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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Madness seen in a cow's eyes

Sunday, June 7, 2015

A researcher in Iowa is looking into cow's eyes as a way to detect disease earlier, Phys.org reports.
Research from Iowa State University (ISU) shows that retinal scans can identify bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) – more commonly known as "mad cow disease" – in animals up to 11 months before they show other symptoms. According to Phys.org, BSE is an untreatable neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded brain proteins known as prions.

Heather Greenlee, an associate professor of biomedical sciences at ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine, has been researching the connection between prion diseases and the retina. In an ISU interview, Greenlee described the retina as "the part of the brain closest to the outside world, and we know the retina is changed in animals that have prion diseases."

BSE-positive cattle in the food system since 2003 have cost the Canadian beef industry billions of dollars in lost trade. BF

Current Issue

April 2026

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Fighting DON Mycotoxin Contamination and Tar Spot

Friday, March 27, 2026

Ontario corn growers are set to receive improved support in managing two major threats to their crops: DON mycotoxin contamination and tar spot. A new five-year project will continue annual assessments of DON across corn hybrids through theGrain Farmers of Ontario’sOntario Corn Committee... Read this article online

Top Global Ranking for Guelph OVC

Thursday, March 26, 2026

The University of Guelph has achieved global recognition after its Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) ranked fourth worldwide in the latest rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds, making OVC the top veterinary college in Canada. The QS rankings evaluated nearly 900 universities across... Read this article online

New Canadian Swine Research Targets Piglet Disease

Monday, March 23, 2026

Swine InnovationPorc(SIP) is investing in new research to address Streptococcus suis, a harmful bacterial disease affecting post-weaned piglets led byDongyanXu Niu at the University of Calgary. This disease can cause serious health problems such as respiratory illness, meningitis, and sudden... Read this article online

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