The Ontario Beekeepers Association has received $244,000 in funding for a project aimed in part at improving the bee breeders program in the province.
Les Eccles, lead specialist with the association’s technology transfer program, says the funding comes from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Council. The total project cost is more than 300,000. The association is providing the balance of the money through an in-kind contribution.
Funding for the project is completed in September 2013. But Eccles says the project will continue beyond that because there are always improvements that can be done in agricultural research.
The project includes virus testing to find resistance to bee viruses. “That’s the new frontier of bee research as far as diseases go,” he explains.
They’ll also be doing research on fertility testing on queen bees to improve their longevity. This part of the project will involve working with the Queen Breeders Association to improve their breeding program in general. “We’ll give them a better guide on what to follow and how to use the information they have better.”
Researchers will produce a manual for breeders as part of the project. More
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sales halted after arsenic found in chicken drug
Sales of two drugs routinely fed to chickens for decades have been suspended in Canada after tests showed the birds contained small amounts of inorganic arsenic, a carcinogen.
Health Canada says there are no immediate risks to public health. But consumer advocates say the findings provide evidence that many of the drugs given to animals could be unsafe and that more action is needed to protect the public – particularly since similar drugs remain on the market.
The drugs, 3-Nitro-20
The drugs contain organic arsenic, which is much less toxic than inorganic arsenic. As a result, it was believed animals given the drug would pose no danger to humans.
But mounting evidence in recent years suggests organic arsenic can change into inorganic arsenic, raising fears it could remain in the tissue and cause potential harm to humans. More
Health Canada says there are no immediate risks to public health. But consumer advocates say the findings provide evidence that many of the drugs given to animals could be unsafe and that more action is needed to protect the public – particularly since similar drugs remain on the market.
The drugs, 3-Nitro-20
The drugs contain organic arsenic, which is much less toxic than inorganic arsenic. As a result, it was believed animals given the drug would pose no danger to humans.
But mounting evidence in recent years suggests organic arsenic can change into inorganic arsenic, raising fears it could remain in the tissue and cause potential harm to humans. More
Veterinary training expanded; Olds College
Olds College is offering a new Veterinary Technical Assistant program in January to respond to an industry shortage of entrylevel employees. Enrolment is already underway for the 15-week certificate program, with about one-third of the available spots filled.
Students can get jobs in veterinary clinics, animal shelters, boarding facilities and pet stores once they finish the program. Those in the veterinary field have indicated that finding the time to train new employees is exceedingly difficult. This program is designed to fill the gap.
Students will learn how to safely handle and restrain animals that are being cared for in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, boarding or pet facility, with a primary focus on cats and dogs. More
Students can get jobs in veterinary clinics, animal shelters, boarding facilities and pet stores once they finish the program. Those in the veterinary field have indicated that finding the time to train new employees is exceedingly difficult. This program is designed to fill the gap.
Students will learn how to safely handle and restrain animals that are being cared for in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, boarding or pet facility, with a primary focus on cats and dogs. More
Simulation to test pork producer preparedness
The Ontario Pork Industry Council (OPIC) and Ontario Pork are collaborating on an emergency preparedness project for the swine industry, specifically a foreign animal disease event simulation.
The simulation will be a two-stage event carried out in September involving five or six selected farms. The first stage will be the onset of the disease at one farm and the second stage will be dealing with the spread of the disease to the rest of the selected farms. Selected producers will be notified and they will be acquainted with the newly developed farm planner so that the simulation can test how that works.
Lori Moser, OPIC managing director, said the September dates are not being released. However, part of the simulation will be the use of widespread communication through Ontario Pork so producers and stakeholders will know about the simulation as it progresses. All communications will be identified using the word “simulation” to avoid concern and confusion. More
The simulation will be a two-stage event carried out in September involving five or six selected farms. The first stage will be the onset of the disease at one farm and the second stage will be dealing with the spread of the disease to the rest of the selected farms. Selected producers will be notified and they will be acquainted with the newly developed farm planner so that the simulation can test how that works.
