Darren Vanstone, an animal welfare advocate and managing director of Ocatra, spoke at the Humane Canada One Health One Welfare Conference in Ottawa.

He said animal agriculture should be approached as what it is — a complex system of individuals and businesses. Not everything can be easily changed.

Clear direction needed

Vanstone said activists must have a clear, simple message to get through to people and businesses. Without a specific ask, efforts can sometimes backfire.

For example, in 2002, Humane World for Animals, or HSUS had a campaign that led to sow stalls being banned in Florida in 2008 — the first such ban in the U.S.

“They needed to have a very simple ask, right? They chose group housing. But they actually didn’t provide any other direction around that.”

Without clear direction, the advocacy resulted in change but ended up making some aspects of animal welfare worse.

“We said, ‘get them into group housing.’ They got them into group housing,” Vanstone said. “And the current standard operating procedures is …16 square feet, right? So, two extra square feet for animals that were already too big.”

“They also don’t have the protection of the bars now, and they don’t have any enrichments and they are all hungry because we’re not feeding them and when we are, we’re feeding them liquid.”

“So theoretically, what we’ve done is actually made that a lot worse.”

The campaign was effective in pushing for change, Vanstone said in a later email conversation, however “the early adopters are either going to lose their market (for example, to Prop 12-compliant producers) or be forced to undergo additional renovations to barns they reworked less than 10 years ago.”

Proposition 12, or Prop 12, is a 2018 California ballot initiative that mandates meat and eggs sold in California must come from animals raised in compliance with the state’s welfare regulations, which affect space allotments for sows. It mandates that sows much have at least 24 square feet of space.

Incremental change

Vanstone said advocates may need to accept that the system may never be perfect in their eyes. Producing enough food for a country the size of Canada while maintaining significant exports could make inevitable some degree of danger, environmental damage and animal harm.

“I would say that ultimately, the decisions that we make, the cost and benefits, we just need to figure out that we’re distributing those equally,” he said.

He suggested focusing on changing one thing at a time rather than looking for a “silver bullet.”

“There will be a lot of times that you will realize that you’ve not picked the right spot, and then you can go back and redo it,” Vanstone said. “Really complex systems like the food system are dynamic, and they learn and they change. So, what you do now may not work again later.”

“When we’re talking about changing things at the structure, at the core, where things actually happen, a single, small change in there will have massive impact.”

One of the best ways to drive change is to address problems at their root and understand which players don’t have as much skin in the game. If advocates can find a root cause of multiple impacts, they don’t have to worry about the technical issues.

“You let the technical people solve the technical parts. This is where you set long-term goals and ambitions, and you do it across a broad stakeholder group.”

The post Bring focused approach to target systems, not producers says animal activist appeared first on Country Guide.

“Canadian horses, swine and ruminants returning to Canada will not be able to enter Canada after a stay in a VS-infected state in the last 21 days,” stated a CFIA release.

WHY IT MATTERS: Transmitted by black flies, sand flies and biting midges, VSV resembles the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, causing mild fever and blister or crusting lesions inside the mouth, on the ears, lips, nose, udder, sheath, and above the hooves in horses, ruminants, swine, and members of the llama and deer families.

In October, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed VSV outbreaks on two farms in Arizona involving horses. The facilities also housed cattle that were not clinically affected.

The virus has an incubation period of two to eight days, and full recovery occurs in three to four days. However, it can affect milk production and lead to market losses for live animals, meat, and animal genetics.

The NVSL release states no livestock were moved on or off the affected premises, and biosecurity measures, along with vector control, are in place to reduce the spread. A 14-day quarantine starting from the last affected animal’s lesion onset is also implemented.

Canadian animals with a Canadian health certificate can return within three days of the USDA declaring their host state affected by VSV, provided they are inspected by the CFIA POE (port of entry) vet.

Otherwise, the release said, the Canadian health certificate is null and void, and animals from a VSV-infected state will require a minimum 21-day quarantine in a non-infected state before they can be exported to Canada.

