February 19, 2014

N'EWES Quarterly N'EWESletter of the BC Sheep Federation Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

Postal Mail Sales Agreement #40831051.

Any returns please send to: Box 2356 Princeton, BC V0X 1W0

www.bcsheepfed.com

OFFICERS & DIRECTORS BC Sheep Federation

A message from our Editor

President Roma Tingle 250-963-7301 Fort George Shepherds Association rhtingle@xplornet.com

It has been awhile, but we are back publishing The N'ewes after a bit of a stall.

Our funding through a Sheep Industry Development grant had run out, as had some of my personal pep for volunteering my time for this job of editing a full 5 colour magazine.

In order for this publication to continue, we need subscriptions and membership numbers to encourage advertising in order to support itself financially.

If you like it - pass it along to other sheep people. Contributions, letters, pictures, articles or just ideas of what you would like to see, are all welcome.

Contact me.

Past President Barbara Johnstone-Grimmer 250-629-3819 Representative to Canadian Sheep Federation and Inter Island Sheep Breeders Association firhill@gulfislands.com Vice President Dena Finlay 250-546-6223 Okanagan Shuswap Sheep Producers finlaysfarm@gmail.com Recording & Membership Secretary Barbara Ydenberg 604-856-3365/ 604-727-4182 Lower Mainland Sheep Producers Association bydenberg@gmail.com OFFS Steering Committee Rep Val Gerber 250-676-9234 Upper North Thompson Sheep Breeders Association stump_pasture42@xplornet.com

~ Bev Greenwell 250-295-6419 happyhollow@nethop.net SPRING 2014 Editor - Bev Greenwell Please make payments for memberships, subscriptions and advertising to: Barbara Ydenberg 27382 84th Avenue Langley, B.C. V1M3L4 bydenberg@gmail.com PRODUCED FOR THE BC SHEEP FEDERATION BCFS N'EWES articles may be reprinted in other publications, on condition that the content is unchanged and credit given to N'EWES as the source. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors an do not imply the support of the BC Sheep Federation.

The editorial board has the right to refuse material which it considers unsuitable for insertion or to edit material to conform to space availability.

Creative & Published by;

SPOTLIGHT The Similkameen

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY Annual subscription: $37 locally, $57 elsewhere in Canada Creative Production: Lisa Carleton - Associate Publisher/Editor

Neville Eccles 250-838-2622 BC Purebred Sheep Breeders' Association yorkiecan@telus.net Rob Horstman 250-992-8447 Quesnel Sheep Producers Association hbpaints@gmail.com Bev Greenwell 250-295-6419 Editor N'EWES happyhollow@nethop.net

BCFS MISSION STATEMENT

To promote sustained growth and development of a unified, market responsive, profitable and commercially viable sheep industry in British Columbia.

Website: http://bcsheepfed.com

Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com

Street Address: 282 Bridge Box 340 • Princeton, B.C. V0X 1W0 Phone: 250-295-3535 Fax: 250-295-7322 Email: lisa@similkameenspotlight.com

Rod Hennecker 250-395-3580 Cariboo Sheep Breeders Association ceeds@bcinternet.net

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Advertising Contact:

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Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

BC PUREBRED SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

REPORTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Officers and Directors................................................... Page 02

~ Bev Greenwell

N

eville Eccles of Mara, BC was elected the new BC Sheep Federation representative for the BCPSBA at the AGM held in Armstrong in October.

Anna Green, also of Armstrong was elected president. After 10 years as the BCSF rep, I am pleased to pass this position on to Neville. Hopefully he can bring some new ideas and enthusiasm to the BCSF board.

2013 was a huge year for BCPSBA as they hosted the All Canada Classic Sheep Show and Sale in Barriere in June.

294 Purebred , registered sheep representing 15 breeds from across Canada were presented for sale at the Show.

239 were sold with ewes averaging $451 and Rams $613.

