CSF Approved to Move Forward as National Traceability Program Administrator 

We are pleased to share that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) is eligible to move forward as the next Responsible Administrator (RA) for national sheep traceability under Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations, for all regions except Quebec where Attestra will continue to deliver traceability programming.

This announcement marks a major step forward in a journey that began more than two decades ago. With the support of CFIA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the continued service of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) throughout the transition period, CSF is preparing to deliver a modern, secure traceability program—one designed for sheep producers, by sheep producers.

The program will be supported by our AgroLedger™ platform, a Canadian-built digital system that will help strengthen disease response, support industry innovation, and provide timely, actionable data for producers and policymakers alike.

The 2022 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo is scheduled to be held in Kemptville from September 20th to 24th, 2022.

The event will be centred around the former Kemptville Agricultural College Campus and the former Kemptville Agricultural College Farm.
If you are interested in help with the following committees, please contact them.
Check them out on Facebook for more info or visit:

www.plowingmatch.org

The North American Lamb Company

Canada Gold Beef Ltd, owners of the Innisfail Alberta based SunGold Specialty Meats Ltd. (SunGold) and the Canada Gold Lamb Lot near Iron Springs Alberta, wish to announce the merger of their lamb operations with that of Fresh Canada Meats Ltd, the majority shareholder of Manitoba based Canada Sheep and Lamb Farms Ltd. Fresh Canada Meats is a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary of Integrated Foods Ltd, an integrated lamb producer and processor in New Zealand.

The newly merged entity, North American Lamb Company Ltd (NALC), will control lamb production and marketing for the group encompassing genetics, breeding, finishing, processing and sales. This merger is designed to form a truly Canadian integrated lamb supply chain to provide premium lamb products to domestic and international markets with year-round consistent supply and specification.

Inconsistency has plagued the Canadian sheep industry for as long as it has existed. Growing the lamb product demand in a diverse and growing market such as North America requires a consistent and reliable supply of sufficient scale to allow solid programs to be built with retail and...

Alberta Veterinarian Honoured for Dedicating Entire Career to Canadian Livestock Industry

Press release:  Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, July 6, 2018 

Vancouver, B.C. – Dr. Kathleen Parker was awarded the 2018 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Merck Veterinary Award for dedicating her entire career to contributing to the Canadian livestock industry, including poultry, swine, beef, and more recently, small ruminants.
 
After graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 1981, Dr. Parker established a mixed animal practice in central Alberta. The large animal ambulatory service has evolved into a comprehensive mixed animal practice today at a clinic in Three Hills, Alta. where she also runs a purebred Suffolk Sheep Farm with her husband.
 
Her dedication and passion for the improvement of animal health has been demonstrated through her lifetime commitment to her own practice, as well the various...

The purpose of the 2018 Small Ruminant Research Forum is to provide the opportunity for researchers, industry representatives, other stakeholders, and government specialist to connect and share information and ideas pertaining to the research, trends, and needs of the small ruminant livestock sectors in Ontario.

Registration:
If you are interested in sharing, collaborating, networking, or learning about research in the small ruminant sectors in Ontario  register today!   Registration is free, but space is limited so sign up early!  

To register: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca or call 1-877-424-1300 (Ontario only).
Registration deadline is May 01, 2018.

From the Canadian Animal Health Institute:

Effective December 1, 2018 a Veterinary Prescription Will Be Required to Obtain Medically Important Antibiotics for use in Animals.
Change is coming. Medically important antibiotics used in animals will have to be accessed by prescription from a licensed veterinarian as of December 1, 2018. To help farmers, ranchers and animal owners prepare for these changes, we ask that you hang the following poster in a prominent, high traffic area within your facility. This poster lists the impacted antibiotics by brand name and category of medical importance to help animal owners identify the products they currently use.

As of December 1, 2018, a veterinary prescription will be needed to purchase medically important antibiotics (antimicrobials) for use in an animal. These drugs will no longer be available for purchase at livestock medicines outlets, co-operatives, or other places where over-the-counter animal medications are currently sold. Medically important antibiotics will only be available, with a veterinary prescription, from a veterinarian, pharmacist or as a mixed medicated feed from a commercial feed mill.