March 2015

Dear friend,

Farmsense is the BC SPCA’s quarterly e-newsletter about farm animal welfare. In this issue, we have some exciting announcements to make and a few suggestions for how you can get on board and help improve farm animal welfare.

Sincerely,

The BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Team

Government funding will help build BC SPCA farm animal care facilities

On February 17, the B.C. government announced that it would provide $5 million in capital funding toward the BC SPCA's Facilities Development and Services Plan. This funding will assist in the construction of large animal facilities in Surrey and Kelowna, which will house the numerous abused and neglected horses and farm animals the BC SPCA cares for every year.

Learn more...

Make 2015 your kindest year

In celebration of the BC SPCA's 120^th anniversary, the Society launched Million Acts of Kindness, a campaign that encourages British Columbians to fight cruelty with kindness by performing one million acts of kindness to animals throughout 2015. 

A new act of kindness is featured every week with many aimed at improving the lives of farm animals. Join the campaign and catch up on the first month's acts by signing our farm animal transport action letter to Federal Government and pledging to purchase SPCA Certified cage-free eggs.

Register now!

Veal calves, bison and rabbits to benefit from new national Codes of Practice

Development of new Canadian Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Veal Calves, Bison and Rabbits got underway this month with representatives of the BC SPCA and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies at the table working towards higher animal welfare standards for these animals.

After tremendous success on previous Codes with achievements like the phase-out of confining stalls for pregnant pigs, and new requirements for the use of pain control for beef cattle, dairy cattle, pigs and sheep, good things are surely in store for the new Codes as well. 

In the meantime, work continues on the Codes for Egg-Laying Hens and for Broiler (meat) Chickens and Turkeys. Stay tuned for your chance to make your voice heard when these Codes are released for public comment!

Food for thought

The case for eating older animals (Modern Farmer, January 20, 2015)

Controlling relative humidity key to balancing air quality and energy costs (Farmscape, February 12, 2015)

A frosty start to 2015 raises energy requirements for cattle (Canadian Cattlemen, February 17, 2015)

Island cattle producers seek B.C. niche (The Western Producer, February 26, 2015)

Alberta Farm Animal Care “Livestock Care Conference”, March 26-27, 2015 in Calgary, AB

Canadian Federation of Humane Societies “National Animal Welfare Conference”, May 2-5, 2015 in Richmond, BC

Cross-Border Livestock Health Conference, July 14-16, 2015 in Big Sky, Montana

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Convention, July 16-19 in Calgary, AB