February Rain

For the first time in almost 10 years the province of Manitoba has had rain in February.  Mind you we are not having super warm temperatures with it, hovering around zero C, which means that lovely (or not) rain is becoming ice. Ice is coating everything from roads, side walks, pathways and drive ways to barn yards, pastures, corrals and areas where outside livestock can be found.  Are you prepared for the care that your animals may require with this type of weather?

This isn't a spring rain that dries quickly on the coat, rather it becomes wet, then chilly and then after the hair is saturated it can become ice quickly.  The footing is treacharous, especially on well travelled paths to feed troughs and waterers or troughs.  Hooves can pack up with ice, noses and ears can become sore from browsing through the ice to feed.  Legs and backs are vulnerable to falls. Bedding is soaked and often times doors and gates are frozen either shut or open.

As producers we are responsible for the care of our livestock year round - 24/7/365 - but how can we be prepared for something that doesn't happen here hardly ever?  First task is to watch the forecast. People laughed at me on Sunday for watching not only our radar but also tracking the US radar - we saw the storm coming, we saw the forecast temperatures and we had a pretty good hunch that it would be a not very cold, but cold enough system to coat everything in wet and then ice.  

The next bit of weather that is coming will have snow and wind - what do you think that will mean to animals that are already wet? To roads that are already covered in shiny ice?  For producers with doors frozen shut and openings iced over?  It could spell trouble, it could spell disaster or it could spell relief.  Relief? Yes, that our preparations were adequate and that our animals were cared for the best we were able.

When the big ice storms hit on the US East Coast the cost to dairy farms alone in the hardest hit areas were up around $30,000 to $250,000 per FARM!  That is for barned animals which require constant environmental monitoring and care. The toll on beef producers and people with other outside animals like horses, sheep and goats was very high because their animals also suffered a physical toll.  The dairy men lost money due to lost product and sick and injured animals.  The outside animals suffered from miscarriages due to falls, they also suffered from animals being put down with injuries, not being able to provide water and feed with frozen vehicles and power outages.

We are encouraged to be prepared to be without power or municipal assistance for up to 72 hours in an emergency - are our farms equally prepared?  Can you access alternate water sources?  If you cannot get to equipment because of ice what is your back up plan?  If you have a remote farm yard who will try to get through, and what will they be able to do once they arrive?  How long is your fuel going to last in the generator?  Who knows how to take care of things if you are not able to?

Do you need help or ideas? Contact me, use Google or call your extension or ag department offices.  Check out blogs or groups online, be informed, be prepared. Check the weather and highway conditions.  Check both Canadian and American radar weather maps - our latest storm started in Texas/Colorado area and on Monday night had a track that reached from SE Manitob all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.  People who say they didn't know it was coming or were caught by surprise haven't been paying attention! Radio, TV, internet and weather radios are critical tools for our farms and our families.

Be safe, be prepared and be ready to care for yourself and your animals!

Stressed out?

Well I think we all might have been for a while, with the cold weather and start of a new uncertain year. There is always stress in farming but sometimes we need a good ear to listen that is a trained professional and not someone we live with. Stress from a spouse can be more stressful than stress we create or contact on our own - this I know from personal experience. Check out the image and their website I've posted here.

There are tons of issues going around in farm country - Prop. 2, Horse Slaughter, Transportation, Activists, Agro-Security not to mention worries about spring flooding or droughts or wondering if the feed will last for the rest of the winter for some folks. We were lucky with the cold snap that everything held up but that is due to quite a bit of fair weather work by my husband who likes to be prepared whenever he can. Sometimes it seems inconvenient to prepare for winter in the middle of a beautiful summer day but during a cold winter day I'm always thankful for those days of work!

Check out the links on the blog, visit our members and think about how you can be a positive voice for farm animals, farming and farm animal welfare in your community. More soon, but I have to go out and do chores now for the animals don't know when we are working or not - they only understand "fed" or "not fed"!

Animal Care Legislation - Canada Wide

For you to check out when you have time...

Canadian Legislation Concerning Farm Animal Welfare
Canada
Health of Animals Act- Health of Animals Regulations
Protects all animals from undue suffering duringtransport and loading
CFIA inspectorsDesignated provincial authorities:- British Columbia SPCA- BC Minister of transportPolice Officers*
Meat Inspection Act - Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990
Protects food animals duringhandling and slaughter in federally registered slaughter establishments
CFIA inspectorsPolice Officers*
Criminal Code of Canada
Prohibits cruelty to animals that is willful or without lawful excuse
Police OfficersSPCACertain Quebec SPCA(Societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals)


Alberta
Animal Protection Act
Protects all animals, excluding human beings duringany activity excluding generally accepted practices of animal management, husbandry and slaughter
Police OfficersAlberta SPCA
Livestock and Livestock Products Act- Livestock Transportation Regulation
Protects horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, furbearing captive animals, game-production animals and live poultry and beesduring transport
Inspectors designated by the Ministry of AgricultureAlberta SPCAPolice Officers
Meat Inspection Act - Meat Inspection Regulation
Protects any animal, including birds for which the meat is intended for human consumption from undue suffering during slaughter
Inspectors designated by the Ministry of AgriculturePolice Officers
Livestock Industry Diversification Act - Livestock Industry Diversification (Ministerial Regulation)
Provides standards of care and slaughter for game animals and standards for velvet antler removal
Inspectors designated by the Ministry of Agriculture


