A view shows a sign with bird flu protocols on the door of a poultry house at the University of California, Davis, March 6, 2025.  Photo: Reuters/Fred Greaves/File

Staff exodus at U.S. farm agency leaves fewer experts to battle bird flu

Animal disease unit of USDA has lost 16 per cent of staff

Chicago/Washington | Reuters – Hundreds of veterinarians, support staff and lab workers at the animal health arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture have left under the Trump administration’s push for resignations, according to three sources familiar with the situation, leaving fewer specialists to respond to animal disease outbreaks. The departures come as the country



Municipal representatives gather in Brandon for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities conference in late November.

Vet concerns head AMM resolutions

More resources, more priority for large animal vet hopefuls and Manitoba vet school among the issues raised

Manitoba’s municipalities want the province to consider a homegrown veterinary school. Western Canada’s veterinarian shortage, and a lack of large animal veterinarians in particular, was at the centre of several resolutions when Manitoba’s reeves, mayors and other municipal representatives met for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities conference in Brandon in late November. Why it matters: Agriculture and small

Nyssa Guilbert is a student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Guy Hobman Award winner.

The draw of rural vet practice

Faces of Ag: Nyssa Guilbert is the first Manitoban student to receive the Guy Hobman Award

With her love of rural life and penchant for the problem solving needed to treat many types and sizes of animals, Manitoba-born veterinary student Nyssa Guilbert says she hopes to work in a country practice once she graduates. “It’s just kind of like what I’ve always known and what I’ve always loved,” said the Anola-area

Vet districts get funding

Vet districts get funding

Joint federal-provincial funding will amount to $2 million for new large-animal veterinary equipment

Rural veterinary districts are getting a financial boost. In a joint release June 22, the federal and provincial governments announced $2 million for “the capacity of rural veterinary services districts throughout Manitoba.” The funding is earmarked for new large-animal equipment. Districts can apply for up to $75,000 for purchases. The districts “provide essential veterinary services


(Baranozdemir/iStock/Getty Images)

Ontario seeking new rules on scope of vet services

Changes also considered to veterinary sector oversight

Updated Nov. 23 — Ontario’s government is considering new legislation to more clearly spell out who can provide what kinds of animal care in the province’s veterinary sector. The provincial ag ministry on Monday launched a round of public consultation on the Veterinarians Act, which governs licensing of veterinarians and accreditation of veterinary facilities in

(DusanPetkovic/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan, Manitoba to boost vet college seat quotas

Each province adding five subsidized seats at WCVM

Updated, Sept. 30 — With livestock producers’ needs at top of mind, 10 more student seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan will be spoken for starting next year. The college and the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments on Thursday announced the two provinces will each step up their funding

Surgery on a horse at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s equine veterinary medical centre in Saskatoon. (WCVM video screengrab via YouTube)

Saskatchewan’s livestock vet loan plan expanded to bigger centres

Urban vet clinics' work with rural producers noted

Saskatchewan’s program to forgive provincial student loans for veterinarians and vet techs serving livestock producers at rural clinics will now also cover those doing the same work out of bigger communities. The province’s Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists program was first announced in April last year, offering forgiveness of 20 per cent of


Alberta’s Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announces funding for the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine on May 10, 2022 at the university’s Spyhill campus. (Government of Alberta video screengrab via YouTube)

More funds put up to boost Calgary vet school enrolment

Funding added for more staff, materials on top of infrastructure money

The University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine, fresh off a major capital funding boost in February’s provincial budget, now gets another $8.4 million over three years to help expand enrolment. “This targeted enrolment funding will go towards hiring on more faculty/staff to teach the increased number of students,” Sam Blackett, press secretary for Advanced

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Call your vet before you go to clinic during COVID-19

Different vet clinics have adopted different protocols

Animal welfare is paramount during COVID-19 — but so is human health. That’s why Darrell Dalton, registrar of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, recommends you call ahead before you go to your vet. “Different practices have taken different measures and different steps,” he said. “Some of the small practices are limiting the number of people