A livestock trucking certification program is being offered through the Alberta Farm Animal Care group.
There has been an industry-wide request for increased training on humane handling of livestock from producers, trucking firms and processors.
“Most truckers are good at what they do,” said Tim O’Byrne, a livestock welfare consultant who helped develop the course.
The course is three to five hours and offers training in animal behaviour, Canadian and American regulations and dealing with accidents.
Participants receive a take home package of humane handling booklets for each species, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency pocket reference on the Health of Animals Act, a manual of procedures and a toll free number for additional help.
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Course developers are also working with the United States Department of Agriculture on a horse transportation program.
As an additional bonus for hog haulers, the course incorporates the U.S. National Pork Board’s trucker quality assurance program complete with approved Canadian-specific content. The National Pork Board will recognize successful hog-component participants with full certification for those hauling to American facilities.
So far, the poultry and hog modules are completed while beef, sheep, horse and diversified livestock courses are in the works.
