(DusanPetkovic/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan, Manitoba to boost vet college seat quotas

Each province adding five subsidized seats at WCVM

Updated, Sept. 30 — With livestock producers’ needs at top of mind, 10 more student seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan will be spoken for starting next year. The college and the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments on Thursday announced the two provinces will each step up their funding […] Read more

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau views damage to lobster boats from Hurricane Fiona at Stanley Bridge, P.E.I. on Sept. 27, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Phil Matusiewicz)

Trudeau tours storm-hit Atlantic Canada as power outages persist

Flooding may hit P.E.I. potato crops

Port aux Basques, N.L. | Reuters — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday started a tour of Atlantic Canada, where thousands were still without power after record-setting storm Fiona ravaged the country’s east coast, tossing homes into the sea and killing at least three people. Fiona recorded the lowest barometric pressure ever for a storm […] Read more

Daniel Wuergler, co-owner of the Gallipool Frasses farm, walks among 18,000 Lohmann Classic laying hens at Les Montets, about 45 km northeast of Lausanne, on Sept. 16, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

Swiss reject initiative to ban factory farming

Voters back narrowly back rise in women's retirement age to 65

Geneva | Reuters — Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal to ban factory farming in a referendum on whether the wealthy country’s strict animal welfare laws need to be tightened yet further. The government’s VoteInfo App showed a provisional result of 62.86 per cent of votes against the proposal, put to a referendum under […] Read more

Wrecked structures float in the water in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona at Rose Blanche, N.L., about 45 km east of Port aux Basques, on Sept. 25, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/John Morris)

Cleanup work begins for Eastern Canada after Fiona

Five provinces assessing damage from 'unprecedented' storm

Port aux Basques | Reuters — It will take several months for Canada to restore critical infrastructure after the powerful storm Fiona left an “unprecedented” trail of destruction, officials said on Sunday, as crews fanned out in five provinces to restore power and clean up fallen trees and debris. One 73-year-old woman died during the […] Read more

Chad Wallace of Precision Scale says farmers need to keep their scales clean.

Keeping weigh scales accurate means regular upkeep

Industry professional says the machines shouldn’t be taken for granted

Farm scales are so well designed that they are often taken for granted. That’s great, so long as they’re working. But when farmers and agricultural businesses forget about them, problems can literally build up. “If it’s got mud and whatnot, or cows are tracking in debris and it’s building up between your approach and your […] Read more


LRIC has been working toward a Livestock Declaration that states that the livestock industry is a key pillar of Ontario’s economy, environment and food security. LRIC hopes to have other parties sign this declaration to work together to innovate and grow the sector in a trusted and sustainable manner.

Comment: Planting a flag for livestock

The livestock sectors need to work collectively to tackle challenges

Where is a sound and powerful agreement in favour of livestock production, but it involves nuance and requires thought. In today’s world, people default to simple, so we need to be strategic in our approach when presenting the case for livestock.  Planting a flag for livestock involves all livestock sectors coming together to make a […] Read more

The standards of care for outdoor dogs were re-evaluated after enforcement data and public and stakeholder concerns indicated outdoor dogs face specific welfare and safety challenges.

PAWS regulations updated for dogs

New standards of care for outdoor dogs come into effect July 1

Owners of outdoor and Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) have more to keep track of this summer.  The Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act (PAWS) has updated standards of care for outdoor dogs and they come into effect July 1. They may require some producers to adjust their animals’ housing and care regime.  Why it matters: The […] Read more

calves at play

Play may be important part of animal welfare

Short- and long-term benefits can be realized if animals given opportunity to play

We’ve all seen exuberant play behaviours in various animal species. Puppies roughhouse, fight, gnaw and gnash their teeth. Dogs bow to initiate play. Kid goats leap off structures and butt heads. Kittens chase anything that moves. Foals buck, nipping and kicking at their herd mates. You get the idea. Why it matters: Fostering play in […] Read more


Alberta’s Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announces funding for the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine on May 10, 2022 at the university’s Spyhill campus. (Government of Alberta video screengrab via YouTube)

More funds put up to boost Calgary vet school enrolment

Funding added for more staff, materials on top of infrastructure money

The University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine, fresh off a major capital funding boost in February’s provincial budget, now gets another $8.4 million over three years to help expand enrolment. “This targeted enrolment funding will go towards hiring on more faculty/staff to teach the increased number of students,” Sam Blackett, press secretary for Advanced […] Read more