Alberta invests in veterinary diagnostics to support livestock industry

Jun 04, 2025

Starting with Budget 2025, the Alberta government is allocating $9.5 million over three years to the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). This funding will support the operation of a comprehensive veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

UCVM’s diagnostic services provide local veterinarians with accurate diagnoses at competitive prices, aiding in treatment decisions that enhance animal health and welfare. The funding from Budget 2025 allows UCVM’s Diagnostic Services Unit to plan long-term, retained skilled staff, and expand its services.

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, says this funding will enhance its ability to test for various infectious organisms and support disease investigations.

“For almost three decades, Alberta’s livestock producers and veterinarians had to send diagnostic samples to other provinces for results. This funding allows for faster responses to potential animal health threats,” explains Minister Sigurdson.

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Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.