Attendance at both the show and sale were much higher than expected, drawing an excited and enthusiastic crowd to the little town of Barriere. All motel rooms were booked solid!

Two BC breeders showed particularly well with the Hope family of Langley taking home the Supreme Champion Ewe prize with their yearling Charolais Ewe and Conygeers (Don and Debra Wytinck) of Nanaimo taking the Supreme Champion Flock.

The Classic was a huge job, with many many hours of volunteer effort from a few number of people, we all need to tip our hats ‘to a job well done’ folks!

REPORTS BC Purebred Sheep Breeders......................................Page 03 Canadian Sheep Federation Report.............................Page 04 Cariboo Sheep Breeders Association Report...............Page 05 Okanagan Shuswap Report..........................................Page 06 Inter-Island Report........................................................Page 07 Lower Mainland Report................................................ Page 08 SHEEP CODE OF PRACTICE.....................................Page 09 NEWS Provincial Predator Conflict Prevention..........................Page 10 Coombs Farmers’ Institute Dog Committee.................. Page 12 2013 Seminar & Field Day.............................................Page 14 CCWG Wool Industry News..........................................Page 15 HEALTH Coccidia and Coccidiosis..............................................Page 16 Ergot Contamination.....................................................Page 18 SHEEP BITS 'N BITES Starting the Stockdog....................................................Page 19 Dangerous Liasions......................................................Page 20 Necessity is the Mother of Invention.............................Page 22 Breeders Page..............................................................Page 22 Membership Form.........................................................Page 24

How hard are you working... Would you like a break?

Find out how by attending the annual seminar/symposium on October 3 & 4, 2014

The Upper North Thompson Sheep Producer's Association invite you to attend the BC SHEEP FEDERATION Sheep Symposium and Annual General Meeting in the beautiful North Thompson Valley in Wells Gray country, Clearwater (80 miles north of Kamloops) We are busy planning a weekend of learning and fun with some great speakers already booked!

VISIT www.wellsgray.ca or tourismwellsgray.org or google Helmcken Falls!

Why not plan now to make this a holiday destination — visit the world renowned Wells Gray Provincial Park before or after the symposium!

COME VISIT THE PARK OF THE WATERFALLS! Phone Valerie Gerber for more info: 250-676-9234 or stump_pasture42@xplornet.com

www.bcsheepfed.com

3

NATIONAL Report CANADIAN SHEEP FEDERATION ~ Barbara Johnstone Grimmer

T

he CSF AGM and Sheep Value Chain Roundtable was held November 20-22, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario.

The AGM solidified changes to the organization that the CSF Board has been working on for the past year. Highlights for the year included the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer MacTavish, searching for, interviewing and hiring our new Executive Director Corlena Patterson, streamlining CSF by reducing the size of our Board and working on our budget to move towards a more sustainable sheep producer’s national organization.

Our Chairman, Andrew Gordanier and Treasurer Dennis Fischer were thanked for their service to the organization and the sheep industry, and our new CSF Executive was elected.

Phil Kolodychuk from Alberta was elected as Chair, Rob Scott from Ontario was elected as Vice-Chair, Barbara Johnstone Grimmer of British Columbia was elected as Treasurer, Cathy Gallivan of New Brunswick was elected as Secretary.

The Board approved the by-law amendments proposed by the governance committee, which would have one director per province with a weighted vote, and quorum would be over 60 percent of members in good standing representing over 60 percent of the ewe flock.

The Executive were tasked with pursuing the creation of a Promotion and Research Agency for the Canadian sheep industry. The Canadian Cooperative Woolgrowers and Canadian Sheep Breeders Association will be part of the renewed Staff Advisory Committee, as the new CSF will be a federation of provinces. Communications will be given a high priority.

The CSF Board also reviewed operations, as the new office will move to the Ottawa area but mailing address will remain the same. The CFIA presented the Health of Animals Regulations and consulted with the Board on traceability requirements. Consultation will continue through the spring of 2014, and the CSF will help coordinate webinars between provinces and the CFIA. Farm Products Council presented on options through the agency, and CSF decided that a Promotion and Research Agency would suit our market structure and we will explore this.