The CFIA, in partnership with the USDA, has arranged special accommodations for animals imported for Canadian livestock events such as the Royal Winter Fair, Agribition, the Calgary Stampede and horse-specific events at Spruce Meadows and Thunderbirds.

“U.S.-origin and returning Canadian horses and ruminants that qualify for this exception are required to obtain a CFIA import permit and a USDA health certificate with the USDA addendum for VSV,” stated the CFIA release.

The last outbreak of VSV in the U.S. occurred from May 2023 through January 2024 and affected 319 premises across California, Nevada, and Texas.

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According to Dr. Rob Swackhammer, veterinarian with Upper Grand Veterinary Services in Guelph, Ont., who specializes in large animal veterinary care, these situations can often be managed with a little common sense and confidence.

“Having the basic skills and self-confidence to assist an animal that’s uncomfortable not only improves the animal’s welfare but can be the difference between calling the vet or not, or even buying time until the vet arrives,” says Swackhammer. Knowing what to look for and how to manage an animal health situation can also provide a veterinarian with valuable information to make timely decisions.

A firm believer in lifelong learning, Swackhammer often works with clients to educate them on early symptoms and signs of animal illness or distress. He shares his practical on-farm approach with farmers to identify common issues, how to manage emergency situations and when to call in a veterinarian for help.

Here are the top four animal health concerns Swackhammer believes livestock farmers should be able to identify and know what to do if faced with the situation. 

1. Dystocia 

Commonly known as an abnormal or difficult birth, dystocia can occur at any stage of labour, in all types of livestock and at any age.

Swackhammer advises farmers to brush up on the stages of labour based on the type of animal they have. For example, the first stages of labour in a cow could take up to five hours, and once feet are presented the calf should be born within the hour. Understanding the labour stages can help farmers understand if the situation is prolonged or problematic, and if they need to call a veterinarian for help.

If an animal’s labour becomes prolonged or it exhibits signs of discomfort, Swackhammer advises farmers to perform an internal examination. “The ability to properly assess an animal, like checking on the position of the baby, can help everyone make informed decisions. If a vet needs to be called, the ability to provide as much information over the phone about the length of labour and position of the baby inside the mother will benefit everyone, especially the animal in distress,” says Swackhammer.

“If labour is going well and progressing there is no need to touch the animal,” Swackhammer reminds farmers. “But knowing when to step in can save the baby and result in a healthier mother.”

Of course, mitigating dystocia can be managed even before the animal becomes pregnant, by selecting sires that offer calving, lambing, foaling or kidding ease and proper nutrition to maintain ideal animal body weight and animal condition before and during pregnancy. 

Swackhammer recommends pregnancy checks or ultrasounds to identify the accurate birth timing and determine if the animal is carrying multiples. He reminds farmers that the more information you know ahead of time, the better prepared you can be.

When it comes to being prepared, having the right supplies on hand is a must. These should include OB gloves and lube, clean rope, anti-inflammatory medication, needles and syringes, and colostrum. 

Swackhammer reminds farmers that wearing personal protection when assisting with livestock births is important because some zoonotic diseases can be transmitted to humans. 

A clean and dry environment where animals can be caught easily and restrained, if necessary, should also be prepared to reduce stress on the animals and farm workers.

2. Scours

Scours refers to diarrhea and is most common in young animals, such as calves, lambs, piglets, kids and foals. It’s a common and potentially serious condition that can lead to dehydration, weakness and even death if not treated promptly. 

According to Swackhammer, the best defence against scours is colostrum. Ideally, every newborn animal should drink colostrum within eight hours of birth to reduce the risk of scours. Young animals should also have access to plenty of clean water to supplement their hydration.

Watery, loose feces are the most common signs of scours. Young animals can also show signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes and a dry mouth or nose. They can also be lethargic and show little interest in nursing, drinking or eating.

