The cattle herd in Eastern Canada grew slightly to 2.9 million head in 2020.

Eastern Canada cattle herd grows

National cattle herd size drops, part of a decline happening since 2005

Glacier FarmMedia – Eastern Canada saw a slightly larger cattle herd in 2020 compared to 2019 but nationally there were fewer cattle and sheep and slightly more hogs. Statistics Canada […] Read more

Farmers like Mike Patterson of Kenyon, Minnesota, would be devastated if an outbreak was to occur in the United States.

Early control would ease ASF damage in U.S.

Officials predict costs of an outbreak could be reduced to $15 billion from $50 billion if it was controlled within two years

Glacier FarmMedia – African swine fever could become endemic in the United States if it arrives in North America. Paul Sundberg of the Ames, Iowa-based Swine Health Information Centre said […] Read more


Small-scale pig farmers are being targeted by a new survey.

Small pig farm survey part of ASF initiative

Learning more about small-lot producers could make it easier to communicate with them about African swine fever

Glacier FarmMedia – Whether pigs are kept as pets or for a personal pork supply, Canadians who keep a small number of pigs on their property are the target respondents […] Read more

Consumers have become more interested in pork over the last 10 years as they learn more about its preparation.

Pork’s affordability may create opportunities

Industry told it can capitalize on COVID-19-driven changes with cheaper meat and convenience

Glacier FarmMedia – Sylvain Charlebois sees opportunities for pork, and by extension hog producers, amid trends emerging from the pandemic. The Dalhousie University professor and researcher, who has become known […] Read more



Early results indicate lower chick mortality when hatched on the farm, as well as better average daily gain of the chicks.

On-farm hatching may benefit bird welfare

A poultry company is studying the logistics and benefits of bringing the eggs to the farm and hatching them there

Glacier FarmMedia – Hatching chicks on the farms where they are raised, rather than in a hatchery for later shipment to the farm, might improve bird welfare and performance. Groupe […] Read more

Many plant operators are pondering greater automation of the process as a hedge against future disruptions.

Meat plants consider automation

Tyson hires former Google research executive as president

Glacier FarmMedia – Hundreds of meat plant workers in North America fell ill with COVID-19 when the pandemic hit earlier this year. It caused many processors to temporarily close or […] Read more

China was forced to cull 60 per cent of its hog herd starting in 2018 because of an African swine fever outbreak.

China’s hog herd recovery forecast questioned

Inventory levels aren’t expected to reach pre-ASF levels this year, and sow herd quality is likely to be lower than before

Glacier FarmMedia – Claims from China that hog production in that country will recover by next year to pre-2018 levels do not pass the smell test, says economic analyst Brett […] Read more


Not every dog is cut out to handle stock, says stock dog trainer Jared Epp.

Take a dog to work, says trainer

Making a dog’s work on the farm the fulfilment of its instinct can help make dog training easier

Glacier FarmMedia – Productive and successful use of a stock dog to herd livestock is based on using the natural behaviours of canines, said an experienced stockman and dog trainer. […] Read more