Let's Talk Farm Animals

The Ick Factor

FFC — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:14:04 +0000

By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator A Toronto hospital is asking for donations of human placenta to repair and reconstruct damaged eyes. I’m sure most non-doctors would consider this disgusting and give it high marks for the Ick Factor. Superficial communications can often create the Ick Factor and the Ick Factor often influences our [...]

Animal activism: Like a charging cow

FFC — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:30:09 +0000

Guest blog: Adele Buettner, Farm Animal Council Saskatchewan Most reasonable North Americans have always opposed animal cruelty. But if you had said “welfare” to ranchers and farmers 30 years ago most would have thought you meant a government cheque. If you had spoken about farm animal care to most retailers, you would have been met [...]

Meet the farmers of January from the 2012 Faces of Farming calendar

FFC — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:45:12 +0000

by Patricia Grotenhuis Three Ontario turkey farmers, the father/sons team of Heiko, Wayne and Mike Oegema, are featured in the 2012 Faces of Farming Calendar published by the Farm Care Foundation. Their page was sponsored by Turkey Farmers of Ontario. . Heiko Oegema’s family established a turkey farm in 1959, shortly after emigrating from Holland. [...]

Temperature fluctuations a worry for livestock farmers

FFC — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:45:52 +0000

By Patricia Grotenhuis, Lifelong farmer and agricultural advocate This winter we are experiencing unseasonal temperatures and large temperature fluctuations in our area. People often comment on how variable temperatures can affect their health. Did you know the same is true for animals? Large swings in temperature mean farmers have to protect the animals against various [...]

A teachable moment on fur applies to agriculture too

FFC — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:27:38 +0000

By Leslie Ballentine, Farm and food commentator As anyone who knows a teenager is probably aware this year’s hot ticket items for Christmas receiving (or any other occasion) included real UGG boots (not the synthetic copies) and Canada Goose jackets. The price of these natural fibre clothing items put them in the “not happening” category [...]