Reading Time: 2 minutes Standards good enough meet the definition of “humane” animal transportation still vary widely between what what industry wants, what animal rights advocates want and, between the two, what federal regulators decide is good enough.
Horns aren’t unlocking anytime soon on livestock transport standards
Standards good enough meet the definition of “humane” animal transportation still vary widely between what what industry wants, what animal rights advocates want and, between the two, what federal regulators decide is good enough
Moving pigs without the stress
Thinking like a pig can help keep pigs calm and reduce the farmer’s own frustration at the loading bay and in the barn
Reading Time: 5 minutes Farmers don’t need to stress when loading pigs. Good handling techniques and awareness of how the pig sees the world can help the process run smoothly.
Livestock sector raises issue with new traceability reporting times
CFIA update will also bring goats, farmed deer and elk under traceability
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – An online consultation on livestock traceability came back with widespread support for the general premise — and concerns about tighter timelines for reporting and tag retention. Last year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency unveiled proposed changes to Canada’s national livestock traceability rules, including a shorter window in which producers are to report […] Read more
Emergency definition on hotseat in transport report
Emergency management and hours of service among concerns for House ag committee
Reading Time: 2 minutes Truck drivers can legally exceed their regulated hours if it’s an emergency, but when does animal welfare meet that description? That was among the topics tackled as the House of Commons standing committee on agriculture released its report on challenges facing the livestock transport sector. The report, “Striking a Balance: Electronic Logging Device Requirements Impacting […] Read more
Conditioning key to transport success
Reading Time: < 1 minute The results of a four-year animal transport research study, funded in part by Alberta Beef Producers, suggest the most important animal welfare factor in transport may be conditioning before they get on the truck. Researchers found that rest stops had minimal impact on animal welfare. The biggest difference was in conditioned versus non-conditioned calves. In […] Read more
Rest stops appear to contribute to BRD in calves
Length of trip and origin of cattle may also play a role in disease-causing stress
Reading Time: 3 minutes Just how big a risk is transportation for BRD in calves? It’s not an easy question to answer, because one of the biggest risk factors is stress, according to one Alberta researcher. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, a beef welfare scientist at Agriculture and Agri-food Lethbridge, was one of the lead researchers in a recently completed four-year study […] Read more
Alberta company grabs top prize at Agri-Trade’s innovation contest
The Cowgo Loading System beat four other competitors to take the $20,000 grand prize
Reading Time: < 1 minute An Alberta company loaded up the big prize at Agri-Trade Equipment Expo’s Ag Innovations competition earlier this month. Opend Range Ltd. of Daysland was awarded the $20,000 grand prize for its Cowgo Loading System, which turns any cattle liner into a ground load trailer. [RELATED] Long-haul transport rules not supported by science, says cattle sector […] Read more
Long-haul transport rules not supported by science, says cattle sector
Three studies looked for benefits of rest stops on cattle but found none
Reading Time: 4 minutes It turns out that giving cattle a rest break during long haul transport seems to make no difference to their health or welfare. That was the bottom line from a third study that explored a controversial change made by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency three years ago. “That’s where we’re at,” said Reynold Bergen, science […] Read more
New guide for transporting cull cows
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Milk has a new guide for assessing if a cull cow can be shipped. “Regardless of whose care the animal may pass through, it is ultimately the producer who is held accountable should one of their animals be deemed to have been transported inappropriately,” the organization said in its most recent monthly newsletter. One […] Read more
New rest-break rule a challenge for eastern buyers
But reviewing the rules is a good thing because cattle transport is being scrutinized, says veteran cattle buyer
Reading Time: 2 minutes New transportation regulations that cut maximum time cattle can be confined in a transport trailer could have a major impact on buyers such as Ken Schaus. The 48-hour limit is being cut to 36 hours under the new rules (although there’s a two-year transition period which started Feb. 20 when the regulations came into effect). […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
