April 2010

Dear Friend,

Over the years, we’ve learned a little bit about our FarmSense readers through the questions and feedback they’ve sent us, but you may not know much about us! So we’ve written a brief biography on the BC SPCA’s farm team. The biography appears at the bottom of this issue and is written by Craig Naherniak, general manager of humane education for the BC SPCA (and the person who attempts to manage the assembly of characters found in our department). We hope you enjoy ‘meeting us.’

Sincerely,

Alyssa, Geoff and Caroline
BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Team 

PS. We'd like to get to know more of you. Please forward this email to friends and others in the farm animal industry.

Feature Story

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

Other useful resources related to beef cattle welfare

  
Low-Stress animal handling:

FarmSense 
(November 2008)

BC SPCA Resources on Farm Animal Transport

 Farm Animal Transport Info Sheet

 
BC SPCA roundtable report on farm animal transport

BC SPCA-OSPCA-CFHS
Joint Report to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

 
CFIA Applauds New
CLT Program:

FarmSense
(August 2007)

 Connect with Us

Part 2: What happens when experts talk science in a pub?

In the last edition of FarmSense (February 2010), we profiled the first half of ‘Science in the Pub’ – an informal farm welfare session on hen housing and management intended to generate lively discussion between industry representatives, academics and students.

If Part 1 had you thinking of hen behaviour, Part 2 will no doubt have you thinking about your behaviour as it takes a more focused look at the consumer aspects of farm animal welfare.

Did you miss the last edition of FarmSense? Read the complete article.

Research in Focus

The weaning two-step
by Joseph M. Stookey and Derek B. Haley

This article first appeared in BEEF magazine (BEEFmagazine.com) in 2001 and is reprinted with permission.

Typically, weaning involves breaking up a cow/calf pair and moving each to a separate location. Both the cows and calves show dramatic behavior changes at this time. The best method of weaning calves may be the two-step. (create new link to attached pdf)

For more information on the two-step weaning method email authors Stookey or Haley.

Applied Knowledge

Certified Livestock Transport program travels west
by Donna Gilmore

The Certified Livestock Transport (CLT) training program is now offered in B.C. The program was developed to ensure that people involved in animal transport have a measurable degree of professionalism and knowledge. “The voluntary nature of the CLT program shows that B.C.’s farmers are committed to farm animal care right to the animal’s final destination and beyond,” says Geraldine Auston, general manager of the B.C. Farm Animal Care Council (BCFACC). “BCFACC is building on the success of the first CLT course by offering two more courses – one for poultry and another for livestock. CLT is just one example of how BCFACC, Canada’s newest farm animal council, is working with farmers and ranchers across the province on farm animal care.”

Donna Gilmore, of Painted River Farm completed the course in February 2010 and offers her perspective on the program as a beef and goat producer who transports her own animals.

See sidebar for more information on farm animal transport.

SPCA Certified News

SPCA Certified chicken now available at Armando’s Finest Quality Meats!

Armando’s Finest Quality Meats at the Market on Granville Island (Vancouver, B.C.) is the first retailer to offer not just one but two types of SPCA Certified chicken. Look for chicken from both Rockweld Farms (SPCA Certified since 2002) and Polderside Farms (SPCA Certified since early 2009).

SPCA Certified meats, cheese and eggs are available across B.C. and Alberta. Find yours today!

Special Feature

Meet the BC SPCA’s farm team
by Craig Naherniak

Given the complex nature of farm animal welfare, two things seemed obvious as we began to plan our farm department: we needed to take an evidence-based approach and we needed people with strong knowledge of agriculture. I’m very pleased to say that all farm staff at the BC SPCA have on-farm experience and all hold degrees in agriculture.

Alyssa Bell Stoneman joined us in 2000. She has been involved in SPCA Certified since its inception and currently oversees that program. Alyssa’s long time interest in animals and the environment has also made her an asset to the organic sector and she has long advised on their standards.

In 2004, Geoff Urton was hired as he was completing an MSc. in dairy cattle welfare from UBC’s Animal Welfare Program. Geoff has taken a lead role in many of the Society’s policy initiatives. He represented the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies on the committee revising Canada’s Code of Practice for Dairy Cattle and has recently assumed this role on the National Farm Animal Care Council.

Caroline Ramsay joined in 2007 and is a key contributor to all aspects of SPCA Certified. With her restaurant background, she is passionate about educating chefs about farm animal welfare and was involved in the Society’s foie gras project. In addition to her degree in agriculture, she will soon begin articling as a Professional Agrologist.

As for myself, I grew up on a small farm and worked for years on various farm operations caring for chickens, pigs, sheep, ducks and cattle. I apprenticed as a hog farmer, eventually overseeing a small farrow to finish hog farm with 320 head. I went on to complete a Masters in environmental studies focusing on education and have worked with the SPCA for eighteen years.

Thankfully for the department, their interests and skills are different enough to bring a balance of scientific knowledge and practical experience – something this area of work demands.