Early intervention is key to managing scours. As soon as signs are detected, the animals should be quarantined to reduce the transmission of pathogens to other young animals. If the animals are on pasture, Swackhammer advises farmers to rotate pastures and isolate sick animals to reduce pathogen buildup in the animals’ environment. 

Early treatment can be as simple as supplementing the young animal’s hydration with oral electrolytes once or twice a day. Electrolytes can be easily fed with a bottle and, as an added benefit, can help reduce the risk of acidosis in young animals. Swackhammer reminds farmers to read and follow label directions when administering all medication, including electrolytes. Providing an anti-inflammatory can also help young animals recover faster and keep them comfortable.

Swackhammer says it’s time to call the veterinarian when more severe signs of dehydration and lethargy are visible, or if the animal doesn’t respond to electrolytes. He explains that more severe stages of scours can be identified by drooping ears, sunken or glazed eyes, or if the young animal has difficulty standing. 

“That’s when you really need to call your vet,” he says, reminding farmers to keep detailed records of the illness timeline and any medication they have administered to provide the veterinarian with the most accurate and timely information.

If a herd or flock is prone to scours, Swackhammer advises farmers to consult with their veterinarian about preventative vaccine programs for mature animals that can help reduce the risk when young animals are born.

3. Lameness

Lameness is a frequent issue in livestock and, according to Swackhammer, the most common cause is foot rot. This is especially prominent during the muddy seasons of spring and fall, and that’s why he reminds farmers that prevention starts with keeping a clean and dry environment for livestock.

“Lameness due to foot rot can look like a broken foot, too,” says Swackhammer, noting that other common signs include swelling and an animal’s inability to bear weight on the foot. 

On-farm treatments can start with a long-acting antibiotic that should show signs of improvement within two days. Administering an anti-inflammatory is also recommended to reduce swelling and improve recovery time. 

If the animal doesn’t respond to treatment, or doesn’t improve within two days, Swackhammer recommends calling a veterinarian for a consultation. He says that in prolonged cases, it’s best to seek professional medical care to determine the cause and best course of treatment.

4. Respiratory infections

“Pneumonia is the predominant respiratory illness in livestock, especially in young animals,” says Swackhammer. He says that once again colostrum is a young animal’s best defense, along with a clean, dry and well-ventilated environment. 

Signs of pneumonia in young animals can vary, but common symptoms include coughing, laboured or rapid breathing, nasal discharge, fever and lethargy. Swackhammer says that in cases of respiratory illness, he recommends calling a veterinarian if any of these signs appear, especially if an animal is open-mouth breathing. 

Having a thermometer on hand to monitor the animal’s temperature is the first step to managing pneumonia. He says the first line of treatment will likely be a long-acting antibiotic, but that should be directed by a professional. And if there’s no response to treatment within 24-48 hours, then a second call to the veterinarian is recommended. 

Infected animals should also be quarantined, and nose-to-nose contact with other animals should be restricted or prevented altogether.

To help prevent pneumonia, farmers can start by minimizing stress in young animals. “Stress weakens an animal’s immune system and increases their risk of picking up bacteria and infections, especially respiratory infections,” explains Swackhammer.

Some of the most stressful periods in a young animal’s life can be weaning and transportation. Swackhammer advises farmers to consider a pre-weaning vaccination program to reduce the risk of illness and a weaning program that reduces animal stress. These management considerations can also help manage stress and boost immunity during transportation, reducing the risk of “shipping fever,” a common term for respiratory illness in livestock.

Empowering farmers

“Farmers are resourceful and intuitive, they just need to feel empowered sometimes, and have the proper tools and skill set to take action,” says Swackhammer, who recommends that farmers consult with their veterinarian to learn more about these common illnesses and what they can do to prevent and manage them on their own farm.

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Animal Health Canada is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System, the National Farm Animal Care Council and Emergency Management.

Klima enters the role with more than 15 years of leadership experience in livestock health. She will inherit the role from Interim Executive Director John Ross.

