RED DEER – Alberta Farm Animal Care has recognized Lakeland College in Vermilion and Red Deer County for their contributions to improving animal welfare.
The industry leadership award was presented to Lakeland College for incorporating humane animal care practices as a core part of its agricultural sciences curriculum.
The college includes practical, hands-on, low stress livestock handling techniques into its agricultural sciences curriculum. It introduced its first animal handling course in 1996. Welfare and ethics were added later.
Red Deer County’s Agricultural Services Board received the innovation award for developing procedures and resources for animal care and handling into its emergency preparedness plans.
The county has provided emergency response workers with livestock transportation training and developed a 10 point emergency response plan for livestock.
It also built Alberta’s first livestock emergency response trailer, which was purchased and outfitted through community fundraising and sponsorship.
The trailer includes tools and materials to assist emergency response workers in managing crisis situations involving livestock, particularly on Alberta’s highways.
An estimated six million head of livestock travel through the county every year.