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Dan Sandys Phone: 250-833-2373 Email: mdbarns@telus.net

(T) All Canada Classic Supreme Champion Flock won by Don and Debra Wytinck of Nanaimo , BC with their North Country Cheviots. (B) All Canada Classic Supreme Champion Ewe won

by Hope Family of Langley, BC with a Charollais Ewe.

The Sheep Value Chain Roundtable was sponsored by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, and had representatives from various levels of the chain; producers, processors, retailers, regulators. There were 1.5 days of presentations and discussions. Working groups presented their results.

The Expansion Working Group is exploring the ability to collect national benchmarking data for cost of production analysis through FCC’s AgExpert Software, and there may perhaps be an opportunity for producers to get a discount on the software.

The Medications Working Group organized a Roundtable Webconference in mid-January. Producers who have issues with medications, whether it be wormer resistance or lack of options, should contact their provincial representatives (BCSF) so this information can be sent to the WG for action.

Sheep are under the MUMS program – Minor Use Minor Species – and sheep fall under minor species. Drug companies rarely include sheep in their applications to government, and government is requiring more on-label use. Off-label use is restricted to a vet prescription and approval.

The most recent success for sheep is Baycox, an on-label drug newly approved in Canada for sheep. Baycox is a coccidiostat medication. The Research Working Group is refining the sheep industry’s research priorities.

The Roundtable is considering a Meat Quality Working Group. The Roundtable selected a representative (from Sungold) to be part of an Industry Advisory Group related to Market Access and Trade, and a webconference will be hosted shortly.

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Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

REPORTS

CARIBOO SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION ~ Cynthia Mailhot, Vice President

W

ow, it seemed like we still had half of our projects left over from the summer and winter creeped up on us.

We left the market lambs outside in the field longer last year and found they just used up their growing energy in keeping warm so hopefully this is a better solution for a quicker finish.

One thing we did have a problem this fall was with mushrooms.

The warm days and damp cool foggy nights were perfect for their growth. Three of the market lambs had belly aches, about three days apart.

First one died, we couldn’t come up with a viable reason.

Second one was put in the barn, treated him with all sorts of things, de-wormer, charcoal, etc. He lingered for about 10 days, getting skinnier, just picking at his food. Halfway into treating the second one, a third one went down.

It was at this point that my daughter discovered some mushrooms in their outside pen, squashed most of them as she thought several of them looked nibbled on. I found an intact one under some stinging nettle and did a little investigation.

Turns out it was probably an Amanita mushroom, Destroying Angel. Almost always fatal. Half a mushroom (and they are small) is enough to kill an adult. They ALMOST looked like button mushrooms or puffballs in their early stages.

When the third lamb went down he was gone in hours.

Ann Armann at Lone Butte with her sheep and goats.

This was pretty harsh, as they were only about 5-10 lbs from being ready to slaughter. A few days after that, one of the little left over bottle babies came across some different mushrooms in an entirely different area. These were Galerina (pretty yellow/brown) mushrooms growing in a cluster, with a huge variety around the world, all poisonous. And yes, they looked nibbled on. And you wonder why I don’t go wild mushroom picking? Not a chance. This is the first time that I have seen these particular mushrooms and I will be on the lookout for them from now on and remove them. Motto of my story: If it’s not one thing killing your sheep (NO predation this year, YAY) it’s another.

My husband Keith and I attended this years AGM in Prince George, and thanks go out to everyone who had a hand in making it a terrific success. We greatly enjoyed ourselves, talking to everyone, the seminar, the farm visit, the dog demo and especially the food.

