint producers

There were 700 sheep and goats delivered to the Winnipeg Livestock Auction for the March 20 sale. Ontario price trend carried over to result in low bidding. The Easter lambs fell short of past Easter lamb sale prices. The high demand and interest for the goat kids continue, similar to the past few sales. April


Goats’ milk speeds recovery from diarrhea

Milk from goats that were genetically modified to produce higher levels of a human antimicrobial protein has proved effective in treating diarrhea in young pigs, demonstrating the potential for food products from transgenic animals to one day also benefit human health, report researchers at the University of California, Davis. The study is the first on

Prices follow Ontario trends

Producers provided 350 sheep and goats to the Winnipeg Livestock Auction Jan. 23. The bidding from the buyers was strong and heated, compared to the freezing cold temperature outside. The Manitoba market followed the Ontario market trend in prices on the lambs. Wool ewes dominated ewes on offer at this sale. The price ranged from


2012 ends with quality ewes

About 650 sheep and goats were delivered to Winnipeg Livestock Auction Dec. 19 for the final sale of 2012. Once again, the bidding was influenced by other provinces and their markets. There appeared to be two price ranges of hair sheep, with the wool ewes representing the centre of this bidding range. The lower hair



Prices plummet in spite of quality

There were 750 sheep and goats delivered to the Winnipeg Livestock Auction Nov. 7 sale. Bidding was lacklustre compared to earlier sales and prices were lower, despite good-quality sheep and goats on offer. There was equal representation from wool and hair sheep ewes with the average price ranging from $.39 to $.58 per pound. A

Goat producers urged to provide input into a new national traceability program

Some dairy goat producers want leg bands instead of ear tags and there are 
different methods for reporting and recording of animal movement, and retiring tags

Atraceability program for goats is coming, and now is the time for producers to give their input on how the system should operate, says the general manager of the Canadian National Goat Federation. “Traceability and animal identification are almost non-negotiable right now,” Jennifer MacTavish said at the recent Alberta Goat Breeders Association conference. “Our role