Livestock
Reading Time: 2 minutes An unusually early outbreak of bird flu cases affecting high numbers of wild birds and poultry farms across Europe and North America is raising concerns of a repeat of previous crises that led to mass culling and food price spikes.
Europe, North America face early wave of bird flu cases
Spain reports first swine fever case in three decades, jeopardizing exports to China
Reading Time: 2 minutes African swine fever has returned to Spain for the first time in three decades after two wild boar found dead near Barcelona tested positive for the virus.
Beef DNA testing now available in Canada
Reading Time: 3 minutes Tissue samples for DNA testing in beef cattle can now be analyzed at the Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan.
Bird flu virus could risk pandemic worse than COVID if it mutates, France’s Institut Pasteur says
Reading Time: 2 minutes The bird flu virus that has been spreading among wild birds, poultry and mammals could lead to a pandemic worse than COVID-19 if it mutates to transmit between humans, the head of France’s Institut Pasteur respiratory infections centre said.
Canadian alpacas impress American judge at Agribition
Reading Time: 3 minutes The fleece and conformation of Canadian alpacas impressed an American judge at the Canadian Western Agribition Alpaca Halter Show and Fleece competitions.
U.S. livestock: Futures rally ahead of U.S. Thanksgiving
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago cattle and hog futures rallied on Wednesday ahead of the American Thanksgiving holiday. Most-active February live cattle contracts closed at 212.925 cents a pound, up 5.600 cents. April futures gained 5.675 cents to settle at 214.250 cents a pound. Most-traded January feeder cattle futures gained 8.050 cents to close at 315.125 cents a pound. […] Read more
Canadian beekeepers warn of advancing tropilaelaps mite
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian Beekeeping Federation called a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday to highlight the rise of the tropilaelaps mite (colloquially referred to as the “t-mite”).
South Korea raises African Swine Fever alert after outbreak at pig farm
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Reading Time: < 1 minute South Korea said on Tuesday there had been an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at a pig farm in the country’s largest pig-breeding region, prompting authorities to raise the national alert level to “serious”.
Klassen: Feedlots scale down cattle purchases
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending November 22, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $10/cwt lower on average. Earlier in the week, the heavier weight categories came under pressure while cattle under 700 pounds held value. However, by Friday, all weight ranges exhibited a softer tone. Feedlots are coming to the realization that the fed […] Read more
Feds pause update on food from cloned livestock
Reading Time: 2 minutes Health Canada has indefinitely suspended a proposed update to the novel food policy governing foods derived from cloned cattle and swine, as well as their progeny.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