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REPORTS OKANAGAN SHUSWAP SHEEP PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION ~ Rhodena Finlay

O

SSPA takes the summer off from regular meetings but we annually hold a summer social which gets everyone together for a time of visiting and of course eating. This past summer our social was held at the home/garden of Marge Bomford in Vernon with members bringing their favourite salads and desserts and for the first time featured a whole BBQ lamb, roasted by Bruce Husband and donated by Finlay Farm. The afternoon of visiting and the meal were enjoyed by approximately 30 sheep producers and guests.

The fall season found Okanagan Shuswap Sheep Producers’ Association gearing up for another season of activity. At our September meeting we discussed ideas for the coming year of meetings and our educational topics. Our AGM was held the same evening with the election of our officers for the coming year. President: Dena Finlay; Vice-President: Patti Thomas; Secretary: Barb Ringstad; Treasurer: Blanche Covey; Representative to the BCSF: Dena Finlay.

Our website is up and running at www.okanaganshuswapsheep.ca and has information regarding our association, upcoming events and meetings as well as a classified section where members can list sheep and sheep or farm related items for sale.

Several of our members recently attended the BCSF AGM

A few members of OSSPA attending the All Canada Classic Sheep Show and Sale in Barriere.

and seminars in Prince George. This was a first time I have attended and I think that the BCSF and the Fort George Shepherds Association, with a special mention to Roma Tingle, deserve a huge thank-you for such a well run event.

Many of the topics presented at the seminar gave us ideas for educational topics for future meetings of OSSPA. I know that those of us who were able to attend found it very informative and we left feeling that much has been done to assure that sheep producers will have a voice in the agricultural community in the future. With issues such as the “Code” being put in place I am most thankful that we have had Val Gerber representing sheep producers in the province at the meetings for discussion.

I would also like to say thanks to Barbara Johnstone-Grimmer for her work as our CSF representative and to Roma Tingle for her work with the Predator Conflict committee. I became acutely aware of our need to send messages to the various “powers that be” that we are out here and need to be heard.

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Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

INTER ISLAND SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION ~ Barbara Johnstone Grimmer

I

ISBA has been very busy recently, starting with the AGM held on September 29, 2013. There is a renewed interest in educational programs, and we started with a field day, Forage and Land Management for Raising Sheep, presented and hosted by John and Lorraine Buchanan. Highlights from the field day have been compiled and are posted on the new website. The next event was at the Vancouver Island Agriculture Show at Cowichan Exhibition Park. IISBA co-hosted a speaker on February 7 – Dale Engstrom, Ruminant Nutritionist, spoke on “Making Maximum Use of your Home Grown Feeds”.

The next event will be on May 3, topic to be announced.

The Salt Spring Farmers’ Institute is also hosting a sheep related event of interest – a Sheep Hide Tanning Workshop on February 22-23. These events and more are on our new website, produced by Cynthia Tupholme and assisted by the website committee of Martha McMahon, Lorraine Buchanan, Celeste Lacroix, Lorea Tomsin , a grant from the Sheep Industry Development Fund, and funding from IISBA. Our new website is at www.interislandsheepbreeders.com, and we encourage all sheep producers on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands to check it out and make use of it – let us know how it can be improved, submit photos and

your own local events, and keep in touch. Communication, education and support of sheep producers is an emphasis of IISBA. We also have a Facebook page www.facebook.com/ interislandsheepbreeders .

Founded in the 1960’s, IISBA serves sheep producers of Vancouver Island and all adjacent islands of this region of British Columbia. IISBA’s mission statement is “To bring together the sheep producers of the Vancouver Island Coastal Region of British Columbia, for the sharing of knowledge regarding all aspects of the sheep industry”. Our annual membership dues are $10.00. At this year’s AGM, there was a motion to vote on increasing the membership to $20 at next year’s AGM. This motion passed. The next AGM will be Sunday September 28, 2014. Location will be announced, and will be based on the proximity to the majority of members.

Other AGM news supported a continuation of the N’Ewes in the paper format; members really appreciate receiving this quarterly newsletter.

Recent activities around dog attacks have resulted in the formation of a Coombs Farmers’ Institute Dog Committee (see report in this issue of the N’Ewes).

