Unit 1 Notes - Dr. O\'Sullivan Livestock Management and Production Systems PDF

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Dr. O'Sullivan Livestock Management and Production Systems...

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POPM*4230 Animal Health Unit 1: Livestock Management + Production Systems Canadian Dairy Industry Dairy Production: The Basics - Produces raw, fluid milk stored in bulk tank - Tanker trunks pick up milk + assess quality every pick-up o Sample taken to evaluate + ensure highest quality:  Bacterial counts  Presence of chemicals/drug residues  Somatic cells - Milk is processed from raw form into different products or pasteurized into fluid milk Farms, Cows and Heifers - Canadian dairy industry made up of: o 10,000 farms o Nearly 1 million dairy cows o Nearly 500k dairy heifers - Majority of farms reside in Ontario and Quebec Milk Production & Dairy Products - Only 30% fluid milk is sold as fluid milk - The rest is used as ingredients to produce other dairy products Managing Supply in the Dairy Industry - Supply Management System (Quota System) o Based on planned domestic production o Administered pricing and import controls o Reasons for supply management:  Prevent shortages and surpluses  Ensure farmers are paid a fair price  Provide consumers with consistent access to high quality product Quality Assurance - proAction - Offers proof to customers that they ensure milk quality, safety and welfare - Six Key Modules o Milk quality o Food safety o Animal care o Livestock traceability o Biosecurity o Environmental sustainability

Canadian Beef Industry Beef Production - Canadian beef industry made up of: o 60,000 farms o 3.83 million cattle o Majority in Alberta Ontario Beef - Nearly 300,000 cattle (7.5% of industry) - Avg herd size = 147 - Diverse range: o Large indoor feedlots + commercial cow-calf herds o Small hobby + show producers - Represented by Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) o Developing and promoting animal care + environmental programs o Engaging with industry and government stakeholders to advocate membership Beef Production Systems - Cow-Calf Operations o Mainly female animals producing 1 calf / year o Bred in summer by herd bull + calve early spring o Cow + calf kept together 7-8 months + transitioned to grain diet + sold to feedlot o Typically pasture operation in summer + overwintering in barns o Profitability impacted by:  Grain price  Calf price  Cow reproductive success rate - Feedlots o Weaned calves (7-8 MOA) sold to feedlot o Grain fed diets for 200 days then sent for slaughter (15-17 MOA) o Typically slatted-floor or bedded pack barns o Profitability impacted by:  Purchase prices at auction  Efficiency with how animals convert feed to gain Quality Assurance - Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) o Incorporates on-farm recording + auditing of farms o Focus on:  Animal care  Biosecurity  Environmental stewardship

 Food safety Canadian Pork Industry Pork Production - 22.2 million swine in Canada - Majority in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba - 3rd largest agricultural export in Canada Hog Production - Housed depending on stage of production o Breeding + farrowing barns  Gestating + lactating sows  Nursing piglets o Nursery barn  Weaned piglets o Finishing barn  Pigs - Majority = farrow-finishing - AVG herd size = 200-300 sows Swine Production Stages - Farrowing o Gilts + sows housed in breeding barns where they are bred via AI or boar o Groups or individual pens o Confirmed pregnancy moved to gestation area (group pens) o Gestation length = 115 days o Toward end pregnant sow moved to farrowing room - Farrow Housing o Sows approaching farrowing housed in farrowing crates (reduce risk of crushing piglets) o Tail docking occurs around 1-4 DOA to reduce risk of tail biting - Weaning o Litters of 10-15 piglets weaned around 21 days to nursery area for 6-8 weeks  After weaning sows return to breeding facility (bred up to 3 times/year) o Housed in groups o Commonly exported/sold to another producer to manage finisher stage - Finishing o About 10 WOA housed in groups o Fed high corn and soybean diet o Market weight = 110kg + shipped for slaughter Quality Assurance - Canadian Pork Excellence

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o Traceability – PigTrace o Food Safety – PigSafe o Animal Care – PigCare On-farm record inspected annually Site inspected / 3 years Evaluated employee training and protocols, barn maintenance, ventilation, flooring, feed and water

Canadian Poultry Industry Poultry Production - Majority found in BC, Ontario and Quebec - Large contributor to GDP and exports - Marketing organizations o Chicken Farmers of Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada and Turkey Farmers of Canada o Determine demands of market + quota allowances Poultry Production Lifecycle - Broilers - Layers - Turkeys Broilers - Eggs incubated 21 days, after 18 moved to hatcher, after hatching chicks are sexed, inspected for health, vaccinated + shipped to rearing farms - Broiler + Turkey Housing o Large group areas w/ access to feed + water o Broilers stay 32-56 days (depending on size requirement o Turkeys stay 14-17 WOA Layers -

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First arrive = housed in pullet barn until maturity 18 WOA diet is adjusted to ensure Ca:Ph ratio appropriate egg production demands Exposure to light also adjusted to optimize egg production Typically lay first egg 18-22 WOA + peak production 32-35 WOA Layer Housing o Free range  Allows freedom of movement + natural behaviours  Stress + exhibit pecking/cannibalistic behaviour o Battery cages o Lay eggs on wire floors + roll to be collected Lifespan = just over 1 year: lean + marketed as lower quality meat

Managing Supply - 3 Pillars of Supply Management o Import Control  Determine how much the industry needs o Production planning  Supply kept steady by determining how much is required every quota period o Producer pricing  Negotiation of fair price based on production costs - Producers required to purchase quota for the right to market their product Quality Assurance - On-farm inspections + audits - Food safety - Biosecurity - Animal care - Sustainability Canadian Sheep and Goat Industry -

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3 primary commodities o Meat (lambs) o Dairy (goats) o Fibre/wool (sheep) Sizes of farms vary greatly

Sheep - Majority in Ontario and Alberta - Major export - Represented by Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) o Promote industry on all matters Goats - Majority in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario - Herd sizes AVG 200-1000 animals - Represented by Ontario Goat Small Ruminant Housing - Bedded group pens - Naturally ventilated - Pasture in spring and summer

Quality Insurance - No mandatory programs - OSF administer voluntary flock health programs - Must adhere to food safety standards + regulations by OMAFRA + CFIA...