THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014
VOL. 92 | NO. 12 | $4.25
Spring forecast GROWING WITH FARMERS FOR 90 YEARS
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Soil moisture outlook, snow melt runoff predictions | P. 4
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PORT CONGESTION
Freighters continue to sit in Vancouver’s English Bay as they wait for access to the Port of Vancouver. FOR A STORY ON A TRUCKER’S STRIKE, SEE PAGE 5. FOR STORIES ON GRAIN TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS, SEE PAGES 5, 16 AND 18. | DOMINIC SCHAEFER PHOTO
Distressed herd arrives at sale New manager ‘embarrassed’ by condition of bison herd that arrives at commercial sale BY MARY MACARTHUR CAMROSE BUREAU
PONOKA, Alta. — The new manager of the Tsuu T’ina Nation’s bison herd is apologizing for the highly stressed, stunted and parasiteinfested animals that were recently brought to a commercial bison sale. James McGuiness said he was embar rassed by the 130 bison
brought to the Vold Jones Vold Auction bison sale March 15, which followed the Alberta Bison Producers Wildrose show and sale. Several of the bison were obviously stressed from the truck ride from the First Nation reserve outside Calgary to Ponoka. The animals were bashing themselves against the corrals or trying to leap over the heavy pipe fences as they attempted to escape. Several
bison producers watching the frantic animals didn’t think they would live. “They’re so wild. That’s the way the old manager raised them. He was old school,” said McGuiness, who was appointed bison manager of the Tsuu T’ina Nation herd a week earlier and said he knows little about bison. McGuiness said the previous bison manager was elderly and believed in
little contact with the bison. Instead of getting the animals accustomed to human interaction, he placed bales in the field and left them on their own. Bison producer Ivan Smith said the poor condition of the animals that arrived at the auction speaks of neglect and poor management. SEE DISTRESSED BISON, PAGE 3
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u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv":# MARCH 20, 2014 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4 The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Corp. Publisher: Shaun Jessome Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240
ANIMAL WELFARE | BISON