Our new board members are: President, Lorea Tomsin; Vice President, Griff Tripp; Secretary, Celeste Lacroix; Treasurer, Jacques Campbell;, Directors at Large; Tina Carin and Martha McMahon; BCSF Representative, Barbara Grimmer.

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REPORTS LOWER MAINLAND SHEEP PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION ~ Marianne Iberg LMSPA Fleece Sale Coordinator

A

pproximately 100 fibre enthusiasts and sheep producers attended Belmont Farm in Langley on Saturday, September 14, 2013 to take part in the annual Lower Mainland Sheep Producers Association (LMSPA) Fleece Show & Sale.

Fleece committee chair, Marianne Iberg, said attendees as far away as Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast joined us in a day of education and in support of local growers.

The fleeces were judged by Sherry Stewart of Maple Ridge, with the assistance of Scribe Lynne Anderson of White Rock and then put on display and sold by silent auction.

The public event featured several well-known local Vendors and Artisans who added to the festivities of the day including demonstrations of sheep shearing and spinning.

Top three overall winners.

A most informative and educative commentary benefiting all club members and guests, was generously provided by long term Langley residents Terry & Sherry Thorne. The Thorne’s comments permitted purchasers to more knowledgably understand sheep breed history, the importance of confirmation and variety of fleece from each breed.

In addition, attendees were treated to the appearance of

Sheep shearing demonstration.

Judy Glibbery a founding member of the LMSPA, currently residing in Armstrong BC. Mrs. Glibbery made the commute to generously comment on the quality of the fleece being exhibited, in addition to presenting the “Glibery/Tuytel Spinners Choice Award” . This year’s award went to Johanna Walker with honorable mention going to Jacqueline Brind of Acacia Acres. The Grand Champion fleece was awarded to Ann Embra; and Reserve Champion fleece to Susan Russell. For a complete list of the 2013 LMSPA Fleece Sale winners please visit our website at www.lmspa.ca All judges commented on the substantial improvement in the quality of the fleece.

LMSPA extends special thanks and appreciation to Kati’s Mennonite Kitchen from Hope, BC for providing catering services. This event, however, would not be possible without the following valued community sponsors: Alder Glen Hay Sales, Bonetti Meats, Canadian Wool Growers, Country Feeds, Langley Animal Clinic, Langley Weavers & Spinners Guild, Milner Feed & Pet Supplies, Milner Village Gardens, Otter Co-op and Urban Pet. In conclusion, LMSPA welcomes the attendants of anyone interested in learning more about the goals of the Association; sheep and/or fleece production, to their open meetings held the first Thursday of the month at St. George’s Anglican Church, Fort Langley. Consult website for accurate meeting schedule.

Family participation is encouraged and welcome.

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Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

SHEEP CODE OF PRACTICE COMMITTEE ~ Valerie Gerber IT IS FINISHED! It is with great relief I can tell you that the Sheep Code of Practice is now complete was sent for translation and publication on Oct 31/13.

It has been a long, almost three year process of about 15 committee members, meeting 2-3 times per year with many conference calls in between.

I would like to start this report with a comment that was made in the feedback from the public review. I quote, “I would like to extend my thanks to all those who have worked hard on this project for the industry. This is a critical document for the industry and requires regular review. All the issues by their nature are going to be contentious. Some more than others. I know that some of the discussions would not have been easy and that consensus is not always easy or ideal. Thank you for your work and dedication to this project.”

And other quotes from each end of the scale. First from an individual “People can take excellent care for their animals without writing all kinds of protocols and codes.” to…”Animals are not yours to forceably inseminate, confine, torture, steal babies and murder in cold blood. Humans have no right to take animals as property, they belong to themselves. They are not yours. The karma and price you will pay for violating a universal law of justice and love will be your own life and freedom”. So you can see the extremes of those reading the Codes!

