Ontario’s Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) has officially ended the heightened biosecurity advisory for the Township of Wellesley in Southwestern Ontario, prompted by an infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) outbreak. Effective immediately, poultry farmers, small flock growers, and industry personnel in the Township of Wellesley are relieved from the stringent measures enforced since January 12th, 2024. The ILT outbreak, a highly contagious respiratory virus primarily affecting chickens, led the FBCC, representing Ontario’s four feather boards, to issue a biosecurity advisory for a 10-kilomete ..read more

Ottawa, April 18, 2024 — The Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) has announced the election of its 2024 executive committee. Following a decisive vote by the CFC Board of Directors at its Annual General Meeting in March, the newly elected Executive Committee is poised to guide Canadian chicken farmers towards further growth and sustainability. Leading the committee is the re-elected chair, Tim Klompmaker from Ontario. A stalwart of the industry, Klompmaker brings over four decades of experience to his role, having started farming in 1984. Hailing from Norwood, Ont., he is a third-generation chicke ..read more

The B.C. chicken industry has been thrust into a pricing controversy, drawing national attention. While mainstream media largely aligns with critics of the proposed 10 per cent price hike, I thought it was essential to delve into the chicken industry’s perspective. The ongoing debate surrounding potential chicken price hike in the province has prompted the B.C. Chicken Marketing Board to advocate for a nuanced examination of its pricing model. Woody Siemens, the executive director of the B.C. Chicken Marketing Board, provided me with valuable insights into the intricacies surrounding the propo ..read more

Cambridge, Ont., April 17th, 2024 – A groundbreaking partnership forged between Schippers Canada and Farmers Depot in 2023 is now bearing fruit in the form of reduced costs, which are being directly passed on to Canadian livestock producers through lower retail prices. Renowned for their commitment to innovation and high-quality products within Canada’s livestock sector, the collaboration between Schippers Canada and Farmers Depot has synergized operations, resulting in decreased warehouse costs and more efficient ocean freight. The most significant savings stem from Schippers’ decision to man ..read more

Ottawa, April 17th, 2024 – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) expressed disappointment in the 2024 federal budget, citing a lack of investment in Canadian agriculture. The organization highlighted concerns over high-interest rates, the imposition of a carbon price on essential farming activities, and the heightened risk posed by extreme weather events. In a statement released yesterday, CFA President Keith Currie emphasized the crucial role of government support amidst challenges facing the agricultural sector. “With erratic weather and soaring prices amplifying the risk profile of C ..read more

Aviagen North America is revolutionizing its customer service approach by introducing a series of shorter course modules to complement its esteemed month-long Production Management School. These modules, offered year-round, will concentrate on specific management topics addressed within the comprehensive curriculum of the month-long school, catering to the evolving needs of both customers and the poultry industry. Covering crucial subjects such as hatchery, breeder, and broiler management, among others tailored to individual customer requirements, these focused modules aim to equip production ..read more

France’s approach to immunize ducks on farms against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has been deemed successful thus far, with progress exceeding initial expectations. Across Europe, only two additional poultry outbreaks have been confirmed in the past two to three weeks, leading to the declaration of the disease situation as “resolved” in three countries. However, a recent study from the food safety agency warns that ongoing cases in wild bird populations still pose a significant risk to human health. For the full story, click here ..read more

The evolving carbon market is driving innovation for how to effectively capture the building block of greenhouse gas as the world moves closer to net zero emissions. A Danish group has designed a greener way to process poultry manure, capturing carbon to create a cleaner agricultural fertilizer – with possibilities beyond the farmyard. Lars Bojsen and his son Peter operate Springkilde, a large family farm near Horsens, Denmark. Their operation includes 150,000 laying hens and about 150 hectares of cropland.  Always looking for new options to process the manure generated on the farm, they ..read more

It’s commonly known that intensity, wavelength and duration of lighting influence broiler activity, feed and water intake, and overall productivity. It’s also well known that light intensity impacts animal welfare and mortality. However, there’s little research that supports current lighting recommendations and, until recently, few studies have looked at how lighting impacts broiler welfare.  A recent study, led by Seong Wook Kang, director of the poultry experiment station at the University of Arkansas, examined lighting preferences in broilers. The commercial-scale study, which was cond ..read more

Renowned chef Chuck Hughes has teamed up with Think Turkey to introduce Canadians to a variety of new techniques and everyday recipes for enjoying turkey beyond the traditional holiday meals. The campaign, titled ‘Do It More Often,’ spearheaded by Hughes, aims to break the stereotype of turkey being reserved for special occasions by showcasing its versatility in everyday cooking. Launched in April, the campaign features three 15-second spots airing across social media, connected TV, and digital displays, targeting meal planners in English and French-speaking Canada. Darren Ference, Chair of Tu ..read more