Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. farmers finding ways to protect animals

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Nov, 2021 12:05 PM
  • B.C. farmers finding ways to protect animals

Farmers in southern British Columbia are coming together to save livestock as parts of the Fraser Valley remain under water from devastating flooding, says a member of the association that represents the province's dairy farmers.

Holger Schwichtenberg, chair of the board for the BC Dairy Association, said he was not yet sure how many farmers were working to move their milking cows, but in such situations, they would reach out for help to get their animals off site.

He said 25 to 30 cows were being transported to his own farm in Agassiz on Tuesday from another farm in the Fraser Valley, east of Vancouver.

"This is an example of an industry coming together when things really get ugly," Schwichtenberg said. "We're doing the best that we can with the situation that we've been handed and it's a tough one."

Moving livestock is time consuming and stressful for the animals and people involved.

"You've got trucks, you've got neighbours, you've got whoever's got a pickup truck or something to haul cattle in and you start moving them to higher ground or you've made arrangements to get them off site," Schwichtenberg said.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun detailed some of the rescue efforts for farm animals happening in his Fraser Valley community during a news conference where he announced an evacuation order for 1,100 homes in the Sumas Prairie area.

Braun said Tuesday he witnessed residents using powerboats to haul cows out of barns that were overrun with water. People were trying to put calves into boats and trudging through cold water to make sure their animals weren't left behind, he said.

"They want to protect their animals. Many would give their lives for their animals," Braun told reporters.

"It breaks my heart to see what's happening to those farmers."

The mayor said he's also concerned that livestock feed could run out.

"We have thousands and thousands of dairy cows on that prairie."

Schwichtenberg had yet to hear of any losses of animals, but he said this week's flooding has put a strain on the industry still reeling from a disastrous summer.

"We had a long, hot summer, we had a very poor growing season unless you had irrigation, the ongoing effects of COVID, and now we have this situation," he said.

"It's testing the resilience of dairy farmers, that's for sure."

Dairy farmers in flood-affected British Columbia are being asked to dump milk because mudslides and road washouts have made it impossible to transport

The B.C. Milk Marketing Board is advising producers in areas like Abbotsford, Chilliwack and the B.C. Interior to dispose of their milk by dumping into manure piles.

Mudslides and flooding have cut several key highways in the province.

Many B.C. dairy producers have no road access at all to their farms right now.

In other cases where milk can be picked up from the farm, there is nowhere for it to go.

There are no roads available to enter the B.C. Lower Mainland for milk delivery, and only limited road access to Alberta.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada mulls donation for unused COVID-19 vaccines

Canada mulls donation for unused COVID-19 vaccines
Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says provincial and federal governments are working to figure out how many doses will be needed in Canada so that everyone can be fully vaccinated, and get a booster if they need one.

Canada mulls donation for unused COVID-19 vaccines

Public service vax requirement spawns complaints

Public service vax requirement spawns complaints
The Liberal government announced earlier this month that core public servants must be vaccinated against the virus or face suspension without pay as early as Nov. 15.    

Public service vax requirement spawns complaints

What is the 'delta plus' variant of the coronavirus?

What is the 'delta plus' variant of the coronavirus?
Scientists are monitoring the delta-related variant — known as AY.4.2. — to see if it might spread more easily or be more deadly than previous versions of the coronavirus. In a recent report, U.K. officials said this variant makes up 6% of all analyzed COVID-19 cases in the country and is “on an increasing trajectory.”

What is the 'delta plus' variant of the coronavirus?

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine more than 90% effective in kids

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine more than 90% effective in kids
The shots could begin in early November, with the first children in line fully protected by Christmas, if regulators give the go-ahead. That would represent a major expansion of the nation's vaccine drive, encompassing roughly 28 million elementary school-age youngsters.

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine more than 90% effective in kids

Green Party to drop legal action against leader

Green Party to drop legal action against leader
Two senior party members who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter say members of the federal council and the Green Party of Canada Fund met over the past week to call off their court action.

Green Party to drop legal action against leader

People allergic to mRNA shot OK for 2nd dose: NACI

People allergic to mRNA shot OK for 2nd dose: NACI
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says there have been cases of severe anaphylactic reactions to mRNA vaccines documented in Canada after their first dose.

People allergic to mRNA shot OK for 2nd dose: NACI