And another fairly positive quote from the BCSPCA, “We would like to commend the Sheep CDC for producing a strong Code. While we have indicated a number of recommendations for improvements to the Code, which we feel will make it even more robust both for use in on-farm assessment and in defending sheep industry practices to the public, we feel it is important to recognize the leadership your industry is demonstrating in embracing the Code process and taking progressive steps forward. Thank You!” Overall there were about 146 respondents from all spectrums.

I would be interested to know how many of you here, responded to the public review comment period?

The breakdown of respondents were as follows: Sheep Producers – 51.7%

Government – 20.7% Feedlot Producers – 3.4%

Educator – 3.4% Purebred Producers – 24.1% Researcher – 0% Dairy sheep producers – 0 % Animal Welfare Advocate – 13.8% Lamb consumers – 13.8% Animal Welfare enforcement official – 3.4% Transporter – 6.9% Other - 17.2% Veterinarian – 17.2% Other part of production chain (retail, processer, food service) – 6.9%

So, as you can see there was a good cross section but glad to see there were more producers than others who responded.

I would encourage all of you as you read through the new code, that where there are recommendations and requirements that make you roll your eyes, that you bear in mind the crosssection of people who sat on the committee. There was never any voting on any issue. It always had to come to a consensus.

REPORTS

This made it good but hard.

The biggest fight is with the science – where the scientists and some of the animal welfare vets insist that certain painful procedures are too painful because of scientific data re elevated cortisol levels in tests while such procedures are going on. All the producers present on the committee disagreed with their claims because of what we observe so at least we had solidarity on that! Of course as we all know we as producers do not even have access to many of the pain medications because they are off- label drugs for sheep and in most cases are simply not practical. I did learn though, that antiinflammatory drugs such as metacam are legal for use in sheep but never suggested by our local vets (only ever prescribed for dogs in my experience) and for that I am grateful to find out. We can certainly lessen the pain for our animals where practical and available and none of us were in disagreement about that. I do feel that we sheep producers who were on the committee, educated those others on our committee and they now have a greater understanding of what goes on in the ‘field’ or farm. They have also seen our passion for how much we love and care about our animals! I believe I told some of you that when we were in Charlottetown at the U of PEI, we were all given 10 minutes to share our area of expertise with students and members of the public and many farmers who came to a special eve session. That was the highlight of the whole process. Lots of conversation after that! Also, where you see seemingly excessive rules or protocols – remember that if what you are doing now is working well for you and your sheep – don’t change that. This code is written with the new producer in mind and is also keeping the animal welfare people happy. If your sheep and farm look good there will not be a problem. Remember that many of these people (esp those vets involved with transport issues) see horror stories on a regular basis and are coming from their perspective. We all sat on this committee with our own pair of glasses on and it was a real juggling match to get through it intact!! Regarding the increased mention of working with our local Veterinarians, this was because it is a recognized fact that many vets have little or no sheep experience – but this does not mean we should not be using them. They will only learn by working with us and most of them want to learn. It should be noted that there was one Vet from the U of PEI on the committee who was our best friend and advocate and without him things could have gone much further south than what you see in the code!! He is a Ruminant Farm Services Clinician and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies & Research as well as the rep for CVMA (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association).

I would like to thank Bev Greenwell, once again for asking me to sit on this Code Committee. If I had known exactly what I was getting into I probably would have said ‘no’, but in retrospect I am glad I did and feel I was of some use in helping the process along.

If I am asked to sit on another committee it will be a Standing Committee because I am tired of sitting!

Note: The Sheep Code of Practice is available from any BCSF Director.

www.bcsheepfed.com

9

PROVINCIAL News PROVINCIAL PREDATOR CONFLICT ANNUAL REPORT ~ Sgt. Darrell Ashworth - Provincial Predator Conflict Prevention and Response Coordinator

B

y now most of us have completed haying for the year and are starting to get ready for fall and the associated tasks that go along with it.

I hope all of you had a chance to enjoy a bit of the summer weather.

