The Alberta SPCA seized three herds of hungry cattle in the first week of February.
Neighbours and the RCMP alerted the SPCA to cases from New Dayton to Falun, Alta.
On the New Dayton farm in southern Alberta, dead animals of all ages were found and 12 animals were killed on site. The rest were taken away for care and feeding, said SPCA constable Morris Airey.
The SPCA has 35 animals in its care from the three seizures.
More calls are expected this year due to short feed supplies, BSE-depressed markets and cold weather at the end of January. Staff is being reorganized to handle a heavier than usual caseload.
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“We do realize there is tremendous economic pressure on producers, but we encourage them to seek assistance from AFAC or ourselves not to allow this sort of thing to happen again,” Airey said.
Susan Church of the Alberta Farm Animal Care Association said since the end of November there have been more calls regarding larger herds in distress as opposed to smaller farms.
“It is the mounting stream of the drought, coupled with BSE and you top that off with no markets,” she said.
All species have been hurt and in some cases people have been encouraged to sell their stock or humanely euthanize animals.
“If you own animals, you have a moral and legal responsibility to provide proper care,” Church said.
There is a rising concern that people are keeping animals longer because they have no market value. Church said these animals may be weaker and more susceptible to a variety of problems.
“They are too weak in some cases to even put on a truck and take to an auction market.”
Owners may not call the veterinarian soon enough because of the cost.
“People have to consider earlier intervention to prevent an animal getting into that condition in the first place,” she said.
AFAC has a toll free number that people can call if they or a neighbour are in difficulty. A veterinarian is on call to help people and feed supplies are available for emergencies. Since October, the AFAC vet has visited 22 farms.
AFAC’s number is 1-800-506-2273. SPCA toll free numbers are 800-455-9003 in Alberta and 877-382-7722 in Saskatchewan. In Manitoba, the Animal Care Line is 204-945-8000.
