The missing link?

[grassfarmer]

redhen,
I don't know where the study of scrapie resistant sheep you mention is happening but in the UK they are years ahead in this game. Scrapie monitoring and identification has been on the go for several years now and scrapie resistant lines have been found in large numbers in every mainstream breed. This is now used as a basis for selling rams with the scrapie susceptable ones being unwanted and largely unsaleable. Personally I think scrapie in sheep is a big red herring in the BSE debate.

[redhen]

AFAC info can be found at afac.ab.ca

Until January of this year, AFAC was the only livestock care group that could be reached 24/7, long after the SPCA closed on a Friday night. They work in conjunction with the RCMP and the SPCA, as well as industry leaders, to ensure livestock receive appropriate levels of care from birth to processing. They are an industry-driven organization, so I'm rather surprised that many of the people in the cattle "industry" don't know what they're all about.

[redhen]

Hey, Cowman! How are those chickens? Good to see you're still on the farm! Yep, I'm still out here trying to get people to see how farming can pay, and trying to get the young folks involved as both conservationists and farmers. Not much point in tooting a heritage livestock horn if there won't be any land left to farm on, and no one to prod those cows. heh heh

[cowman]

Well the chickens didn't do so well. I got sick and my son decided free range was the way to go. Unfortunately the local coyotes decided this was a fine opportunity to have a banquet and they cleaned the whole works out!
I believe it is always good to have some balance in this life and we need a few "conservationists" and other "outside the box" types to counteract all us old greedy rednecks! I have always believed if a person is going to own animals they have a duty to take care of them(chickens not withstanding!). Food, shelter, bedding and as little pain as possible! In animal production there is always going to be some pain but I do believe some practices should be banned?

[cowman]

Unfortunately people can buy and raise animals without any knowledge of what their basic needs are. Had a discussion with my grandson the other day, he is jsut moving onto an acreage and wanted to buy a miniature donkey.
He has no waterer, no shelter, etc., and not a tree on the place.
I sat him down and explained that an animal needs shelter, access to clean water at all times and a few trees for shade. Told him how much all this would cost, plus buying some decent hay each year and having the farrier out at least every four or five months plus deworming etc.

He still wants a critter or two but is going to phase in all the necessities before he starts looking for animals.
I did mention to him that I would be more than anxious to kick him square in the butt if he ever dared to buy any animal larger than a dog without having a decent place to keep it and water available !!!! Also told him that I would be delighted to buy him a mini donkey once he is ready for one.

I see horses all over the country that are just being allowed to exist, feet need trimming, not enough groceries in the winter, etc., makes me want to stop and shake the living daylights out of the owners !!!

I really think its time people were forced to be responsible, for their animals as well as their actions vs having government funded groups acting as watch dogs to make sure they treat animals in their care properly. It should not be up to the neighbour to tattle to somebody when animals are in distress !!!

I look after the critters around here a lot better than I look after myself, and will continue to do so as long as I own any .

[redhen]

Sorry to hear you were ill, Cowman. Hope you are back in the saddle.

Yes, free-ranging poultry is a good thing, but it works better with some fencing! Coyotes can kill a flock in ten minutes, most of them scared to death. One of the cheapest solutions we've found is stucco wire, which is sturdier than poultry netting and reasonably priced - about $40 for 112 feet, 4 feet high. We also let the grass grow high on both sides, so the birds can't be seen by 4-footed predators.

We've had only one coyote in our bird yard over the years, but stray dogs (who have no respect for the territorial markings of our own dog) have killed more of our birds than any wildlife. Don't get me started on that!