Rodeo Gets Unfair Rap, SAYS Animal Welfare Expert
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RODEO GeTS UNFAIR A BIG LOVe FOR THe rAp, SAYS ANIMAl lAnD PROMPTS A WELFARE eXPERT mAJOR GiFT Study gives Calgary Stampede high Historic Oxley Ranch to be preserved marks for its welfare practices » PG 3 for future generations » PG 8 Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240 Volume 14, number 8 A p r il 10, 2017 Prairies could be plant-based protein THe neXT biG THinG? superpower Pioneers of CTF have high hopes Protein Innovations Canada aiming to make Western Canada the world’s Controlled traffic farming may be the biggest advance since no till, ‘leading source of high- but even its fans don’t expect it to be an overnight success quality proteins’ BY JENNIFER BLAIR BY ALEXIs KIENLEN AF stAFF / Edmonton AF stAFF llison Ammeter doesn’t ontrolled traffic farming has many understand why there isn’t benefits, but it still hasn’t caught on A more domestic pulse pro- C big in Alberta. cessing on the Canadian Prairies. there are only a handful of farmers in the “As a farmer, I’m really proud of province who have adopted the practice the fact that I grow good, safe food and a recent conference drew just over 50 that’s enjoyed around the world,” people — even though CtF, as it’s com- said the past chair of Alberta Pulse monly called, is hailed by some as the big- Growers, who farms near sylvan gest advance to come along since no till. Lake. But CtF proponents aren’t deterred. “one of the reasons is because people sEE PROTEIN } page 7 need to see things happen,” said Peter Gamache, project leader for Controlled traffic Farming Alberta, a multi-year study on the practice. “You start off with a nucleus of guys, and if it’s successful, it goes from there. that takes time.” Australia is the global leader in the prac- tice of running equipment on the same tracks (called tramlines) in fields year after year. severe drought led to about a million hectares being farmed under the system in Controlled traffic farming has seen the biggest uptake in Australia but is being tried in Australia, driven by the idea that soil that many countries, including this field in the Czech Republic photographed in 2015. isn’t compacted will absorb (and hold) PHOTO: PeTer GamacHe more water when there is some rain. But the list of potential benefits is long All of those grabbed the interest of steve could test the system on a few hundred — a veritable smorgasbord of things any Larocque, an agronomist who also farms acres he farms on the side. farmer would love to have, including near three Hills. In order to get a close-up “Quickly, we found out that we could improved soil health, reduced inputs or look, he successfully applied for a nuffield traffic our field a lot faster,” said Larocque. targeted use of them (such as in-crop scholarship, travelling to Australia and “the first benefit — and the biggest one — nitrogen application), less fuel use, less elsewhere in 2007-08 to see first hand how was timeliness. We could get on our field wear and tear on machinery, and the abil- the system works. a lot faster, and seed it in much wetter ity to get on fields early to seed and harvest Upon his return, he immediately began in wet years. modifying some old equipment so he sEE CTF } page 6 T:10.25 in Rule with an iron fist. With three herbicide Groups and outstanding activity on both grass and broadleaf weeds, Tundra® herbicide is the complete solution for barley and wheat growers. T:3 in cropscience.bayer.ca/Tundra 1 888-283-6847 @Bayer4CropsCA #AskBayerCrop Always read and follow label directions. Tundra® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada. C-59-02/17-10698179-E BCS10698179_Tundra_204_REV01.indd 10698179 Insert April 10 Dinno Espiritu 10.25 in x 3 in None 1 10.25 in x 3 in -- Newsprint None -- 100% None 1 Monica Van Engelen Production:Studio:Bayer:10...10698179_Tundra_204_REV01.indd Bayer Crop Science None Helvetica Neue LT Std, Gotham Alberta Farmer 3-24-2017 1:43 PM -- 3-24-2017 1:43 PM -- Henderson, Shane (CAL-MWG) -- Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black -- -- 2 news » inside this week april 10, 2017 • albErTAFARMEXprESS.CA inside » livestock crops columnists THE ‘GAME CHANGERS’ POPULAR EQUINE HELPFUL ADVICE brenda schoepp SHOW HEADS THAT BOOST YOUR WHEN SHOPPING FOR This is nEw and diffErEnT — Ottawa finds some lOvE fOr ThE PROFITABILITY NEW EQUIPMENT 5 SOUTH AND EAST agri-food sEctor Mane Event finds success by ‘staying true’ to its roots 8 Gord Gilmour ThE prEssurE to disManTlE A TIMELY RECIPE supply ManagemenT cOnTinuEs FOR REJUVENATING to incrEasE 4 SMALL TOWNS laura rance The digital age offers cost analysis of bison deciding whether to