An outbreak of bluetongue among bighorn sheep in the Grand Forks area has livestock producers on watch. There have been 12 possible cases identified, though lab testing is still in progress. Several white-tailed deer in Washington have also contracted the disease. The virus that causes the disease is spread by biting midges (also known as …
LIVESTOCK
PNE auction stays online
Public health restrictions once again kept the annual 4-H auction at the Pacific National Exhibition online. This year’s event took place August 20-21 with the assistance of DLMS Auctions, which also stepped up to facilitate last year’s online auction. “A live auction was not held this year as the COVID restrictions and uncertainty did not …
Challenges linger for meat plants
As Canada enters its fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, meat processors continue to struggle with virus transmission among employees. Reported custom order cancellations and lower staff numbers exacerbate the ongoing capacity crunch small-scale producers face. While no new outbreaks have been declared at Lower Mainland abattoirs or meat-packing facilities since an outbreak at the …
Province pledges emergency funding
BC has announced emergency funding to support farmers and ranchers impacted by wildfires, heat and drought this year. While the exact amount is undetermined and several details have yet to be worked out, the province has taken the immediate action of invoking the late participation provision of the AgriStability program. The original deadline was June …
Drought puts focus on livestock nutrition
Cattle producers asked their drought-related nutrition questions to a panel of experts during a Beef Cattle Research Council webinar on July 29. The panel stressed the importance of feed testing during drought conditions. Tests shows if a crop is safe to feed on its own or whether it needs to be mixed with other feedstuffs. …
Provincial meat licensing overhaul effective October
MERRITT – The province has formally announced details of the new three-tier licensing structure for meat processors promised earlier this year. The four existing classes of licences will be streamlined, with on-farm slaughter allowed across the province. Provincially inspected A and B licensees will be consolidated in a new Abattoir class, with no restrictions on …