Klima holds a PhD in veterinary microbiology. She previously served as Technical Director of the Beef Cattle Research Council under the Canadian Cattle Association and most recently served as assistant professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

In a Thursday written release, Klima called Animal Health Canada critical to uniting industry and government to achieving goals in food security.

“I am honoured to join AHC and look forward to building trust, advancing national priorities, and positioning the organization as a leader in One Health collaboration,” Klima said.

Leigh Rosengren, AHC Industry Co-Chair, said Klima’s “vision, and values align with Animal Health Canada’s mission to safeguard animal health and support Canada’s agricultural resilience.”

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In late 2024, the agency opened the door to potential risk mitigation suggestions, following a push from some corners of the beekeeping sector. While still contentious among honey producers, several beekeeping organizations had been pushing for the CFIA to again allow packaged bee imports from the U.S., citing significant winter losses, difficultly in sourcing replacement stock and new knowledge gained since the last official full risk assessment back in 2013.

U.S. packaged bees haven’t been allowed into Canada since the ’80s due to issues such as resistant American foulbrood, small hive beetle, varroa mites and Africanized genetics.

The CFIA’s consultation ended Jan. 31, 2025.

In a recent summary document, the CFIA said that, after analyzing the submitted risk mitigation proposals, the measures would be insufficient.

“The CFIA does not have a duty of care to protect the economic interests of stakeholders,” the document read. “The CFIA’s regulatory mandate under the Health of Animals Act and regulations is to help protect Canadian animal health, which includes the health of the Canadian honey bee population.”

Submissions included a suggested limited regional trade strategy, an evaluation of the impact on inter-provincial movement, a pilot project to import from Northern California, risk mitigation for all identified hazards, transport inspections upon entering Canada, using current import conditions of queens for the importation of packages and the utilization best management practices post-importation.

The CFIA’s comprehensive import risk analysis “clearly demonstrated scientifically” the risks the proposals presented, read the agency response, which is available on the CFIA website.

In several cases, the CFIA noted, proposals had to do with further research rather than active risk mitigation measures. Others, the agency dismissed as lacking in robust scientific backing or said they did not properly address the risk in question.

Glacier FarmMedia will be following up on this story in following weeks.

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“The outcome of this process supports our sector’s vision of continuous improvement in our production practices and approach to producing Canadian eggs,” said Roger Pelissero, chair of Egg Farmers of Canada in a news release.

The National Farm Animal Care Council and Egg Farmers of Canada announced the changes on Thursday. The amendment process began December 2023 after a comprehensive review of the code.

The changes targetted three aspects of layer and pullet care: requirements for round feeders, space allowances for pullets in multi-tier systems and the maximum number of tiers allowed in barns.

Round feeders

Specific requirements for minimum space per bird for round feeders was added to the code. Space requirements for linear feeders wasn’t changed.

The 2017 code requirements were challenging for egg farmers using round feeders, a ‘what we heard’ report said. The code requirements for birds per feeder differed from manufacturers recommendations.

Instead of specific defined measurements, the code provided a formula to convert linear feeder space to round feeder space. Producers questioned the rationale behind that conversion, “leading industry and the Code committee to question whether this may have been included as an oversight,” the report said.

The minimum space allowance requirement will apply to all holdings in the future, the amended code says. A transition timeline for barns built before the amendment will be decided when the code is next updated in or around 2028.

Multi-tier systems

Space requirements were changed for pullets older than eight weeks and housed in multi-tier systems to add about 36 per cent more space per bird.

During the consultation process, industry stakeholders raised concerns that the minimum space requirement was insufficient, the ‘what we heard’ report said. Many pullet growers were looking to soon replace existing pullet housing and were stuck in a holding pattern as they waited for further guidance.

A new recommended practice was added to provide additional space for pullets after 17 weeks of age.

“Pullets that are transitioned to the layer barn after 17 weeks of age are at greater risk for poor welfare due to physiological and behavioural changes associated with the onset of lay (e.g., risk of smothering, egg peritonitis, mislaid eggs),” the amended code says.

