By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
Turning chicken feathers into ‘green’ plastic is not a new idea. Government and university scientists in the U.S. first began serious research into the possibility years ago. The goal for researchers and plastic manufacturers has been to develop a substitute for petroleum in some plastic products. This year, some technical hurdles have been over-come and this bio-degradable plastic is now being produced commercially.
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Posted by FFC on November 7th, 2011 :: Filed under
animal by-products,
Chickens,
Environment,
Innovation and technology,
PETA,
ResearchTags ::
environment,
Poultry,
Research,
sustainability,
technology
By Leslie Ballentine, Farm and food commentator
Genomics is a touchy subject, whether we are talking human or plant and animal. That is why the biotechnology debate can get so heated. In my opinion, and in the opinion of most in the farm and food sector, biotechnology gets a bad rap in these debates.
To use an old cliché, biotechnology is just one tool in the tool box whether it is used for food production, medical advances or to help the planet. It isn’t perfect all of the time but in my experience, the end results are rarely dangerous and usually beneficial.
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Posted by FFC on August 2nd, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal health,
Chickens,
Feeding the world,
Innovation and technology,
ResearchTags ::
chicken,
Research,
sustainability
By Leslie Ballentine, Farm and food commentator
When we think of cattle, pigs or poultry we may think of our next meal. But what many don’t know is that farm animals provide more than just sustenance. They also save lives in other ways too.
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Posted by FFC on July 4th, 2011 :: Filed under
animal by-products,
Beef cattle,
eggs,
Innovation and technology,
Pigs,
ResearchTags ::
animals,
antibiotics,
cattle,
eggs,
pigs
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
I just finished reading some more animal science studies out of Europe (a sure cure for insomnia) on what “free range” and “free run” laying hens are up against. And it’s a bit of a buyer-beware scenario too. Although it is a small niche market here in North America, so-called “cage-free” egg production in the UK has steadily grown in the last 20 years. That is where egg laying hens can move around within the confines of a pasture or barn. But the health and animal welfare news isn’t all good.
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Posted by FFC on May 12th, 2011 :: Filed under
Chickens,
eggs,
Housing,
Poultry,
ResearchTags ::
animal welfare,
eggs,
free range,
Housing,
Research
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
I am often asked what, if any, laws govern the treatment of farm animals in Canada. On that score there’s plenty to report.
Since 2005, there have been changes to most provincial animal welfare laws. You can see for yourself at: http://www.afac.ab.ca/lawsregs/awlcanada.pdf
Mainly, these have been penalty increases but have also included a few other common changes.
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Posted by FFC on January 26th, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal cruelty,
Regulations,
ResearchTags ::
animal welfare,
regulations,
Research
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
A November 2010 study by the George Morris Centre, a non-profit agri-food think tank, has found some alarming news about food. Their unpublished study titled Food Waste in Canada, estimates that $27 billion (yes billion) worth of food finds its way into landfill and composting each year. I’ve read elsewhere that 30-40% of our food goes to waste. The blame, according to the research, is split evenly between consumers who throw out food at home and the food supply chain; from farms through to stores and restaurants.
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Posted by FFC on January 17th, 2011 :: Filed under
Activism,
Beef cattle,
Feeding the world,
Global Warming,
Research,
Vegetarian
By Patricia Grotenhuis, lifelong farmer and agricultural enthusiast
January 4, 2011 – It is common for consumers to have questions about farming practices and a farmer’s care for the environment. With an industry as diverse as agriculture, no one (not even those who work in it) can be expected to understand all aspects of it completely. In addition, there are so many different ways to farm that no two farms are ever alike.
The vast majority of farms do have some commonalities. Aside from managing large amounts of work with limited resources and always being expected to produce more from less, the most noticeable similarity is a farmer’s genuine care for his or her animals and for the environment.
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Posted by FFC on January 4th, 2011 :: Filed under
Environmental Farm Plan,
Farm life,
Regulations,
Research,
Sustainability of the family farm
By Patricia Grotenhuis, lifelong farmer and agricultural enthusiast.
December 22, 2010 – During the summer, I attended the Canadian National Exhibition with the Ontario Farm Animal Council’s (OFAC) spokesrobot Oprah. Most of the questions we were asked were fairly general, but there was one comment which has stuck in my mind since then.
It is one I’m sure everyone in agriculture has heard at some point, and if they have not heard it yet, they will soon. While we were on our way to the parking lot at the end of the day, a gentleman stopped us and asked what Oprah was for. I briefly explained that she is an educational assistant sent to events such as fairs and festivals by the Ontario Farm Animal Council, and followed up by telling him who OFAC is and what it does.
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Posted by FFC on December 22nd, 2010 :: Filed under
Animal care,
animal handling,
Animal health,
Barn fires,
Codes of Practice,
Consumers,
Dairy cattle,
Education and public awareness,
Farm life,
Housing,
Innovation and technology,
Regulations,
Research,
Sustainability of the family farm,
Uncategorized
From horse whisperer to cow whisperer – we like the way this livestock handler relates to his animals – OFAC
For the full story and photos, visit http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7bBWFLOlyxoJypwFO39EOgj5ecAD9HH4UR80
Cow whisperer aims to improve livestock handling
By MATT VOLZ (AP) – 10 hours ago
WOLF CREEK, Mont. — The herd of lowing cows parted like a wave before Curt Pate, who rode straight up to the bull and let him know who was in charge without making a sound.
Pate, a 49-year-old Montana cowboy who consulted on the 1998 Robert Redford film “The Horse Whisperer,” switched his focus to cows about five years ago and has been traveling the country teaching ranchers to think like cattle and use low-stress methods of handling livestock.
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Posted by FFC on August 11th, 2010 :: Filed under
Animal care,
animal handling,
Animal health,
Beef cattle,
Horses,
Research
Farmers must take the lead on animal welfare – their livelihoods depend on it. We like this article, published recently in the Guelph Mercury newspaper, that discusses this fact and a recent national funding announcement designed to take animal welfare even further in Canada – OFAC
Farmers understand benefits of animal welfare
Guelph Mercury
Owen Roberts
May 10, 2010
Healthy animals are profitable animals. And for farmers, profitability is the bottom line. Farmers who treat their animals poorly can face veterinarian bills, and other costly problems – such as a turned-off, unsupportive public. But right now, for the most part, consumers are on farmers’ side. And farmers aim to keep it that way.
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Posted by FFC on May 20th, 2010 :: Filed under
Animal care,
Animal health,
Canada,
Farm life,
Innovation and technology,
Media,
Research
