RED DEER – Producers are helping themselves by picking up the phone and talking to Alberta’s livestock distress line.
The Alberta Farm Animal Care Association runs the toll-free Alert line to handle confidential reports about livestock in distress. The 2002 drought and extremely cold spring encouraged people to call looking for help as their feed ran low.
Managed by Tim O’Byrne and Pam Miller, the line received more than 400 calls last year. They handled 84 cases, double the total from the year before. Some cases were referred to other agencies.
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“Some were very diverse. Some we can help. Some of them we can’t,” said O’Byrne during the association’s annual meeting March 27.
Money was received from the Say Hay benefit concert and used to buy feed and bedding for distressed animals. No money was given directly to producers.
The phone line is open around the clock to handle emergencies: 800-506-2273.
Since the animal care association started 10 years ago with a shoestring operating budget of $30,000, it has grown to the point it can set up livestock emergency handling courses, transportation courses and research projects.
While there are few cases of serious and deliberate animal abuse, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said there are several areas of concern for livestock owners.
SPCA constables continue to see infirm animals arrive at auction rather than being euthanized on the farm.
“We urge you to get these out as fast as you can,” said Morris Airey, director of enforcement for the society.
Starting April 1, AFAC and Alberta Agriculture will start tracing the number of downer animals appearing at auction markets and slaughter plants. Downer animals or unfit animals cannot rise, remain standing or walk without help.
Airey said another problem is the care of diversified livestock this winter. The industry is scrambling to provide proper care in the face of falling markets, drought-induced feed shortages and disease problems.
A third problem is a lack of segregation among cattle for winter feeding.
Many operations have grown from 50 to 200 head and still feed all cows together. In a large herd, some do not get enough to eat because the more dominant cows push away the young heifers and old cows. These need to be fed separately.