pay cash, if yOu grOw canOla, ThEn yOu new opportunities — but producers offers insights finance, or lease depends on 17 bEnEfiT from ThE cOnTribuTiOn you have to seize the day 36 that apply to any operation 12 your circumstances Of immigranTs 4 Don’t write off animal welfare advocates as vegans and ‘crazies,’ says expert Most consumers now believe animals have rights and livestock producers have to respond to their views, says bioethicist So when you dismiss people as about how you put the animal BY ALEXIS KIENLEN extremists when they believe in the optimal environment AF STAFF/LEDUC animals have rights, you’re mak- “When you dismiss people as for which they were suited bio- ing serious tactical errors.” logically and socially, and then he growing emphasis on Being blind to those concerns extremists when they believe augmented their ability to thrive animal welfare and ani- will only hinder agriculture’s animals have rights, you’re and survive with food, water, T mal rights is part of a ability to manage the issue, he and medical attention,” he said. societal shift, and the livestock said. making serious tactical errors.” “Animal science gave us feeding sector needs to embrace it. Rapidly growing social con- bone meal to herbivores, which That’s the view of a philoso- cern for animal treatment is an gave us mad cow disease.” pher who is also a professor of example of the large number of In Rollin’s view, the last sup- biomedical sciences and ani- social and ethical revolutions Bernie rollin porters of animal husbandry are mal sciences at Colorado State that have taken place over the western ranchers. University and author of several past 60 years, including civil “They still have the ethic of books on animal rights. rights, feminism, LGBTQ rights, animal husbandry,” he said. “Too many people in agri- and children’s rights. As larger A rancher will stay up all night culture, if you say the phrase society has encompassed the Voluntarily managing issues is fare is predicated on individual to care for a marginal calf — not ‘animal rights’ or even ‘animal needs of minorities, they have easier than waiting for the gov- animals,” he said, noting a because there’s an economic welfare,’ what comes to their also included animals in this ernment to regulate. caged laying hen operation can benefit, but because it’s what mind is a small group of crazies, definition. “If you have the choice — self- still be profitable even if it is they owe the animals, he said. malcontents, radicals, extrem- “We all live under a social regulate.” overcrowded. “The great virtue of husbandry ists, and vegans who do not consensus ethic,” he said. “If The livestock sector also It disturbs consumers if they is that it was a fair contract. Both appreciate that North America we didn’t have one, if everything makes a tactical error when believe producers and scientists sides benefited. We did well only has the most inexpensive, safe, was restricted to your personal it talks about animal welfare ignore issues such as fear, pain, if the animals did well. There wholesome food supply in the ethic, we’d have chaos. in terms of “sound science.” and distress unless they impact was a close unity between ani- world,” Bernie Rollin said at a “Failing to accord with the Instead of asking if a particular the bottom line. Instead, Rollin mal welfare and producer wel- recent Livestock Care Confer- social ethic in a pre-emptive practice is supported by sci- prefers another definition of fare. That’s the key point. We ence put on by Alberta Farm way can cost you customers, and ence, ask whether it is some- welfare, which focuses on moral didn’t need animal ethics. We Animal Care. more importantly, freedom.” thing that should be done, said obligations to the animal. didn’t need any laws because But it’s much larger than that, Rollin urged his audience to Rollin. “Science does not determine self-interest is the most power- said Rollin. As far back as 2004, think of social ethics as an ox He also challenged the fre- the concept of welfare — your ful contract.” polls found 70 per cent of the cart going to Toronto. quently cited view that high welfare determines the science,” Like it or not, there is now a American public wanted farm “You as an industry are animal welfare standards are a he said, adding his definition of social contract between live- animal welfare legislated. That chained to that ox cart. You’ve given because productivity and animal welfare is based on pre- stock producers and consumers. number is now well north of 90 got two choices. You can walk taking care of livestock go hand venting suffering and allowing “The industry should look per cent, he said, and many have when the ox cart walks and in hand.