The long-awaited Goat Code of Practice update is poised for distribution after the pandemic affected its original delivery timeline. “We had vets, producers, people from all different backgrounds spend four years trying to establish what the minimum standard should look like for our industry,” said Amy Vingerhoeds, Canadian National Goat Federation industry liaison. She and […] Read more
Tag Archives animal welfare — page 4
Updated Goat Code of Practice reflects latest in scientific understanding
Focus placed on housing, kid care and welfare and ensuring workers understand requirements
Livestock euthanasia course offers producers hands-on training
Ontario veterinarian developed course to prepare farmers and staff on how to use a captive bolt gun correctly
Euthanasia is one of those topics no one likes to talk about, but it’s a harsh reality on the farm. “Most importantly, it’s an animal welfare issue,” said Dr. Sue Burlatschenko, swine veterinarian with Goshen Ridge Veterinary Services. She’s identified a significant knowledge and training gap in the industry when it came to properly euthanizing […] Read more
Targeting improvements in calf health, welfare, antibiotic use
University of Guelph research shows Canadian dairy producers doing well but there is room for improvement
Calves can represent the future of the herd or provide an additional income stream for dairy farms, so it’s important that health challenges are kept to a minimum. Based on recent research at the University of Guelph, dairy farmers in Canada can take pride in the way they manage, house and care for replacement and […] Read more
Modernizing the Veterinarians Act
For the first time in 30 years, the province plans to update the Veterinarians Act, which Dr. Glen Yates hopes will recognize telemedicine as a necessary tool. Yates recently founded VETSon, an app to connect underserviced farms to veterinary care. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Nov. 21 that it was […] Read more
U.S. meat labelling rules need reforms, say consumer advocates
Hormel meat labelling case contests the use of the word ‘natural’
Reuters – Hormel Foods’ labeling of a meat product line as “natural” despite using the same hogs and production methods as its other brands shows the U.S. meat labelling system needs reforms, said consumer advocates in documents released Nov. 14 from a lawsuit the company is close to settling. The false advertising suit, brought in […] Read more
Editorial: Animal welfare legal tactics
The biggest pork market in the U.S. could no longer be accessible to Canadian pork producers if a ballot initiative, known as Proposition 12, becomes law. Proposition 12 was part of the state of California’s general election ballot in 2018. Also known as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, it aims to establish new […] Read more
Cow mattress has cooling potential
Single-chamber waterbed uses conductive energy to keep cows cooler
Holstein heifers at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) had the comfort of new waterbeds which, according to manufacturer Bioret, allow the animals’ body heat to dissipate more effectively than other bedding or surfaces in the industry. Why it matters: With Ontario’s hot summers, heat stress in dairy cattle has the potential to impact milk yield […] Read more
Opinion: Farmers and the ‘prove it’ generation
Be real about modern agriculture because there’s much to be proud of
Glacier FarmMedia – What is a farmer’s relationship with environmental and animal welfare certification programs? Would it be right to say that it’s complicated? On one hand, farmers feel targeted by those in the activist community who reject the realities of modern agriculture. No genetically modified anything. No fertilizer. No pesticides. Small holdings with a […] Read more
Pain can be reduced during calf disbudding
Combining local anesthesia and NSAID analgesics helps reduce pain
To combat the pain associated with horn bud removal, University of Guelph researchers are examining methods that will make calves more comfortable. University of Guelph Professor Charlotte Winder and PhD candidate Cassandra Reedman, from the Department of Population Medicine, have found that administering local anesthesia with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) pain relievers is the most […] Read more
Swiss reject initiative to ban factory farming
Voters back narrowly back rise in women's retirement age to 65
Geneva | Reuters — Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal to ban factory farming in a referendum on whether the wealthy country’s strict animal welfare laws need to be tightened yet further. The government’s VoteInfo App showed a provisional result of 62.86 per cent of votes against the proposal, put to a referendum under […] Read more
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