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 and more.
In this issue of FarmSense we are also reviewing some of the hot topics and accomplishments we covered this year to date – from phasing out restrictive laying hen battery cages, veal crates and pregnant sow gestation stalls, to humane farming advancements made through revisions to the Canadian Codes of Practice.
Sincerely,
Brandy, Alyssa and Geoff 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.
A year in review
Confinement
housing to become a thing of the past
Over the past year we have
researched and presented the progress on phasing out restrictive housing for
farm animals, such as battery cages for egg-laying chickens, sow stalls
(gestation crates) for pregnant pigs and veal crates for veal calves.
Many
countries across the world have begun phase-outs or implemented bans on such
housing. In Canada, these forms of housing are under close scrutiny and are
being considered for phase-out as individual farm animal industries move
forward on revising their respective national Codes of Practice.
Farm animal Codes of
Practice hit their stride and forge ahead
Since publication of
the revised Dairy Code of Practice in 2009, the National Farm Animal Care
Council (NFACC), which is the Canadian body overseeing the revision process for
all farm animal Codes, has undertaken revision of eight other Codes of
Practice. The BC SPCA is representing the Canadian humane movement at the Code
table, and is helping bring farm animal welfare concerns about current industry
practices to light to encourage change.
Don’t miss your opportunity
to speak for the animals by providing your feedback into the new draft Codes of
Practice for farmed Fox.
Picking
the good egg
The increasing use of label
claims on food products has made finding out how our food is grown quite a
challenge. Certification can provide the clarity we need.
When a food product
is certified, that means it met prescribed standards and was certified to those
standards. In the case of SPCA Certified foods, standards are set to maintain high
animal welfare.
The red barn logo found on SPCA Certified packaging is approved
for use by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, so consumers can be confident
there are no false claims on SPCA Certified food products… but many labels out
there are misleading.
Often
underrated. Never duplicated. The BC SPCA prides itself on taking an
evidence-based approach to improving animal welfare.
The BC SPCA farm
department staff are the only SPCA staff in Canada whose primary focus is on
improving the welfare of farm animals.
A well-rounded background comprised of a
scientific education and on-farm work experiences enables the team to be the
most effective and credible voice for farm animals.
Alberta-based Nature’s
Way Farm, which has raised SPCA Certified beef cattle since 2008,
recently certified sheep and pigs. To learn more about where you can buy meats
from Nature’s Way, please visit their farm
page.
SPCA
Certified burgers, sausages and smokies served at 2012 Paws for a Cause events
The annual BC SPCA
walk-a-thon, Paws for a Cause, served SPCA Certified beef smokies from Vale Farms and SPCA
Certified chicken sausages donated by Rockweld
Farm at this year’s Vancouver and Surrey event locations.
SPCA
Certified beef burgers and smokies from Vale Farms were served at the Kelowna
event. Find out where you can buy SPCA Certified foods on our Retailers
page.
SPCA Certified and
farmers’ markets: Last chance for 2012!
Throughout the summer and 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!
Check out the events calendar
this winter for Winter Markets in your area.
Edible
Vancouver – Eat. Drink. Read. Think.
Edible Vancouver, an
interesting and unique foodie magazine, has been a long-time supporter of SPCA
Certified farms and foods. The magazine offers tantalizing recipes, stories
from farmers and hobbyists, introduces new and little known retailers, and
more. Get your copy online.
The SPCA Certified red barn label is your assurance that a product meets the BC SPCA’s high standardsfor farm animal welfare.
Connect with us:
In other news...
Canadian
Livestock Transport Certification Program update
Developed by the
Alberta Farm Animal Care Association and first introduced in 2007, the Canadian
Livestock Transport (CLT) Certification Program (formerly the Certified
Livestock Transport Training Program) is an industry-led initiative originally
intended for use by Alberta’s livestock haulers.
The CLT program now provides
farm animal handling and transport training to truckers, shippers and receivers
Canada-wide. The CLT program is recognized in the U.S. as well. A revised
version of the program is expected to be ready for classroom delivery by the
end of the year. Fully bilingual on-line training will be available by summer
2013.
National
Biosecurity Training Program for pork producers
An important factor
in good animal welfare is good animal health, aided by proper on-farm
biosecurity protocols and herd/flock health management practices. Launched in
May 2011, the National Biosecurity Training Program is based on the Canadian
Swine Health Board's (CSHB) National Biosecurity Standard and was developed to
familiarize Canada's pork producers with the principles that will help protect
their operations from the introduction of disease.The program is coordinated
nationally through the CSHB but delivered by provincial pork organizations. It
is open to registered pork producers whose premises were certified under the
Canadian Quality Assurance (CQA) Program.
Reduce the risk of
Fire on your Farm
A
fire is a tragic ordeal and can happen on any farm at any time. A free
publication released by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs is available to help farmers reduce the risk of fire on their farm. Order
your free publication now.
Dairy Systems Seminars Day 1: Management
Success with Robotic Milking Day 2-3: Dairy
Facility Design for Improved Cow Comfort, Care, Health and Longevity November 13-15,
2012 Abbotsford, B.C.
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.
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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Over the past year we have
researched and presented the progress on phasing out restrictive housing for
farm animals, such as battery cages for egg-laying chickens, sow stalls
(gestation crates) for pregnant pigs and veal crates for veal calves. 
The increasing use of label
claims on food products has made finding out how our food is grown quite a
challenge. Certification can provide the clarity we need. 
Often
underrated. Never duplicated. The BC SPCA prides itself on taking an
evidence-based approach to improving animal welfare. 
Throughout the summer and 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!
