What is a cull animal?
Fire prevention on the farm
You may think an animal is culled only when it has a disease that threatens the entire herd. However, the truth is that some cull animals can be removed from the herd and used for other purposes. Cull animals may be too old for breeding or, in the case of racehorses for example, for competition. Once the animal reaches a certain age, it’s susceptible to various health problems, such as lameness, infertility, mastitis or arthritis, and is more prone to injury in general. In the case of poultry or dairy breeds, the animal may no longer be able to produce eggs or milk. Dairy cows or breeding sows, for example, are gen- erally sold at auction and then taken to a slaugh-
terhouse to be processed into ground meat, sausages, bacon and other meat products. These carcasses are also valued for their hides. Even their bones may be processed into meal to be used in animal feed. Laying hens may also be sold for their meat. Sometimes, however, they may be adopted by fam- ĩŀĩĉźȶɫ áźɫ ƃĥĉĩŴɫ ŀőƤĉŴɫ ĉğğɫ űŴőĄƉþƃĩőňɫ ĩźɫ źƉdžþĩĉňƃɫ ƃőɫ meet the needs of a single household. It’s helpful to understand these practices to better appreciate the many roles animals play throughout their lives.
Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW) takes place during the third week of March. It serves as an important reminder that safety begins with prevention. Farms contain many fire hazards; even one small spark can quickly lead to devastating losses. Use this 10-step þĥĉþĽŀĩźƃɫƃőɫĥĉŀűɫĽĉĉűɫƪőƉŴɫĞáŴŇɫLjŴĉɏĞŴĉĉȵ 1. Clear the clutter. Remove brush, weeds, tall grass and debris from barns and yards. Keep ljáŇŇáýŀĉɫŇáƃĉŴĩáŀźɫáƤáƪɫĞŴőŇɫĥĉáƃɫźőƉŴþĉźȵ 2. Store materials properly. Store hazardous products, such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers, according to manufacturer recommendations. Ǖȵɫ IŇűŴőƣĉɫ áĩŴljőƤȵɫ *ňźƉŴĉɫ űŴőűĉŴɫ ƣĉňƃĩŀáƃĩőňɫ ƃőɫ prevent the buildup of chemical vapours and silo gases. Store hay only when fully dry. Monitor bale temperatures. 4. Maintain electrical equipment. Protect exposed wiring with conduit and keep it away from animals and weather. Hire a licensed electrician to inspect farm buildings annually. 5. Service machinery regularly. Maintain and
regularly clean engines, motors and equipment to reduce the risk of malfunctions and overheating. 6. Enforce no-smoking rules. Prohibit smoking in and around farm buildings and dispose of cigarettes properly. 7. Refuel safely. Refuel equipment outdoors, away from ýƉĩŀĄĩňğźɫáňĄɫőűĉňɫljáŇĉźȵɫŀƤáƪźɫźĥƉƃɫĉųƉĩűŇĉňƃ őDžɫáňĄɫáŀŀőƤɫĩƃɫƃőɫþőőŀɫýĉĞőŴĉɫŴĉĞƉĉŀŀĩňğȵ 8. Install lightning protection. Use approved lightning rods and grounding systems on metal structures. Inspect grounding cables regularly and repair damage promptly. 9. Use heaters mindfully. Operate space heaters only when someone is present. Keep them away from livestock, bedding and other combustibles. Ǔǒȵɫ IňƣĉźƃɫĩňɫLjŴĉɫĉƩƃĩňğƉĩźĥĉŴźȵɫIňźƃáŀŀɫĉƩƃĩňğƉĩźĥĉŴźɫĩňɫáŀŀ buildings and on machinery. Train everyone on how to use them and inspect them regularly. Âɫ ĩźɫ ƃĥĉɫ űĉŴĞĉþƃɫ ƃĩŇĉɫ ƃőɫ ŴĉƣĩĉƤɫ ƪőƉŴɫ LjŴĉɫ źáĞĉƃɫƪɫ practices. Taking these simple, proactive steps can protect lives, livestock and livelihoods.
LES ENTREPRISES AGRICOLES S’ARRACHENT NOS TECHNICIENS
EXPLORE CES PROGRAMMES: + Gestion de la nutrition et des services alimentaires + Techniques agricoles – production animale et grandes cultures + Techniques agricoles – production de fruits et légumes
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