Positive signs for the status of avian influenza in Canada

Jun 20, 2023

One thing we can be sure of is that things will evolve and change. Since 2021 Canadians have been battling the emergence of avian influenza H5N1. This spring signs are hopeful as the number of infections have declined across the country for both commercial and non-commercial poultry owners. Some provinces have reported no infections. This has CFIA hopeful that summer will be less eventful.

Vigilance will be ramped up for wild bird migration this fall. Fingers-crossed as it has been a stressful few years for poultry owners, on top of an already stressful time. In the meantime, officials express concern for poultry owners who may be experiencing biosecurity fatigue.

For more information and discussion on topics that matter like biosecurity fatigue subscribe here and get Small Farm Canada delivered straight to your door!

Click here to see more...

Video: 2026 T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science - Dan Weary

T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science: "Using science to assess and improve the welfare of dairy cattle"

Dan Weary is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. Dan did his BSc and MSc at McGill and Doctorate at Oxford before co-founding UBC’s Animal Welfare Program where he now co-directs this active research group. His research focuses on understanding the perspectives of animals and applying these insights to develop methods of assessing animal welfare and improving the lives of animals. His work has helped drive changes in practices (including the adoption of higher milk rations for calves and pain management for disbudding) and housing methods (including the adoption of social housing for pre-weaned calves). He also studies cow comfort and lameness, social interactions among cows, and interactions between cows, human handlers and technologies like automated millking systems that are increasingly used on farms. His presentation will outline key questions in cattle welfare, highlight recent UBC research addressing them, and showcase innovative methods for improving the lives of cattle and their caretakers.