British Columbia
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
Protects all animals, excluding wild animals, from distress during any activity excluding generally accepted practices of animal management
British Columbia SPCAPolice Officers
Milk Industry Act - Milk Industry Standards Regulations
Protects dairy cattle duringhandling and milking
Inspectors designated by the Ministry of Agriculture
Agricultural Produce Grading Act - Hatchery Regulation
Ensures adequate housing ofpoultry
Inspectors designated by the Ministry of Agriculture
Food Safety Act - Meat Inspection Regulations
Allow cattle, horse, sheep, swine, goat, domestic rabbit, poultry, deer, reindeer, moose, elk and bison to be humanelyslaughtered
Inspectors designated by the Ministry of Agriculture


Manitoba
Animal Care Act - Animal Care Regulation
Protect any animal, excluding humans, from suffering during all activities including transport, excluding generally accepted practices
Veterinary Services Branch of Manitoba Agriculture and FoodPolice Officers


New Brunswick
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation
Protect any animal during anyactivity including general care, during medical treatment and slaughter
SPCA Animal Protection OfficersPolice Officers
Poultry Health Protection Act - Hatchery Licensing and Supply Flock Policy Regulation
Provides protection for chicksduring housing
Inspectors designated by the Minister of Agriculture


Newfoundland and Labrador
Animal Protection Act
Protects all non-human vertebrates from distress and cruelty during any activities
Police Officers, provincial veterinary staff and Newfoundland SPCA
Meat Inspection Act - Regulations Respecting Facilities
Protects domestic animals, including birds, that are intended for human consumption during holding, transfer and slaughter
Ministry responsible for Agriculture


Nova Scotia
Animal Cruelty Prevention Act
Protect non-human vertebrates during any activity excluding generally accepted practices of animal management husbandry or slaughter
Police OfficersNova Scotia SPCA
Meat Inspection Act - Regulations Respecting Slaughter
Protects any domestic animal for which it's meat is intended for human consumption duringslaughter
Inspectors designated by the Ministry of Agriculture


Northwest Territories
Herd and Fencing Act
Protect horses, cattle, sheep, swine and goatsduring housing (fencing) and from cruelty in general
Officers appointed by the Commissioner


Nunavut
Herd and Fencing Act
Protect horses, cattle, sheep, swine and goats during housing (fencing) and from cruelty in general
Officers appointed by the Commissioner


Ontario
Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
Protects animals, including domestic fowl, from distress during any activity
Ontario SPCAPolice Officers
Livestock Community Sales Act
Protects cattle, goats, horses, sheep and swinehealth safety during sale
Inspectors as appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture
Livestock and Livestock Products Act- Transporting Non-Ambulatory Animal Regulations
Protects downed livestockduring transportation and handling
Inspectors as appointed by the Ministry of AgricultureOntario SPCA
Food Safety and Quality Act - Meat Inspection Regulations
Protect domestic animals, including poultry, that are destined for human consumption duringslaughter
Inspectors as appointed by the Ministry of AgricultureOntario SPCA
Dead Animal Disposal Act
Protects "fallen" animalsfrom inhumane slaughter and prohibits their movement
Inspectors as appointed by the Ministry of AgricultureOntario SPCA


Prince Edward Island
Animal Health and Protection Act- Animal Protection Regulations- Part IV: Animal Protection Section
Protects all animals from distress during any activity
Inspectors appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture
Dairy Industry Act- Dairy Industry Regulations
Protects dairy cattle duringcare and handling
Inspectors appointed by the Minister of Agriculture


Quebec
Animal Health Protection Act (not in force for farm animals)
Protects all animals designated by the Regulation, other than those covered by the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife, during any activity except generally accepted agricultural practices
Inspectors and veterinarians appointed by the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)
Food Products Act - Regulation respecting food
Provides standards relating to the transport, holding and slaughter of animals as well as facility sanitation
Inspectors and veterinarians appointed by the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)
Animal Health Protection Act - Regulation respecting the sale of livestock by auction
Protects farm animals subject to auction
Inspectors and veterinarians appointed by the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)
Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife- Regulation respecting animals in captivity
Protects all animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians) kept in captivity that reproduce in the wild in Quebec or elsewhere
Wildlife protection officers of the Quebec Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife (MRNF)


Saskatchewan
Animal Protection Act
Protects all animals including birds, fish and reptiles duringany activity excluding generally accepted agricultural practices
Police OfficersSaskatchewan SPCA
Animal Products Act - Livestock Dealer Regulations
Protects cattle, horses, bison, sheep, goat and swine in housing and holding
Minister of Agriculture and appointed inspectors
Animal Products Act - Livestock Inspection and Transportation Regulations
Protects livestock duringtransfer ans transportation
Minister of Agriculture and appointed inspectors
Animal Products Act -Saskatchewan Poultry Regulations
Protects poultry duringhandling and transportation
Minister of Agriculture and appointed inspectors


Yukon
Animal Protection Act
Protects all animals from distress and cruelty during any activity
SPCA Police Officers

Blogger Nation...in Farm Country!

It's a Blogger nation...
There are some great ways to share and reach people, and blogging is something that is quite new for some of us. We know it's a great tool and when someone new joins the ranks of bloggers in farm and ranch country its a great thing.

Check out this one: http://www.cattlecountry.blogspot.com/

More to come from the Farm Animal Care/Farm Animal Councils from across Canada!
Share your links by getting in touch with me, and think about this when you start looking forward to Christmas - it all began in a stable, with farm animals in reverent attendance! Look for our Christmas card, digitally of course, very soon right here!

Welcome to our farm yard!

Welcome to our virtual farm yard, this is your opportunity to interact with our members, producers and people who work with and care for farm animals.  Check out the links, post some stories and make some friends here.

We have some great resources, many of them free, and they also include contacts with some awesome people and organizations.  I'll be posting some of my older pieces from Siemens Says, and also inviting some special guests to join us.

Come hang out...in the farm yard...