Lori Moser, OPIC managing director, said the September dates are not being released. However, part of the simulation will be the use of widespread communication through Ontario Pork so producers and stakeholders will know about the simulation as it progresses. All communications will be identified using the word “simulation” to avoid concern and confusion. More
Monday, August 15, 2011
Vietnam lifts ban on livestock
Vietnam has lifted its eight-year-old ban on Canadian live breeding cattle, sheep and goats, becoming the first Asian country to do so since a 2003 discovery of mad cow disease, Canada's trade and agriculture ministers said on Sunday.
The move, which takes effect immediately, gives Canada a share in a market worth $50 million, International Trade Minister Ed Fast said in a statement, praising the impact of closer ties with Southeast Asia.
Vietnam reopened to Canadian beef last year.
Nearly all countries that had banned Canadian beef since 2003 have agreed to resume imports. China agreed last year partly to reopen Canadian access, but commercial shipments have not yet restarted. More
The move, which takes effect immediately, gives Canada a share in a market worth $50 million, International Trade Minister Ed Fast said in a statement, praising the impact of closer ties with Southeast Asia.
Vietnam reopened to Canadian beef last year.
Nearly all countries that had banned Canadian beef since 2003 have agreed to resume imports. China agreed last year partly to reopen Canadian access, but commercial shipments have not yet restarted. More
Grocer's animal welfare initiative rolling out to Canadian stores
Consumers concerned about the past life of their meats are about to get clarity from one chain of organic grocery stores.
Whole Foods Market Inc., a U.S.-based retailer that operates the country's largest chain of natural and organic food supermarkets, is extending an innovative animal welfare labelling program to its six Canadian stores this week. Rolled out earlier this year across the United States, the labels on all chicken, beef and pork sold at Whole Foods tell consumers exactly how the animals were reared.
Motivating the retailer is the fact that food savvy consumers are increasingly interested in on-farm conditions, propelled by closer relationships with farmers established through booming local food movements and the popularity of movies such as Food Inc., a 2008 documentary examination of corporate farming in the United States that garnered mass audiences. More
Whole Foods Market Inc., a U.S.-based retailer that operates the country's largest chain of natural and organic food supermarkets, is extending an innovative animal welfare labelling program to its six Canadian stores this week. Rolled out earlier this year across the United States, the labels on all chicken, beef and pork sold at Whole Foods tell consumers exactly how the animals were reared.
Motivating the retailer is the fact that food savvy consumers are increasingly interested in on-farm conditions, propelled by closer relationships with farmers established through booming local food movements and the popularity of movies such as Food Inc., a 2008 documentary examination of corporate farming in the United States that garnered mass audiences. More
Minnesota officials confirm case of inhalational anthrax
By Lisa Schnirring
Aug 9, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – A person hospitalized in Minnesota has contracted inhalational anthrax after traveling in western states, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced today.
In a release, the MDH said that the agency and its partners at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the infection, which apparently stemmed from environmental exposure.
The individual is hospitalized in Minnesota after traveling to North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Lab officials in Minnesota confirmed the illness. The MDH did not disclose the patient's name, age, gender, or medical condition, but said he or she is not a Minnesota resident.
Ruth Lynfield, MD, Minnesota state epidemiologist, said evidence suggests the patient was exposed from a natural source. The person had been exposed to soil and animal remains. She added that anthrax disease in hoofed animals occurs annually in certain parts of the country, including the Midwest and West. Animal infections can occur as far south as Texas and as far north as the Canadian border. More
Aug 9, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – A person hospitalized in Minnesota has contracted inhalational anthrax after traveling in western states, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced today.
In a release, the MDH said that the agency and its partners at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the infection, which apparently stemmed from environmental exposure.
The individual is hospitalized in Minnesota after traveling to North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Lab officials in Minnesota confirmed the illness. The MDH did not disclose the patient's name, age, gender, or medical condition, but said he or she is not a Minnesota resident.
Ruth Lynfield, MD, Minnesota state epidemiologist, said evidence suggests the patient was exposed from a natural source. The person had been exposed to soil and animal remains. She added that anthrax disease in hoofed animals occurs annually in certain parts of the country, including the Midwest and West. Animal infections can occur as far south as Texas and as far north as the Canadian border. More
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