(submitted photo/Tim Oleksyn)

By Nigel Maxwell

Animal welfare

Producers face new transport regulations

Feb 25, 2019 | 5:45 PM

Proposed changes to the laws governing how livestock are transported in Canada, are receiving some mixed reviews from groups representing Saskatchewan producers.

The changes released last week by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) include shortening the distance cattle can travel without feed and water to 36 hours from 48. Chad MacPherson, General Manager of the Saskatchewan Stockgrowers Association, said he had a number of concerns with the changes, which included financial impacts. He explained 300,000 head of Western Canadian feeder cattle are exported to Ontario each year and with them having to stop additional times, there will be added costs for the trucking industry as well as the producers themselves.

“It will influence Ontario feed lots in what they can pay for Western Canadian feed cattle, so it may take them out of the market or reduce what they are able to pay,” he said.

MacPherson added truckers also face regulations in terms of how far they can drive for, and if the two timelines don’t line up, then it would add the cost of additional drivers.

seeding

Lack of moisture allows some Sask. farmers to begin seeding early

Apr 25, 2024

FCC Agrispirit fund

AgriSpirit fund supports rural communities

Apr 24, 2024

Province says tax credit fuels investments in bioprocessing industry

Apr 23, 2024

“Over 99 per cent of animals arrive safely, and if animals have to be unloaded more times, I think there’s a risk of additional stress to the animals and it might actually make worse outcomes,” he said. MacPherson pointed to a lack of infrastructure to accommodate additional rest stops.

Pigs and horse are included in the amendments. The total allowable time pigs can be on the road is being lowered to 28 hours from 36. Ravneet Kaur, a spokesperson for Sask. Pork said she was pleased to see the amended transport regulations finally move forward after years of discussions.

“Although most producers will not be affected by this change, we do have some producers who ship long distances,” she said.

Kaur said she was still reviewing the new regulation changes announced last week, so needed more time to understand the full impact.

According to a news release from the CFIA, the changes are the results of extensive consultations with farm groups, transporters, members of the public and interested groups. The CFIA received over 51,000 responses — a number they referred to as unprecedented.

The proposed changes are scheduled to take effect in February 2020.

—

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell