First-time lambing ewes need all the hormone feed back loops and events of labour and birth to go right in order to set them up for both short- and long-term mothering success. But maiden ewes are also more likely to take more time to birth, which could possibly lead to more interventions, which can then interrupt… Read More
Category: Lamb
It’s estimated that lamb losses amount to over $5 million a year to the Ontario sheep industry — and that’s just Ontario. For an industry that’s trying to off-set significant imports from the likes of New Zealand and Australia, those lost lambs amount to lost market share. While some losses occur in pregnancy, the majority occur… Read More
Canadian sheep producers will now have access to Elanco Animal Health’s Flukiver (closantel) for the treatment of Haemonchus contortus (Barber Pole worm) in ewes and lambs. The oral anthelmintic was was only available through an Emergency Drug Release before now. Haemonchus contortus is incredibly costly to the Canadian sheep industry. Of all the gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) found… Read More
Do you know which crop’s straw is the most palatable? If you don’t have a TMR, how do you get livestock to eat more straw to stretch those hay supplies? Did you know straw quality can change significantly from year to year? What are the more creative options for feeding livestock? 2016 has not been… Read More
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has announced a hunting and trapping ban on wolves and coyotes across 40 townships, effective immediately. Said to be a step towards protecting Ontario wolves, specifically the recently re-named Algonquin wolf, hunters and trappers will be banned from hunting or trapping wolves and coyotes in three additional districts: The… Read More
Proposed amendments to Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations were outlined in more detail this week, after a brief announcement by Health Canada on June 30, 2016. The potential changes look to “strengthen rules governing the importation, sale and use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock.” “Health Canada’s proposal to strengthen the rules around the use of these drugs in… Read More
Today the Alberta Government released its budget and there were some casualties for agriculture. In an effort to cut costs and internalize much of the agency work that has been spun out to third-party boards, the Alberta Livestock Meat Agency had its funding cut. Other boards, commissions and agencies that will be impacted are: Alberta Grains… Read More
The agriculture industry is pretty bogged down with acronyms, let’s face it. That’s why, every once in a while, we like to do an interview that focuses on what, exactly, these acronyms mean. This week, we’re talking AFAC, or Alberta Farm Animal Care. “We are a multi-species livestock welfare organization,” explains Kristen McDonald, marketing and membership… Read More
The Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA) is warning sheep producers that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed a positive case of Bluetongue virus in an Ontario cattle herd. Bluetongue disease is caused by the Bluetongue virus, and transmitted from animal to animal by the Culicoides midge. The virus attacks the lining of blood… Read More
Every farm has at least one tractor, at one old shed, an old grain silo and, definitely, at least one farm dog. In celebration of National Dog Day (follow the feed on Twitter), I thought we could take a closer look at the roles of a farm dog, from guardian and labourer, to playmate and friend. Protection… Read More