By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Friday May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021 | 10:00 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – Dry conditions have raised concerns about livestock water sources.

Water quality can change quickly and can become concentrated and harmful to animals even early on in the grazing season.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture livestock and feed extension specialist Alicia Sopatyk said water quality is not easily observed through smell or visual changes.

“Livestock may not show clinical signs then it’s too late,” Sopatyk said. “Poor water quality can affect absorption of other nutrients and have health and production implications.”

Sopatyk said high sulfates in the water can cause a secondary copper deficiency which can lead to a decrease in fertility. She said producers can offset poor quality waters with a good mineral program in some cases.

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“The only way to know is to test. You’ll need one liter of sample water taken from the livestock source. Bring those samples into the Tisdale regional office and we’ll send them away to the Roy Romanow lab in Regina and help you interpret the results,” Sopatyk said.

This baseline knowledge can help producers to adapt as the summer grazing season goes on, according to Sopatyk.

Information on water testing services is available at the province’s regional offices.

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Kansas City Southern Inc. said it is terminating its merger agreement with CP Rail after determining that rival Canadian National Railway’s revised US$33.6-billion offer was superior.

Under terms of the agreement announced Thursday evening, Montreal-based CN Rail will pay US$200 cash and 1.129 shares of CN stock for each of Kansas City’s 90.9 million shares.

The U.S. railway said it has notified CP Rail that it intends to terminate its agreement.

CP Rail now has the right to amend its offer, with the KCS board to determine whether a revision constitutes a better offer than CN’s.

The transaction is subject to approval by KCS shareholders and the U.S. railway regulator as well as other regulatory approvals.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW