Fighting tapeworm in backyard pigs Tuesday, April 2, 2013 A bursary awarded to Ellen Hughes, a student at Britain's Cambridge University, is aimed at improving the management of backyard pigs in Ghana and other sub-Saharan countries.Pigs don't grow as well as they could when they are infected with the pig tapeworm Taenia solium Cysticercosis. Human hosts do even worse. The tapeworm is known to spread Neurocysticercosis, a major cause of epilepsy in the sub-Sahara. This so-called "acquired" epilepsy shows up more often in the developed world because of immigration.Humans are the only host known to harbour the adult tapeworm. Both pigs and humans can harbour the larvae or cysticerci. Vegetarians and other non-pork eaters can acquire the disease through fecal contamination of their food. The tiny embryos travel through the blood stream to muscles and brain, where they can grow to be a centimetre in size, causing epileptic seizures in 85 per cent of patients where the disease has been identified. BP The ractopamine-free market European stall crackdown takes its time
Canada’s Meat Sector Joins CAFTA Ahead of CUSMA Review Friday, May 1, 2026 The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and the Canadian Meat Council have announced that CMC has joined CAFTA as a Friend of the organization, marking an important step in strengthening agri-food trade advocacy at a critical time for Canada’s export-oriented sectors. CAFTA represents... Read this article online
Operating farm equipment in Newfoundland and Labrador Friday, May 1, 2026 Farms.com’s Canadian tour of licensing and insurance requirements for ag machinery continues with a look at Newfoundland and Labrador. Do farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador need a license for farm equipment? If the equipment remains on private property, an operator doesn’t need to... Read this article online
When Grain Stops Moving Rail and Port Delays Cost Canada Up to $540 Million Friday, May 1, 2026 A new economic analysis commissioned by the Agriculture Transport Coalition has found that just one week of rail and port disruptions during peak export season can cost Canada’s grain sector up to $540 million. The majority of these losses stem from missed export sales that cannot be... Read this article online
Colouring a Safer Future for Farm Kids Thursday, April 30, 2026 Teaching children about farm safety is an essential part of protecting the future of Canadian agriculture. With that goal in mind, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has launched the Kids FarmSafe Colouring Contest, a creative initiative designed to help young people learn... Read this article online
Pet Obesity a Growing Concern Thursday, April 30, 2026 Pet obesity has become one of the most common health concerns seen during routine veterinary visits, alongside dental disease. Nearly 60 percent of pets in the United States are considered overweight, which can reduce overall life expectancy and increase the risk of chronic conditions such... Read this article online