CFIA Get out if my backyard

[Bayvistafarm]

QR_BBPOST The downside of gov't is "over regulation", partiularly wirh selling processed birds and eggs. The intention is to keep people safe from salmonella and other diseases, but it also stops small poultry producers from going into business and selling meat/eggs to their neighbours. E.g. In Vermont a mobile chicken processor travels from farm to farm and the farmer is allowed to sell fresh or frozen birds. It is licensed by the state and i expect the meat contains a label that it was " processed on site by a mobile facility." Mobile processors do exist here but then by law the meat may not leave the property. So these guys operate in a "grey market". Its even more restrictive for beef and pork or other meat. We had a calf that had an accident and dislocated its front shoulder so it spent all summer grazing near the pond. Come fall we couldn't send it to a butcher so we had to do it here ourselves as it was deemed "unfit".

There are a few vets out there, that will help you get your animal to an slaughter house to be butchered for yourself. Its quite a process... but very doable.
We had a cow get jumped in the barnyard. She hurt herself, and couldn't get up. She weighed likely 1500 lbs. Big cow. Older cow too. We picked her up with the loader tractor with straps.... and while hanging called the vet to reach in and assess her pelvis. Nothing broken. That cow was taken around to the grass, and fed and watered for 10 days. She never did get up again, but I tell you, she was VERY close to almost doing it. Regardless... the decision was made to turn her into hamburger. Our vet is one of the 'government' mandated vets to help get the ball rolling. First, the 'government employee... issues you a number AND you also have to take it to a slaughter house that is the same... as in handling downer cows. Not all places are eligible to process dead animals. Seeing as how you cannot ship/move an animal that cannot walk... we shot her on the farm (vet both shot/drained her blood.... which had to be contained in buckets), and put her on the trailer. The trailer had to have plastic on the bottom floor, and NO blood could drain and touch the highway. When the cow was off-loaded at the butcher, after the vet travelled with the cow... and talked with the meat inspector there (the slaughterhouse knew we were coming).... another inspector from Guelph I believe had to come to the farm and watch the blood be buried... and watch the trailer bleached. All this because of MAD cow that happened in what... 2003/4?

It seemed very stupid.... all this procedure at the time... but we were very glad to not have to throw that cow in the garbage can.

[poultry_admin]

As the newbie on the block I have a question:

How can we help Troy?

We have a great community here. We have reach throughout Ontario and a bit beyond. Someone of us is on almost every show/bst/auction.
Surely there is something we can do?

Maybe a CFIA guide explained/translated to backyarders? How to achieve the bio-security with the mindset of a backyarder (= scavenging material at minimal cost)
How about a guide to prep birds to live shows from a bio-security point of view?
Any thoughts? Does any of that exist already? Please send me a link, I'd like to include it!

Our forum is a good means to spread the info. Remember, we have about 1000 people stopping by every now and then. That's a lot of birds we have a potential to have access to!

[JimW]

It is my wife that works for the CFIA!!!! She tests for bovine TB and related diseases, though she is in the process of transfering to Health Canada.

My thoughts are that in many areas to do with livestock keeping, processing.... there are sometimes too many regulations. But unfortunately many of these regulations are set to help protect the poorly educated, indifferent general public that many only care about cheap food, and to help protect those people from the other people that just want to make a quick dollar and do not care about minimal animal care or food safety issues.

Sandy if I never visit I will leave my wife at home. lol

JimW

[Maximus]

Jim I would want to ask a ba-zillion questions (off the record of course) so bringing her would be mandatory lol! And I'll make sure I have Bert with me hahaha.

[Home Grown Poultry]

QR_BBPOST....Maybe a CFIA guide explained/translated to backyarders?

Hey Martin heres some info from the CFIA on biosecurity for the backyard flock.

A video, I cant seem to make it show up right though.
http://active.inspection.gc.ca/wcms/video/animals-animaux/bacdoc_320x240_e.mp4

How to Prevent and Detect Disease in Backyard Flocks and Pet Birds
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/ter ... 3644740109

General Public Notice - Prevent Disease in Backyard Flocks and Pet Birds
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/ter ... 5366426041

a Poster, I cropped it from a pdf from a link above.

OMAFRA: Poultry - Health Management and Biosecurity

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/liv ... ealth.html

OMAFRA: Keeping Your Birds Healthy Resource Kit (FREE)

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/liv ... rcekit.htm

[modern17]

My opinion ( for what it is worth ) I will make the following statement then not sure I want to comment much further as I know I am not going to change the minds of some and am in no position to say anyone is or isn't on the right track.. but being that I have been in this hobby since the age of 5 .. ( almost 45 years ) and traveled the world with and for poultry , with showing , judging and visiting others (Exhibition , back yard and commercial flocks)as well as my work over the past 18 plus years with the government agencies and several areas of the commercial poultry industry, I think I have a good grip on reality when it comes to the us and them mentality lol...and for the record I don't see it as us and them .. but rather just different facets of poultry.

