Another hog stabilization program rejected

The provincial government has refused to back a hog stabilization program proposed by the Manitoba Pork Council to help producers through ongoing financial turbulence. “While the province continues to work with the Manitoba Pork Council on possible solutions, their recent proposal is too much of a financial risk during these uncertain economic times,” the minister



Danish inspectors find pork in beef kebabs

Reuters / Danish authorities said March 26 they discovered traces of pork in some meat sold as beef for kebabs during an inspection triggered by the recent horsemeat scandal, prompting demands by the country’s Muslim community for stricter inspection. A spokesman for the Danish veterinary and food administration said pork traces were found in beef

Bid to furlough U.S. meat inspectors squashed

Congress approved $55 million to prevent the furlough of all U.S. meat inspectors this summer, a step that could have driven up meat prices and created spot shortages in grocery stores and restaurants. The USDA was planning the furloughs to deal with a $1.9-billion cut in funding. But in a special step, lawmakers shifted $55



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


Impact of Russian red meat ban uncertain

Russia plans to ban meat imports from most Canadian and Mexican suppliers from April 8 over concerns about the use of the feed additive ractopamine, Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary service (VPSS) said. But it is not yet clear what the overall impact on the Canadian meat sector will be. VPSS, Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary service,

Industry representatives give go-ahead to keep developing a strategy for Canadian beef

Trio of leaders in beef sector gives first look at skeletal framework, gets input from summit attendees

The broad outlines of a plan to revitalize the Canadian beef industry received a welcome reception at a recent industry summit in Calgary. After stinging critique of their sector by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute last fall, Kim McConnell, Dave Andrews and John Kolk were asked in November to consult with industry players and create


What’s a pet to some is dinner for others

What’s food and what’s taboo depends on a lot of things, including how human societies
developed, what made sense in different regions, and how humans ordered their world

What’s food and what’s taboo depends on a lot of things, including how human societies developed, what made sense in different regions, and how humans ordered their world Don McMahon gets a mixed reaction when he tells people what was served at his wedding reception in Uzbekistan last year. “Some people are kind of disgusted

Where, oh where, has the roadkill gone?

Birds are demonstrating an ability to evolve shorter wingspans 
and learn how not to become a traffic fatality

Millions of birds die each year as they collide with moving vehicles, but things have been looking up, at least in the case of cliff swallows. Today’s swallows are hit less often, thanks to shorter wingspans that may help them take off more quickly and pivot away from passing cars. The findings, reported in the