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Tag Archives animal welfare

Livestock

Ontario offers cash for abattoir upgrades

Applications now being accepted through April

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Reading Time: 2 minutes Ontario’s 123 provincially-licensed abattoirs can now start applying for a piece of $2 million in federal/provincial funding to step up food safety, biosecurity and animal welfare measures. The Ontario and federal governments on Wednesday announced applications for cost-share funding can be submitted between now and April 30, “as long as funding for the initiative is […] Read more

EU-Canada trade deal clears hurdle in Dutch parliament

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Reading Time: < 1 minute Amsterdam | Reuters — The European Union’s free trade agreement with Canada cleared a political hurdle on Tuesday, when a slim majority of lawmakers in the Dutch lower house voted to ratify the contested deal. Votes by members of the country’s governing coalition were enough to approve the deal, which was rejected by opposition parties […] Read more
Gillian Grieves works for South West Ontario Veterinary Services.
Livestock, News

Ontario invention wins national swine award

This year’s F.X. Aherne prizes were presented to the inventors of an easier way to handle piglets

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Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – The inventors of a device to allow easier handling of piglets and the developers of a system that provides more even heat to young piglets received awards for their efforts Jan. 9 at the Banff Pork Seminar. Tess Faulkner and Gillian Grieves of South West Ontario Veterinary Services invented the Hammock, a […] Read more
Cows have multiple methods of getting fresh air in the hybrid design.
Livestock, News

New hybrid barn combines natural and mechanical ventilation

The concept improves air quality and cow comfort

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Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the most difficult decisions dairy farmers face when building a new free-stall barn is determining the best ventilation system. Naturally ventilated freestalls have been popular for decades, with lower-profile fan-ventilated free-stall barns growing in popularity in Ontario over the past couple years. A concept from Wisconsin combines some of the advantages of both. […] Read more
“Ninety to 95 per cent of eggs are laid in a nest. It takes a pretty bad nest for them not to use it. There has to be something very aversive about the nest for the birds to lay in a cage or on the floor.” – Dr. Mike Petrik.
Livestock, News

Poultry housing changes could increase risk of disease

Barn management can decrease risks of bird illness

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Reading Time: 3 minutes New housing changes in the poultry industry may increase the risk of disease if the birds are not properly managed in their new environments, said a laying hen veterinarian with McKinley Hatchery. Dr. Mike Petrik spoke at the Poultry Industry Council’s Poultry Innovations Conference held in November in London. Why it matters: Producers will have […] Read more
A well-designed trailer provides maximum clearance, adequate ventilation, reasonable loading angles, rounded corners and non-slip floors.
Livestock

Improved trailers good for livestock welfare

There’s a lot of innovation happening in livestock trailers and they make for healthier animals

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Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Livestock transportation is a heavily regulated industry and new technology should make life easier for haulers and animals. Innovative designs are becoming more available in North America, especially for trailers designed to haul pigs and chickens, said Jeff Hill, animal welfare specialist with Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions. Why it matters: Animal […] Read more
Sows wait to eat in the group-housing system at Zeldenrust farm near Drayton.
Livestock

Animal welfare a focus during new hog barn construction

The extra cost of sow lift crates pays off in reduced piglet mortality

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Reading Time: 5 minutes During the recent 2019 edition of the Shakespeare Swine Seminar, there were presentations from two similar-sized farrow-to-finish operators who, when making decisions about new barn construction, opted to included innovations aimed at boosting animal welfare. Why it matters: Enhanced livestock care regulations, coupled with a more intense focus from the public on how food is […] Read more
Fines have more than doubled for major first offences under the new Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) system.
News

Higher penalties, more enforcement officers in new in new animal welfare system

The Ontario system replaces the old system run for the government by the OSPCA

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Reading Time: 2 minutes The Ontario government has announced its new animal welfare model and it will include stiffer fines and more enforcement officers. The new system is in response to a court case that said that determined that the powers exercised by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) were had to be more […] Read more
Transportation regulations are changing for all major livestock in February.
Livestock, News

Trucking group still looking for clarification on new livestock transport rules

Latest changes need to be shared before February implementation: OLTA

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Reading Time: 3 minutes [UPDATED Oct. 10, 2019] Efforts to clarify several issues with looming federal livestock hauling regulations are ongoing, attendees at the recent Shakespeare Swine Seminar were told. Ontario Livestock Transporters’ Alliance Executive Director Susan Fitzgerald said that the updated regulations come into effect in February 2020. Why it matters: Significant fines or requirements to change practices […] Read more
Farmer efficiency targets also help with areas of consumer concern.
Livestock

Consumer concerns driving livestock production discussion

Working towards trouble-free animals are often areas farmers are already working to improve

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Reading Time: 4 minutes Areas of consumer concern like climate change and animal welfare are driving the livestock discussion, but farmers are already regularly improving both areas while they make their farms more efficient. That was the message from recent interviews conducted by Farmtario with a member of the leadership team behind Lactanet’s annual ranking of herd management scores […] Read more

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