Reading Time: 4 minutes Leslie Siewert, 13, of Cayley was the junior winner in the Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture competition (which was held as a virtual event this year). Her topic was: Lessons learned over the last 25 years of agriculture — and how we can apply it to the next 25. Agriculture is killing the planet; cows […] Read more
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New online training program for horse caregivers
The videos cover sections of the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada has launched an online training program in an effort to increase awareness around nationally developed guidelines for the care and handling of equines. “This new video series provides a timely refresher about management and welfare practices for the animals in our care,” said project coordinator Mikki Shatosky. “Be it […] Read more
Animal welfare activist dies outside Ontario pork plant
Protestor reportedly hit by transport truck
An animal welfare activist has died while attending what’s been described as a “vigil” outside a southern Ontario hog packing plant, as new provincial limits on such activity around livestock are set to take effect. Halton Regional Police Service reported receiving a call Friday morning that a person had been “struck by a transport truck” […] Read more
SPCA helping Alberta’s rural residents feed their animals
‘Help for Animals’ is aimed at providing food for horses, livestock and pets so owners can keep them on their property
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s SPCA has launched a campaign to help animal owners who may be running low on feed because of the pandemic. “The program is designed to help people keep their animals on their property,” said Dan Kobe, communications manager for the Alberta Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals. “We don’t expect we’ll hear from […] Read more
Three livestock care champions receive awards
Reading Time: < 1 minute Three champions of farm animal care in Alberta were recognized with Awards of Distinction at the recent Livestock Care Conference. The awards, given by Alberta Farm Animal Care, recognize individuals or groups who have made exceptional contributions in the field of livestock welfare. The recipients were Barbara Duckworth (communications), Rich Vesta (industry leadership), and Gateway […] Read more
Ontario offers cash for abattoir upgrades
Applications now being accepted through April
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
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
Animal care award nominations sought
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are open for the Alberta Farm Animal Care awards of distinction, which recognize individuals or groups who have made exceptional contributions in the field of livestock welfare. There are three award categories: communication, leadership and innovation. For more information (including past winners) and nomination forms, go to afac.ab.ca.
Grace period for livestock transport regulations
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says producers can contact it if they have questions about the federal livestock transport regulations. The new rules come into effect on Feb. 20, but the CFIA has granted a two-year transition period on the feed, water, and rest interval provisions for the livestock sector. In a statement, the food inspection […] Read more
Premier vows crackdown on protesters who trespass on farms
Occupation of turkey barn last month sparks plan for new legislation, which critics call overkill
Reading Time: 2 minutes Provincial justice officials will go after “illegal protesters” who trespass on Alberta farms, says Premier Jason Kenney. The premier and his justice and agriculture ministers travelled to the Jumbo Valley Hutterite Colony near Fort Macleod to announce tough new penalties for those conducting occupation-style protests like a recent one at the colony’s turkey farm. “Some […] Read more
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