November 30, 2021:
> He said the Kooymans, owners of Chilliwack Cattle Sales, the largest dairy farm on the province, took 700 cows alone. Source
From 2017:
Chilliwack cow abusers sentenced to jail time
> In December, Chilliwack Cattle Sales was fined $300,000 after president Kenneth Kooyman pleaded guilty to three charges of animal cruelty on behalf of the farm itself and his brother Wesley, a company director, pleaded guilty to one charge personally. Four other former farm employees are also facing animal cruelty charges. They are expected in court on May 29.
We saw another high profile animal cruelty case last month with Cedar Valley Farms: B.C. farm has dairy licence suspended amid animal cruelty allegations. There is a close connection between Cedar Valley Farms and Chilliwack Cattle Sales. The veterinarian for Chilliwack Cattle Sales at the time of the animal abuses cases was Dr. Rich Vanderwal, a member of the Vanderwal family who owns and operates Cedar Valley Farms. Despite the animal abuse in this recent case, the BC Milk Marketing Board reinstated Cedar Valley's license just a few weeks after it was suspended.
There needs to be an independent third party or government officials posted at Chilliwack Cattle Sales that monitors this company with such a large influx of vulnerable animals. Anyone who is familiar with either of these cases, these individuals, and these companies will get a sinking feeling knowing that hundreds of animals are placed into the "care" of notorious animal abusers.
I stumbled upon this very disturbing article yesterday but only just realised that it's from almost exactly a year ago, and with recent news on high nitrates found in ground water testing in Canterbury it's becoming more and more obvious that this is a serious problem, one that Fonterra just refuses to deal with in favour of dumping toxins on bare farm land and turning a blind eye to the environmental havoc. Agriculture also makes up around 48% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Putting aside my frustration that custodians of the land can treat the very earth that sustains them in this way - something needs to be done.
I know dairy is a huge industry in NZ - especially since the pandemic has wiped out tourism - but it just seems crazy to continue on like this. Ecosystems are collapsing due to the huge populations of cows and their associated waste, along with all of the fertiliser and pasture related chemicals leeching into the soil and waterways. This is also leading to the tainting - and essentially the poisoning of our drinking water now.
I'm aware of the measures we can take in the short(er) term to cut down on emissions and harmful chemicals (seaweed feed for cows, natural, phosphate free fertilizers etc.), but ultimately it comes down to lessening our dependency on the industry.
With only 6 years until climate change is a steam roller we can't stop, I feel the ever pressing need to do something. The question is, what great ideas do people have to transition farmers into a more sustainable produce? I was going to say stock, but I think farming animals in general needs to decrease all together. So are there people out there working on this? Clever ways of funding transitions for farmers perhaps or schemes for reducing farming for export?
Would love to hear a good thoughtful discussion on this, I would love to know how I can get involved to further this cause in a constructive way that helps farmers and the environment. Please keep it civil, don't throw shit, just good suggestions and ideas. Thanks in advance.
Title says it all.
I know, I know, Canada is absolutely huge and farming can be anything.
I've got a 2 year working holiday visa for Canada, other than flying to Toronto I have no plans. I've spent 2+ years working on various dairy farms across UK, Australia and New zealand. I'm not exactly limited to dairy, as I have a fair bit of tractor experience too, I just like working with livestock.
I'm just looking for advice for where to go, I can be absolutely anywhere, I'll be looking for a job pretty early on, I actually seem to miss working when I've got nothing to do, and I'm up at at 4am every day because of working in the industry. I've had a look online and a lot of the farms seem to be pretty small <200, most farms I've worked on have been 300-650 dairy farms, so do people need outside help? Or am I best looking at other aspects of farming?
Every job I've had so far has provided me with housing, and some with a form of vehicle which I maintained, does this happen in Canada too?
I'm 23, female and english. I fly into Toronto on the 21st June, I have a week there with a friend, then hoping to find work.
Does anyone know of a farm/brand that has unpasteurized dairy products in Kenya? I'm talking raw cheeses and butters...
https://preview.redd.it/x4udq5x8tdo31.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9118756552e57e4b693e4c1c95a0700568e8a4f7
Taken from the Animal Protection Party of Canada: [1]
"There is nothing green about the dairy industry, so why does the Green Party of Canada want to go backwards on Canada's new, evidence-based food policy?With climate breakdown upon us, now is not the time for pandering to the dairy industry, a major green-house gas emitter, land and water user, and cruel industry for animals. Now is the time to remove subsidies from animal agriculture and to begin phasing out this ecologically and socially destructive industry.The Animal Protection Party of Canada is the only political party in Canada committed to these goals and which recognizes that cow's milk is for baby cows." [2]
Sad to see that the Green Party takes this stance and would want to continue the exploitation of dairy cows.
Read for yourself on page 38: Green Party Platform
ps Still a new redditor in regards to posting... hope to cross post to several smaller vegan groups. I think thats ok!
edit: changed location of photo in post
Hi all, I tried researching this question, but couldn't find any definite answers online.
Basically, Canada has a strict quota system on dairy, meaning you have to buy an expensive quota to have the right to produce and sell a set amount of milk. But does this apply if you don't intend to sell your dairy? E.g., have some dairy goats on a homestead just to produce for personal consumption.
Thanks in advance!
A friend recently started calling himself a "sentientist" in his bio and has been posting stuff like this. How does one even respond to this?
https://imgur.com/a/5YOFWkY
Guy has completely gone off the deep end.
My brother and I are in a heated argument about this: were there farming practices before the arrival of Columbus in North America ( by the Indians).
Under farming practices we understand: growing crops like wheat and/or keeping animals.
English is not my first language; sorry in advance.
