RED DEER – Innovation and communication programs that promote animal welfare were recognized at the Alberta Farm Animal Care association meeting March 27 in Red Deer.
The communication award went to the Classroom Agriculture Program developed by the Alberta Cattle Commission in 1986. Working with 12 other commodity groups, more than 600 volunteers deliver a positive message about food production and farm animal care to Grade 4 students across the province each year. Since the program began, it has reached more than 400,000 children.
Terry Church was recognized for his work with humane handling of elk and bison. A former veterinarian with Alberta Agriculture and now manager of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch where bison, elk and reindeer are raised, Church developed a method of humane removal of velvet antler using compression rather than an analgesic.
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He also helped write a manual and course for producer certification to remove antlers without a vet being present. Developed with researchers from New Zealand, certification is available for producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec.
Church also developed a special halter for elk after discovering horse and cattle halters tend to choke cervids. Most recently he has been involved in a study on bison dehorning.
The industry leadership award went to Alberta Pork for writing and promoting a manual on the humane handling of swine. Particular attention was paid to dealing with unfit livestock to ensure infirm animals are euthanized on the farm.
