The increasing interest in animal welfare means any products that can relieve pain, de-crease inflammation and reduce fever are welcome additions to the tools available to veterinarians to treat clinical disease. They also may have a place in controlling post surgical pain or inflammation that might occur with castration or dehorning. Better control of pain, […] Read more
Tag Archives animal welfare
Owners told to check dogs for dangerous ticks
Alberta dog owners are being cautioned to check their animals for Lyme disease-carrying ticks after a surprising number were found in the province. Between 2007 and 2010, around 1,200 ticks were removed from hosts, mostly dogs in Alberta. Of the 108 ticks sent to the lab by veterinarians, 22 tested positive for the presence of […] Read more
Consumer pressure a factor in use of animal painkillers
Access to export or niche markets may be denied if painkillers are not administered
SASKATOON — An Iowa State university professor continues to explore whether there are economic and production benefits to using painkillers on beef cattle before dehorning and castration. Hans Coetzee summarized his research at the International Symposium for Beef Cattle Welfare last month. He has found reduced incidence of bovine respiratory disease in recently castrated beef […] Read moreCode needs producer input
Cattle producers can provide input into the new beef code of practice through an on-line survey. It is the second survey undertaken by the National Farm Animal Care Council as it works toward completing a new code in April 2013. The first survey explored general attitudes toward beef cattle and handling practices. The current one […] Read more
Two-stage weaning reduces stress
Health risks seen after abrupt separation
SASKATOON — The most common method of weaning calf from cow is also the most stressful, recent research indicates. That has implications for animal health and welfare, said Dr. Derek Haley, a veterinarian and assistant professor at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ont. Abrupt separation of calves from cows, with the two groups kept […] Read moreFeedlot practices improve, but castration issues persist
SASKATOON — Animal welfare in Canadian feedlots has steadily improved over the years, but castration of incoming bulls remains an issue. Dr. Kee Jim, veterinarian and founding partner of Feedlot Health Management Services, said some feedlots will not accept bulls because of the time, effort and associated costs of castration. Jim told the International Symposium […] Read more
Open housing stalls gain hog producers’ interest
DES MOINES, Iowa — Helena Echberg is no longer treated like she is flogging a flakey European product. Instead, the Quebec-based distributor of open housing sow stall machinery now finds farmers want to know how to use it. “They used to say, ‘that’s a European thing that will never come over here.’ Now they say, […] Read more
Farmers, activists tussle to guide public conscience
How can farmers compete with activists? | Focus on animal welfare, advise livestock experts
The calf, resting near a roadside fence while its mother was grazing, looked abandoned. So a passer-by loaded the 80-pound Charolais into her Lexus SUV, took it back to her garage and attempted to nurse it with formula and a turkey baster. Eventually she took the weakening calf to a veterinarian, where she learned all […] Read moreOntario seeks animal welfare alternative
A consensus is emerging in Ontario that animal welfare regulations aren’t working. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Food and Farm Care Ontario and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies say the current system is unsustainable and should be amended. Under the current system, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals handles animal […] Read more
U.S. livestock sectors fear new hen housing changes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Legislation currently before the U.S. Congress proposing major changes to hen housing systems has producer groups worried. The Humane Society of the United States and United Egg Producers developed new requirements for laying hens that other livestock and poultry groups describe as a precedent setting. “This is the first time we have […] Read more