... conspiracy theories... most make me laugh when it comes to government and our sectors of non commercial poultry... both the feds and provincial ag agencies.. for the most part get us... know that we are not the enemy, but rather are one of the components of the poultry world that is not going to go away any time soon.I have worked hard over the years to ensure that is the mind set of the government ag agencies.... Many think they( Provincial and Feds ) have the manpower to do lots of things and its only a matter of time.. and keep us and any info that they can gather on us in some huge data base for future reference... they do not.. Simply put the manpower is not there nor are we that much of a concern but rather are just a component of the poultry industry in Canada that needs to be advised on risk and responsibility . I have examples of this with recent events and individuals with recent events as of late. Not for a public form. Their( Feds and Provincials) concern is that we protect ourselves and our birds so we do not become a part of the problem.. if we do have an issue and affect international trade... then the pressure from the commercial sector would be great( money talks ) and that is when they would apply the articles of the Provincial ( OMAFRA ) and Federal ( CFIA ) animal acts.. they have the power on paper to shut all down ..but this would only be applied in the most extreme and desperate times .. not small out breaks of AI or other such diseases... there goal is to prevent these situations in becoming disasters and keep trade moving , when it comes to the economy .. enough said.They do have the power to shut all down .. but this is not the goal with either agency.Lots was learned on how to handle disease outbreaks from the AI fiasco in BC in 2004 ... things are much better now . I have no concerns with either of the ag agencies I mentioned...I work extensively with them on many levels out of concern for us as non commercial poultry. I have their ear and their trust and this is a two way street. There is another agency (commerical driven) that I do have concern with ... they have power to an extent in the province ( given to them by the provincial government many decades ago) .. they can make it difficult for us to operate if they use there powers.. ( ie when you buy chicks at the local feed store and the rules surrounding that ) not going into detail as any one that has done so ( bought chicks) knows what I am talking about.. They do not have the right to come on your property but .. if you do not play by their rules they can cause issues . I get along with them as to build bridges not walls.With that I do not buy chicks from the hatchery or feed store as that is not what I do .. exhibition birds is what I am about.. so I have little personal ( operational ) contact with them but do have meetings and attend events where I am in contact with them.. I get along with them..
As for what we can do from a biosecurity point of view... most of what is laid out in the literature provided by CFIA and OMAFRA is basic common sense..( Reduce the risk )Some of what is produced ( especially OMAFRA) I had a hand in , not taking credit for anything but was consulted on several points... Personally all my pens ( outside runs ) are covered... No bird droppings ( wild ) get in .. no wild birds come in direct contact with my birds( utilize small wire 1/2 x 1 ) or smaller . I utilize foot baths in and out of my pen ( especially when visitors are expected ) I fog with disinfectant before and after visits by others and before and after shows... I have a separate room for returns from shows .. a quarantine area if you will ... , I have screens on all my window so no birds or other vermin get in.. I utilize rodent control measures and fly control measures.. all these items are known vectors for disease... Does that mean I am perfect and have a iron clad procedure in place.. not in the least... but I have reduces my risk greatly by doing what I do. This is what it boils down to .. what are you as a poultry owner willing to risk.. ??? Your birds , your areas economic industries( Commercial poultry ) the list is long ,. Many think that if a disease like AI or others come in and a flock has to be depopulated that the government will pay for the birds and the clean up.. not so .. they will depopulate , start the disposal procedure and cleanup procedure .. but you are on the hook financially for the actual clean up that is subject to Federal / International and in many cases regional laws on how this is done.. ( crews that have protocols to follow will be doing this at your cost ... no self cleaning procedures here, you are told who, how,why and when ect) , To me prevention is better than this .. so what are you willing to risk ??? These are not questions or statements I can answer for anyone. I agree that running birds free range is probably the best way to bring birds into production ,prepare them for slaughter or get them into shape for shows and over all keep them healthy .. but there is risk with this.. as mentioned in the biosecurity literature put out by the feds and provincials is common sense and follows one thought .... reduce the risk is what it is all about .Sorry to ramble on but as you can tell I have a passion about my hobby... and feel that working with is better than having them work against us ( all entities mentioned in my above statement.) ... My 2 cents .
TL

[Home Grown Poultry]

Thanks Troy!!!

[ross]

10-4 man --- thanks . Luck

[Killerbunny]

Well said Troy! I too have had contact with one of the commercial sectors - I used to work there. Two sides to everything. As a microbiologist I wonder about total depopulation, I would like to get the birds that survive to a research facility and go at it from that way but the limited commercial bird genetics make that difficult. This is another reason it's so important to do what we can both personally and politically to protect our flocks. Our more genetically diverse flocks may become important at some point. I do free range my birds and I know I'm taking a risk.
Thanks for everything Troy.

[WLLady]

THANK YOU Troy!!!!!