11/07/2025
Just a bit of a rant. We are linked to several farm pages and sale pages. With the recent ostrich cull here I am reminded of the importance of biosecurity. I am so concerned about the number of people that have no biosecurity plan what so ever. We chose to get out of poultry because of the Avian Influenza. Although we kept our birds in separated coops with an air/vent/filtration system. We cleaned regularly with with a virucide, and we did not open our coops/ farm to visitors. The risk was still too high. Poultry have a very short intestinal tract that makes them easily vulnerable to viruses. We had an isolation unit to quarantine any new chicks coming to the farm. I health tested to confirm that our birds remained disease free But the risk of avian influenza was too high so we illuminated poultry from the farm all together. Today we farm sheep, and still are very cognizant of infectious diseases, but thankfully we are able to vaccinate against the top sheep viruses. We also a maintain a deworming program to support good health. Any sheep that comes to the property spends time in isolation. In conversations with other farmers I am constantly told that they don’t worry about disease because they rely on natural immunity. True on a healthy diet, and clean living conditions your livestock should remain healthy. But as we see with the Universal Ostrich Farm, we may have the best of intentions, but disease happens, and as livestock producers we must accept the laws and rules that go with that. Not to mention doing the best for our animals. Nothing makes us happier than caring for and enjoying the fact that we have healthy animals. Please, please fellow farmers, don’t assume because you disagree with the laws, you are accepting those laws by CHOOSING TO BECOME FARMERS. No one says you have to have the best facilities, or the most expensive feed and fencing, but your animals deserve the best care they can have. And one more issue that I see over and over again is the underfunded farmers that can’t afford, or want to pay for veterinary care. I’ve seen some pretty scary advice. Offered for everything from birthing, to bloat, to eye punctures, and disease control. Be able to access a vet is so necessary. They study for 10+ years to offer the best treatment for our animals. Yes, most farmers know how to lamb, or calf, do some pretty effective doctoring, but if you are in over your head, a vet and not Dr Google is your best bet. I hope I’m not sounding judgy, but with the recent cull at UOF, and all the other farms in western Canada, this has been weighing heavy on me.