Maximum number of tiers

Egg Farmers of Canada added criteria to interpret rules around the number of tiers allowed in laying hen aviaries. Equipment manufacturers had interpreted the requirements multiple ways, the committee said. The additional criteria is meant to ensure the intention to protect the hens’ welfare is upheld while allowing for new aviary designs.

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The research published by science journal Nature is based on the 60-day period following the clinical diagnosis of highly-pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in an Ohio dairy herd.

Why it matters: Bird flu has already led to devastating losses in the poultry sector and has recently found its way into dairy cattle.

The paper estimates total financial losses based on death, early herd removal and decreased milk production of each infected animal. The results were an estimated loss of $950 USD or just under $1300 CAD per cow, and $737,500 USD or just over $1 million CAD for the herd during the observation period.

Infected cows showed signs of decreasing milk production and lower rumination time. Milk production began dropping five days before diagnosis and reached its lowest point two days after.

Nature recorded losses of around 900 kg of milk per infected cow.

There have been no recorded cases of avian influenza in cattle in Canada. In the U.S., the virus has infected cows in several states across the country.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) added requirements for extra certification for dairy cattle returning from the U.S. in August of last year.

The CFIA is currently working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to monitor Canadian dairy cattle and milk for avian influenza.

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a June 19 notice to industry it’s the first time the virus has been detected in a commercial operation in Canada since 1973.

The disease, caused by the avian paramyxovirus type 1, is highly contagious and can infect both domestic fowl and wild birds. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Newcastle Disease can present clinically very similar to avian influenza, including a drop in egg production, respiratory distress, nervous signs (such as tremors, paralyzed wings, head and neck twisting) and diarrhea. Mortality can be variable.

To minimize trade disruptions, the CFIA has set up primary control zones 10 kilometres around each of the infected premises. The agency said the infected birds have been depopulated and a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises must be completed to help prevent spread of the virus to other poultry premises.

Poultry producers in the area are encouraged to practice heightened biosecurity as the disease is mainly transmitted by direct contact with diseased or carrier birds. The CFIA said infected birds may shed the virus in their feces, contaminating the environment. The virus can survive for days in litter, feed, water, soil, carcasses, eggs and feathers. The disease spreads rapidly among birds in close confinement.

The virus can also spread unintentionally through the movement of contaminated material, footwear and equipment.

Most commercial broiler, turkey, layer and breeder flocks in Canada are vaccinated for the disease.

The CFIA said Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern.

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The arguments presented to Justices Roberts, Miller and Zarnett in the Ontario Court of Appeals revolved around the legislative intent and constitutionality of false pretenses within Ontario’s Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (STPFSA), 2020.

Why it matters: On April 2, 2024, Superior Court Judge Koehnen ruled that specific provisions within the Act violate the right of freedom of expression under the Charter of Rights, declaring them to have no force or effect.

In 2022, Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, advocate Jessica Scott-Reid, and Toronto Cow Save organizer Louise Jorgensen challenged the constitutionality of new animal welfare legislation aimed at preventing activist disruptions and protecting farms from trespassing.

Arden Beddoes, a litigator for Scott-Reid and Jorgensen, argued that the Act infringes on freedom of expression under Section 2(b) of the Charter by focusing on the aspect of false pretenses rather than the value of the undercover exposé.

“There is no property right to the truth, the Absolute Truth, from everyone who seeks ingress,” argued Beddoes. “Under state laws enacted in this province, you only vitiate the consent because of this law. It’s not in the Trespass Act.”

Justice Zarnett pushed back, arguing the Trespass Act is procedural, dealing with remedies, not the relationship of trespass, which is established in common law, not the Trespass Act.

“But for the exposés, there would be no (STPFSA) law. That is the case,” volleyed Beddoes.

To which Justice Roberts replied, “But for the trespass, there would be no law,” questioning whether the deceit and the consent are inextricably intertwined to impair the validity of consent.

