Few avian flu cases found in Western Canada

May 16, 2023

It’s been a quiet spring on the Prairies for cases of avian influenza despite fears of an imminent return of a highly contagious strain of the virus.

Two cases have been reported in Western Canada at the end of the first week of May, only one of which has impacted a commercial poultry operation in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley.

Amanda Brittian, chief information officer for the B.C. Poultry emergency operations centre, said the latest case, reported at the end of April, is an area dense with commercial operations.

But since then, no further operations have detected an infection.

“It is in an area that is very dense with poultry farms,” said Brittian of the case found in a Chilliwack-area poultry operation. “It’s over 100 farms within the primary control zone.”

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Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.