Reading Time: 4 minutes Many questioned whether it would work, but Maple Leaf Foods says open housing is a superior way to raise sows — and will have that system in all of its barns years before it becomes mandatory. “This is part of our vision to be the most sustainable protein company on Earth — part of that […] Read more
Loose housing is a winning approach, says Canadian pork giant
Open sow housing is better for pigs, people, and profits, says Maple Leaf Foods executive
Chicken welfare program enhanced
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicken farmers across Canada are rolling out the latest changes to the Raised by a Canadian Farmer Animal Care Program. The program will enhance environmental care and bird monitoring and handling as well as health-care practices, and emergency management and preparedness. “Our Animal Care Program is a clear demonstration of farmers’ commitment to animal care,” […] Read more
Give your view on livestock welfare
Survey, focus group participation open until Oct. 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute The second phase of the Livestock Welfare Engagement Project is getting underway. There has been strong participation in an online survey, said Alberta Farm Animal Care, which is facilitating the initiative requested by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The province wants a better understanding of the “animal welfare landscape.” The second phase will involve five focus […] Read more
Swiss government urges voters to reject more state help for farmers
Zurich | Reuters — The Swiss government urged voters on Tuesday to reject more help for farmers and other proposals for agriculture in a referendum next month, saying they would send food prices rocketing and hurt the economy. Switzerland will two hold referendums on Sept. 23 — one on giving more state support to farmers […] Read more
How is Alberta doing in terms of animal welfare?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Farm Animal Care is seeking input from livestock producers, their farm organizations, and others in the sector to assess the state of animal welfare in the province. “Livestock welfare is important to all industry stakeholders, as well as the bodies that regulate the sector, and practices continue to change and evolve,” said Annemarie Pedersen, […] Read more
Resources for pain management in beef cattle
Reading Time: < 1 minute As of Jan. 1, producers must use pain control when castrating bulls older than six months. The change followed a move in Jan. 1, 2016 requiring pain control when dehorning calves that have horn buds attached (that is, ones older than two to three months). The Beef Cattle Research Council has information on mitigating pain […] Read more
Cora Scheele elected new AFAC chair
Reading Time: < 1 minute Cora Scheele of Linden is the new chair of the Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) board of directors. “Alberta Farm Animal Care plays an important role in the province, representing all livestock sectors by communicating the industry’s best practices to producers and sharing our story with the public,” said Scheele, a hatching egg producer. James […] Read more
Breakfast on the Dairy Farm an award-winning idea
Over 3,400 people have attended the annual summer event
Reading Time: < 1 minute A group of Olds-area dairy farmers who developed an innovative consumer outreach program are this year’s winner of Award of Distinction for Communication from Alberta Farm Animal Care. “Six years ago the East Olds Dairy Farmers group, which is made up of several dairy farm families, developed the idea to host a breakfast for their […] Read more
Audits and blogs: How to drive change and win over consumers
Temple Grandin has long been an agent of change and says individual farmers can be, too
Reading Time: 4 minutes Livestock producers, you are doing good things — at least Temple Grandin thinks so. “I have been in this industry for 45 years, and there has been a lot of improvement,” she said at Alberta Farm Animal Care’s Livestock Care Conference last month. But the problem is that so few people — including, sometimes, producers […] Read more
These are the five freedoms I believe every child deserves
As we nurture our children, we need to think about creating an environment in which they can thrive
Reading Time: 3 minutes I have been immersed in imagery lately while going to presentations on the animals and the people of this world. There have been beautiful photos of hope and human engagement as well as tragic visuals of war, rape, hunger, abandonment, and homelessness. I have enjoyed striking images of wild animals, endangered creatures, and lost habitat. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