Justice Zarnett asked if the law’s “new” aspect was making something a trespass or establishing a provincial offence in those circumstances, which would otherwise only be actionable in a civil court.

“This is how you stop investigations, private investigations, investigative journalism, much of which, or a significant portion of which, could require investigatory deception,” Beddoes said, adding investigatory deceptions are protected under Section 2(b).

“They contribute to a marketplace of ideas from which people like Ms. Scott Reid draw, from which researchers may draw, on these important issues about how humans treat animals.”

Robin Basu, counsel to the Attorney General, stated that between 2007 and 2020, only 16 undercover exposés were published. He suggested that the COVID-19 restrictions from 2021 to 2022 limited undercover exposés more than STPFSA’s enforcement from 2020 to May 2024.

“(The Respondents) can’t say there were no undercover investigations when the law was enforced because we don’t know,” argued Basu. “There’s no evidence in the record that there were none. All we know is that the claimants say, we’re aware of no exposés being published.”

He added that evidence shows animal rights groups often defer reporting to authorities to prolong the collection of visceral footage, without producing an exposé.

Frederick Schumann, Animal Justice representative, stated that the journalist and whistleblower exceptions are too narrow.

“The person must be a journalist when they obtain the consent,” said Schumann.

A person working with an animal advocacy organization on an investigative exposé is not a journalist, nor are they considered an employee at the time they use false representation to gain employment, he explained.

“Neither the journalist exception nor the whistleblower exception is of assistance to them,” Schumann argued, even if they provide material to a media organization, law enforcement or regulatory body.

“It’s excluding, fundamentally, the animal advocacy organization from carrying out the exposé because their primary function is not to disseminate information to the public.”

In his rebuttal, Basu suggested, “There is no obstacle to Animal Justice setting up a subsidiary that is dedicated, or the primary function is the dissemination of information to the public.”

STPFSA targets trespass, not speech, said Basu, and Section 2(b) doesn’t mandate that free expression must secure genuine consent to enter a property, nor do civil consequences narrow constitutional protections.

“My friend said, ‘You can’t lie on your resume under this statute.’ You can lie on your resume,” explained Basu. “You just can’t do it, and when that lie successfully dupes somebody, then enter the farm.”

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On June 16, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said they were investigating a bovine tuberculosis infection in a dairy cow, which had come from a farm in the Pembina Valley region of south-central Manitoba.

Why it matters: Canada has had brushes with bovine tuberculosis in recent years, but not in Manitoba.

According to a CFIA notice to industry, samples had been taken from the seven-year-old animal at the abattoir. Labs found the bacteria responsible for bovine tuberculosis June 9, 2025. The finding was later confirmed June 13.

Officials tracked down the originating farm through the DairyTrace traceability program. The CFIA says the herd has been quarantined, pending further testing and depopulation.

“The timing of testing will be determined after discussions with the producer to manage the operational impact of the process,” the agency said.

“The CFIA is continuing to work closely with producers, industry associations, and provincial and federal agricultural and health authorities throughout the investigation.”

The investigation is still in its early days, the CFIA said.

Canada’s bovine TB record

Until this point, the only bovine tuberculosis cases confirmed in Canada since 2018 have originated in Saskatchewan. In February 2023, U.S. officials found the disease in a heifer that had come from Canada. After tracking that animal back to its originating farm, 32 animals in the herd were also found infected. Traceability did not find infection in any potential contact herds

Another case was confirmed in November 2024. Samples from a six-year-old cow, collected at an an abattoir in Alberta came back positive for infection. That cow was tracked back to a farm in Saskatchewan and the birth herd was quarantined. As of June 5, the CFIA had found 25 cases in the one infected herd, which has been depopulated.

Traceability efforts flagged 39 potentially linked herds, 12 of which have been released from quarantine.

In May, Saskatchewan beef producers took the government to task on bovine tuberculosis. They argued that farmers of infected farms should get better compensation, wildlife testing should be bolstered and that more work should be done on vaccines.

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