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December 2015 |
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Dear friend, FarmSense is the BC SPCA’s quarterly e-newsletter about farm animal welfare. In this issue, learn the facts about pet pig ownership, on-farm biosecurity and optimal feeding management practices for small farm owners, and how you can get a copy of the recently revised Canadian Organic Standards. Remember to keep farm animal welfare on top of your grocery list this holiday season! Thank you for your ongoing support of the BC SPCA’s farm animal welfare initiatives. Sincerely, The BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Team |
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Across Europe and North America, “micro-pigs”, “mini-pigs” and “teacup pigs” have experienced a surge in popularity over the past few years. Pigs are intelligent, curious and affectionate animals, but be careful not to mistake them for easy-to-care-for house pets. It’s a huge responsibility, so it’s important to get the facts on pet pig ownership before forking out the funds to adopt. |
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“Nothing is more satisfying than being greeted by healthy, happy animals when heading out to the barn to feed.” With winter upon us, the importance of good feeding practices for your animals is as important as ever. Guest writer Dr. Ann Britton, a veterinary pathologist for the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, shares feed management and monitoring strategies for small farm operators. |
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Illness and disease can affect any farm, large or
small, and can persist through many animal cycles, which is why prevention can
be even more important than treatment. Preventative measures, such as cleaning
and disinfection, are essential components of successful on-farm biosecurity
plans. |
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Harley Farms to add poultry production to their SPCA certification A year ago we welcomed Harley Farms to the SPCA Certified program. Today, they are diligently finishing the construction of their new poultry facilities, built to SPCA Certified standards with the help of world-renowned poultry behaviour expert, Dr. Ian Duncan. Located in Keene, Ontario, Roger, Julie, James and Emily Harley pasture-raise heritage breed pigs, sheep and beef cattle. Look for their SPCA Certified poultry products, coming soon! |
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Tired of the same holiday dishes year after year? Why not try some of our wonderful SPCA Certified holiday-inspired recipes? Christmas tree salad, gingerbread cookies and holiday eggnog are perfect for potlucks, a sweet treat, or for family feasts. Check out our festive appetizers, entrees and desserts and find out where to buy your ingredients. Enjoy! |
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SPCA Certified: A year in review Throughout 2015, approximately 310,000 animals were certified in the SPCA Certified program in B.C., Alberta and Ontario. Over 90 percent of these animals are chickens, and over 10 million SPCA Certified eggs were sold this year. Almost two-thirds of SPCA Certified farms were also certified organic. View our 2015 year in review for more information. |
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The revised 2015 Canadian Organic Standards are now available to farmers and the public. Certified operators have a full year to come into compliance with the revised standards, which will guide the production and preparation of organic food in Canada until 2020. See how organic standards compare to SPCA Certified standards and the Codes of Practice. |
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Food for thought 6 Oddball Facts About Turkeys We Bet You Didn’t Know (Modern Farmer, November 23, 2015) A rancher’s guide: Coexistence among livestock, people and wolves (Parr and Coleshill, 2013) Pastured poultry farm to explore solutions for small chicken farms (Canadian Poultry, November 19, 2015) TPP compensation not a done deal (Canadian Poultry, November 18, 2015) Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Opening markets for agricultural and agri-food products (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, Government of Canada) Farm confessional: I slaughtered an animal I truly loved (Modern Farmer, November 13, 2015) Lidocaine shown viable option for minimising pain at castration (FarmScape, November 13, 2015) A Professional Model for animal agriculture to secure animal welfare and build public trust (Dr. David Fraser (YouTube presentation), November 9, 2015, published by NFACC) A humane approach to farm-animal antibiotics (Cattle Network, November 4, 2015) An inspired Canadian system (Canadian Poultry, November 2015) Organic livestock practices and animal welfare standards (British Columbia Organic Grower, Summer 2015, pg. 16-18)
Upcoming events and conferences Note: Event and conference listings are posted for information purposes only and are not intended to imply endorsement by the BC SPCA. Southwest Agricultural Conference (Ridgetown, ON, January 5-6, 2016) Banff Pork Seminar (Banff, AB, January 12-14, 2016) Manitoba Ag Days (Brandon, MB, January 19-21, 2016) Pacific Agriculture Show and Dairy Expo (Abbotsford, B.C., January 28-30, 2016) – look for our SPCA Certified booth! AFAC Livestock Care Conference (Olds, AB, March 22-23, 2016) – BC SPCA panel presentation National Animal Welfare Conference (Toronto, ON, April 16-19, 2016) – BC SPCA presentations & booth |
So you want a
pet pig? 
Feed management for small
farmers: Tips from Dr. Ann Britton, Ministry of Agriculture
On-farm biosecurity: Not just for large-scale
farmers
Become an ethical gourmet this holiday season
Revised
Canadian Organic Standards now available online