Low livestock prices combined with high feed costs and limited hay supplies could leave farm animals in jeopardy this winter, say animal welfare experts.
Ian MacMillan, co-ordinator of investigative services at the Saskatchewan SPCA, says there is often a correlation between poor livestock prices and confirmed cases of livestock neglect.
“Generally, we do tend to see more complaints when livestock markets are down,” said MacMillan. “I’ve said for many years that the quickest way to have something neglected is to make it worthless.”
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
This spring, with many pastures in poor condition and livestock prices showing no signs of recovery, officials with the Saskatchewan SPCA were anticipating a busy season.
So far, that hasn’t been the case, MacMillan said. In March, the SPCA received a complaint of dead and suffering beef cattle on a farm near Outlook, Sask.
A total of 288 cows and calves were seized in that case but since then, the caseload has been lighter than expected.
“I thought this was going to be a really busy year for us because of the drought on the west side of the province … and the fact that there wasn’t a lot of grass early in the year, but we’ve actually had a pretty quiet summer.”
“March was a bad month,” he continued.
“It was a long cold winter and feed supplies were iffy at best.
MacMillan said many factors can determine how well livestock are cared for.
In the United States, for example, restrictions in the horse slaughter industry have reduced the value of older horses and animals that have chronic health problems or bad conformation.
As a result, reports of horse neglect and animals being turned loose in the wild are on the rise.
“We have concerns that that might happen here if we were ever to stop the processing of horses (in Canada),” said MacMillan.
“Horses are not worth a lot for slaughter but at least there is a bottom (on their price).”
Low beef prices can also lead to more cases of neglect, especially if feed is in short supply, hay prices are high and livestock owners are forced to work away from home during the winter feeding season.
“Sometimes the owners don’t have the money to buy feed or they have to get an outside job and things don’t get done as well as they should at home,” he said.
In other cases, a crash in specialty livestock markets can affect livestock welfare.
In 2003-04, for example, the Saskatchewan SPCA received 18 reports of neglected elk in the province. At the time, elk prices were low and feed was at a premium.
“The CWD issue really cut into their value,” MacMillan said.
“I don’t think the economics on elk are still very good but fortunately, we haven’t done an elk herd seizure in several years.”
