October 2013

Dear friend,

The BC SPCA has designated October to raising awareness about farm animals, beginning with World Farm Animals Day on October 2. Celebrated on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, World Farm Animals Day is observed in dozens of countries all over the world.

This month, endeavour to make a difference in the lives of farm animals. For example, educate yourself on how farm animals are raised. Pledge to purchase animal welfare certified foods. Discover ethical recipes. Tweet or share information with friends and family about welfare-friendly farming on Twitter and Facebook.

Learn more about how you can help farm animals this month and every month.

Sincerely,

The BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Team

P.S. You can help spread awareness about the BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare department and our many programs. Forward this email to friends and colleagues.

A comparison between new and existing farm animal care standards for egg-laying chickens in Canada and B.C. 

The B.C. Egg Marketing Board recently developed a farm certification program mandatory for all B.C. free-run and free-range egg producers. Once certified, these egg farms can place a logo on their egg cartons indicating the eggs are “specialty certified”.

But what does this actually mean for the welfare of the birds, if anything? And how do these new standards compare to SPCA Certified standards, Canada’s Recommended Codes of Practice, and certified organic egg standards?

Find out here…

Better Care for Beef Cattle and Horses

New national Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines and Beef Cattle were released this summer, achieving new standards for the welfare of for millions of horses and cattle throughout British Columbia and across Canada.

BC SPCA representatives sat at the table on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies to achieve these new high standards. Explore our advocacy success pages for highlights of the new Codes for horses and beef cattle.

Do you know the code?

B.C. horse owners are invited to join Dr. Bettina Bobsien, equine veterinary specialist, for a free talk about the new requirements for horse care in Canada.

Events will take place in Fort St. John, Kamloops, Nanaimo and Chilliwack. Topics include nutrition, health, housing, humane training breeding and other aspects of the new Equine Code of Practice.

Register today!

Efficient and Novel Method for Sorting Cow-Calf Pairs

“Sorting cows from calves doesn’t have to be a difficult process”, says Dr. Joseph Stookey, Professor of Animal Behaviour at the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Stookey explains an efficient and novel way to sort cow and calf pairs using a two-stage weaning process in a brief 1.5 minute video. To watch, visit our Resources for Farmers page and scroll to the section on Beef Cattle.

Photo Challenge: Profile your farm!

During October’s farm animal month we are asking farmers to take photos or short one-minute videos of you and your animals.

We are looking for images of you in action feeding, herding, inspecting, etc. Camera shy? You can also just photograph your animals doing what they do – enjoying their Five Freedoms!

Visit our Resources for Farmers page for details! 

SPCA Certified welcomes Lasser Ranches to the program!

Charlie Lasser is the owner/operator of Lasser Ranches, an innovative 500-head organic cattle ranch in Chetwynd, B.C.

The Lasser family began farming in Switzerland and came to Canada in the early 1900’s. They have been successful ranchers ever since. We welcome Lasser Ranches to the SPCA Certified program!

Where to buy…

Build your new barn to SPCA Certified standards

Interested in becoming SPCA Certified and looking to build or renovate your barn? We can help! The SPCA Certified program now has barn construction guides for all animal types we certify.

Each guide outlines the input requirements (e.g. feeders, space allowances, and more!) that you need to know to build your barn to our program standards.

Contact us to request your free guide.
 

Last chance for summer farmers’ markets!

Throughout the summer and early fall, farmers’ markets feature SPCA Certified chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb, cheeses and cage-free eggs.It’s the perfect time to meet the farmers, ask questions and purchase ethical products all in one go!

The BC SPCA’s events calendar includes all the information you will need to find a farmers’ market near you. Hurry, because the summer markets close mid-October!

The difference between “animal rights” and “animal welfare”

Do you know the difference between animal rights and animal welfare? Many people confuse these two terms but they are actually very different.

Animal rights proponents believe humans and animals share equal rights and that animals should not, in any way, be viewed as property. This extends to animals held captive to be used for food, clothing, research, recreation, entertainment (circuses, zoos, on film) or even kept as pets.

Animal welfare advocates believe animals can be used as a resource for humans (e.g. food, recreation, pets, etc.) provided care is given to their physical and psychological well-being. Animal welfare also considers how human activities affect wild species. Good animal welfare typically follows the Five Freedoms. All Canadian SPCA’s, including the BC SPCA, are animal welfare organizations.

View BC SPCA position statements on practices that involve the use of animals.

What the cluck?

People often think of pigs as dirty animals, but when given ample space to move around, pigs will designate separate areas for sleeping, eating and dunging – they are barn interior designers! It’s only when they are crowded together that pigs end up sleeping, eating and dunging in the same area, causing them to get pretty dirty.