VAHS|Cody Creelman|May 23/2013 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a final rule concerning the labeling provisions for muscle cut commodities covered under the Country of Origin Labeling requirement. The USDA will publish the final rule on May 24, 2013 with the Federal Register. Under the final rule, modification of the labeling requirements will require that origin designations be applied to muscle cut commodities including origin designations about where each of the productions steps (i.e. born, raised, slaughtered) occurred and also removes the allowance for the commingling of muscle cuts. This rule has been anticipated since...

With the summer months approaching, it’s time to consider fly control for the overall health and welfare of cattle.  Several types of products are available with different methods of application to customize to each type of routine and operation.  Preventative usage of fly control products such as barn foggers, wall and livestock sprays can reduce the negative effects the insects have on livestock and increase productivity. Disvap is an example of a line of insecticide products available that targets the domestic, stable, horn and face fly as well as gnats, horseflies, darkling beetles and mosquitoes. All products come ready to use and...

In the second installment of the Beef Research School Antimicrobial Resistance video series, Dr. Tim McAllister, the Chief Principal Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, summarizes the results of research and surveillance initiatives on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and discusses the potential impact that AMR in food animals has on human health.   More information can be found at www.BeefResearch.ca Did you miss Part 1? Catch it...

Dr. Joe Stookey, professor of Animal Behavior at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine speaks about a novel cow-calf sorting method in use at the University of Saskatchewan Goodale Reasearch Farm. Dr. Cody Creelman has seen this system in person, and attests that hundreds of pairs can be sorted in literally minutes with only two people working the cattle.    

Western College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Dr. Chris Clark speaks about lameness in beef cattle. My favorite tidbit I remember from his lectures was that “if you treat a lame animal with antibiotics and it doesn’t get better, ITS NOT FOOTROT!”.

This newest video in the Beef Research School series features Dr. Reynold Bergen, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and BCRC Science Director. He explain what antimicrobial resistance is and answers the question: Is there evidence that antimicrobial use in beef cattle causes antimicrobial resistance in humans?