The BC SPCA


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FarmSense

September 2011

Dear Friend,

October 2 is international ‘World Farm Animals Day’.  At the BC SPCA, October is ‘Farm Animal Month’, which is meant to be a time to celebrate the positive achievements made toward improved farm animal welfare.  This month’s issue of FarmSense highlights just a few of those accomplishments.

Sincerely,

Alyssa, Geoff and Brandy
The BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Team 

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



Feature story

Development of an advisory tool for improving dairy calf and heifer welfare

Voluntary improvements in animal welfare can be facilitated by using appropriate tools to educate producers and help them change their attitudes towards calf management and welfare.  Such tools are invaluable, as they ultimately empower producers to positively and measurably impact the welfare of their animals. 

Find out how…

This article was written by Kimberly Sheppard and was originally published in CCSAW News, the newsletter for the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare at the University of Guelph. Photos courtesy of Ruby Wong.

 

Useful links:

View the online dairy calf and heifer welfare advisory tool
(Agri-Réseau)

 

Did you know?

The BC SPCA, in partnership with many experts, has created a number of resources for farmers! All resources can be accessed from the ‘Resources for Farmers’ section on our website.



Research in focus

Surgical castration: A thing of the past?

Developmental technology for “immunocastration” of pigs may soon replace the need for surgical castration. “Immunocastration” is done by injection of a protein product that works like an immunization to interrupt testicular function.  The result for the pig is far less pain and improved welfare. 

Other potential benefits include:

•    More efficient conversion of feed to meat

•    Elimination of boar taint

•    Improved pork quality and consistency

•    A boost to producer profits

The following series of Farmscape.ca interviews discusses the potential benefits of immunocastration to the pig industry.  Read more…

 

 

Useful links:


  Farmscape.ca

 

Improvest
(Pfizer)


Boar taint & control (Pfizer)

 


Applied knowledge

Picking the good egg

The increasing use of label claims on food products has made finding out how our food was grown quite a challenge, but certification can provide the clarity we need. 

When a food product is certified, that means prescribed standards were met. In the case of SPCA Certified foods, standards are prescribed to maintain good animal welfare.

The red barn logo found on SPCA Certified packaging is permitted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, so consumers can be confident there are no false claims on SPCA Certified food products.

To learn more about what other ethical labels exist, and which are misleading, read “Picking the Good Egg!”.


 

Useful links:


  Canadian Food Inspection Agency



SPCA Certified updates
 

Please welcome Happy Chick Farm to the SPCA Certified program

Happy Chick Farm is new to the SPCA Certified program!  Owner and operator, Lee Riggs, raises turkeys, broiler (meat) chickens, and egg laying hens under the label at Happy Chick Farm, which is located on the Sunshine Coast of B.C.

Bradner Farms and Sumas Mountain Farm now raising SPCA Certified broiler chickens

Bradner Farms and Sumas Mountain Farm have begun producing broiler (meat) chickens under the SPCA Certified label.  Bradner Farms has been a member of the program since 2010 and produces SPCA Certified eggs as well.  Sumas Mountain Farm has also been a member of the program since 2010, producing SPCA Certified beef.  Both farms are located in the Fraser Valley of B.C. 

Eggers Farm now raising SPCA Certified sheep

Peter and Levke Eggers are now raising SPCA Certified sheep on their farm in La Glace, Alberta.  Eggers Farms also raises SPCA Certified beef cattle and have been members of the program since 2010.

Paws for a Cause serves SPCA Certified burgers and hot dogs at 2011 event

The annual Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause served SPCA Certified burgers and hot dogs provided by Vale Farms at this year’s Vancouver and Kelowna event locations.  The event was a huge success in numerous communities around the province.  Thanks to supporters like Vale Farms, Vancouver and Kelowna event participants had the opportunity to experience the taste of SPCA Certified meat. 


Photo caption: Alyssa Bell Stoneman (left) and Brandy Street (right) promote SPCA Certified at the 2011 Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause flagship event in Vancouver on September 11. 

The SPCA Certified farm booth held a prize draw for entrants who filled out a brief quiz on farm animals.  Congratulations to our draw winner, Veronica Stockton!  Veronica won a prize pack of SPCA Certified meat, cheese and eggs.  Test your knowledge of farm trivia.

Where to buy SPCA Certified products?

For information on where to buy SPCA Certified turkey, chicken, eggs, cheese, sheep, beef or pork products, please go to our SPCA Certified Retailers page.

 

 

SPCA Certified Logo

The SPCA Certified red barn label is your assurance that a product meets the BC SPCA’s high standards for farm animal welfare.

 

 

Connect with us

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In other news.... 

New BC SPCA youth farm video - Cluck!

Children of today know a lot about pet welfare and plenty about wildlife issues, but they have little understanding of farm animal welfare or even how farm animals are raised.  To help fill that gap the BC SPCA is bringing the farm to the kids with a new 30-minute video to accompany the classroom unit, Cluck! Life of the Egg Laying Chicken. Read more…

Farm animal Codes hit their stride and forge ahead

Sheep, turkeys and meat chickens are the latest species that will benefit from new national Codes of Practice for animal welfare being developed by the National Farm Animal Care Council.  These Codes will join five others already underway: horses, pigs, beef cattle and farmed mink and fox.  Read more…

Upcoming events

National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) Conference
Advancing Animal Care and Addressing Market Expectations
October 5-6, 2011 – Ottawa, Ontario

British Columbia Farm Animal Care Council (BCFACC) Conference
November 10, 2011 – Abbotsford, BC

Understanding the Animals in Your Life
A Special Evening with Dr. Temple Grandin, world-famous animal welfare expert
November 10, 2011 – Vancouver, BC

Note: The events listed above require registration.  Please visit the respective page links for more information on how to register or to purchase tickets.

 

Useful links:


Cluck!
The Life of an Egg Laying Chicken

 

National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) website

 

NFACC Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals


British Columbia Farm Animal Care Council website


BC SPCA Temple Grandin event information

About FarmSense

FarmSense includes news about farm animal welfare issues, research results, and information on the BC SPCA's activities that help farm animals in B.C. We welcome your comments and suggestions on FarmSense content. Please feel free to email us or call 604-681-7271 (or 1-800-665-1868 outside the Lower Mainland).

View or download (.pdf) previous issues of FarmSense on our website at spca.bc.ca/farmsense.

BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Department

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for domestic, farm and wild animals in British Columbia. The Society provides a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

BC SPCA Charitable Registration No. BN 11881 9036 RR0001

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