Reading Time: 3 minutes Animal welfare shouldn’t take a back seat to productivity, says an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist. “Health and welfare traits should take precedence over production traits,” said Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein at the recent Livestock Genomics in Alberta conference. “Successful livestock production will only be accomplished through welfare-conscious management.” But that hasn’t been the case in […] Read more
Expert says productivity has trumped welfare in breeding programs
New breeding techniques could improve welfare-related traits in animals, creating a win-win for livestock industry
Grass-fed farms get stamp of approval
Animal Welfare Approved label a boost for sales
Reading Time: < 1 minute Two grass-fed Alberta livestock operations have recently been given a stamp of approval by an influential U.S. organization called Animal Welfare Approved. Don and Marie Ruzicka raise Angus, Galloway and Red Poll cattle on 600 acres of pasture at Ruzicka Sunrise Farm near Killam, while John and Kelsey Beasley raise North Country Cheviot sheep at […] Read more
Dutch farmer finds animal health and welfare go hand in hand
Gerbert Oosterlaken wants animal welfare advocates on his side instead of the opposition
Reading Time: 5 minutes When Gerbert Oosterlaken began designing a new 600-sow barn on his livestock and crop farm in this densely populated district, he wasn’t interested in state-of-the-art production systems. He looked 20 years into the future — one he believes will be driven as much by how well he can get along with his non-farming neighbours as […] Read more
Dead cattle found near Killam, SPCA investigation underway
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reminds cattle owners to provide supplemental feed and water
Reading Time: 2 minutes Dave Prichard says its the worst thing he’s seen in a lifetime of farming — 17 dead cattle on his summer pasture. “It was not a very nice scene,” said Prichard, who has his own polled Herefords and registered red Angus on his ranch near Killam, about 70 kilometres southeast of Camrose. The cattle belonged […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