As the Provincial Coordinator, I am required to develop a Provincial Livestock-Predator Conflict Annual Report.

The report is derived from the data (complaints) that were submitted to our Call Center by the public, and data received directly by the Conservation Officer Service.

2012-2013 was the second full year of the Livestock Protection Program. This program continues to recognize the importance of reducing and responding to livestockpredator conflicts as a significant public safety/protection of property mandate and strategic goal for COS. This position has been in place for approximately 3 years.

This year the majority of livestock-predator conflict occurrences involved black bear, wolves, coyotes or cougars.

A review of the COS call centre and response databases indicated a total of 1,100 calls to the Provincial Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line regarding livestockpredator conflicts. The COS responded to 614 of those calls (55 percent). This volume is similar to last year. The greatest number of calls reported conflicts with black bears (274), followed by cougars (188) and wolves (162) A regional breakdown indicates the highest number of calls were received from the South Coast (136 with a 72 percent response rate, but none of these predator conflict calls involved cattle), Cariboo (132, 61 percent response rate), Kootenay (125, 78 percent response rate) and OminecaPeace (125, 61 percent response rate).

This fiscal year showed an increase in officer time committed to livestock-wildlife conflicts, but a decrease in the number of predators removed by the COS. However, there was an increase in the numbers of predators removed by others; especially in the Peace Region where producers took advantage of the oil and gas “Fair Share” money.

The COS was active in livestock-predator response within every region of the province last year. The Cariboo, OminecaPeace and Thompson regions spent the greatest amount of time in this area while the Okanagan and South Coast regions spent the least. This is likely reflective of the distribution of commercial cattle ranching in the province. However, there has been a noticeable increase in wolf activity (some recorded and other anecdotal) in the North Okanagan.

The South Coast Region experienced the highest number of calls regarding livestock-predator conflicts with black bear and coyotes, but these often effect non-commercial operations raising , horses or exotic livestock but does include small sheep producers. Compensation is paid only to cattle producers for verified losses.

The COS response rate to livestock-predator calls is extremely high (53 percent), compared to the average for other wildlife conflict complaints (12.5 percent). This likely reflects the emphasis that has been placed on the program this year and good communication with producers regarding use of the RAPP line to report conflicts.

The COS did not receive any additional resources to assist in delivering on livestock-predator conflicts in 2012-2013 and it is anticipated this will continue to be the case in 2013-2014.

However, resources in the form of equipment purchases were just over $18,000.00 and were distributed according to areas in the province that required them.

In the 2012-13 fiscal, producers completed 15 of their own verifications; an increase from 0 the previous year, which is an encouraging improvement. However, this low number of verifications is a significant concern, as the intention and rationale for the verification training program is to encourage producers to “help themselves” in the verification process.

Nonetheless, this year is starting much better and the rancher verifications are increasing steadily. Currently we have 317 producers that have completed Verification Training, which occurred in 20 different sessions. Producers can contact myself directly (250-398-4563) or the BCCA office to inquire about future training dates in their area.

This fiscal, 162 verifications were completed compared to last year’s 132. Provincially we have 9 Predator Conflict Committees established with the newest committee created in Grand Forks. These committees are a cross section of producers and various stakeholders that work together with the Conservation Officer Service to reduce the livestockpredator conflicts impacting them. All committees are working well and contribute significantly to the improvement of the livestock industry.

10

Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

PROVINCIAL News The COS continues to partner with stakeholders that have an interest in this issue – local livestock producers and producer groups (BC Cattlemen’s Association, BC Dairy Foundation, BC Sheep Federation, BC Purebred Sheep Breeders’ Association, etc.), industry (BC Agriculture Research & Development Corporation, BC Agriculture Council, etc.), the Ministry of Agriculture, the BC Wildlife Federation, the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia, the BC Trappers Association and local hunters and trappers on coordinating monitoring, verification, mitigation, compensation and outreach efforts. There has been a recognized effort by all field staff members to reestablish and improve relationships with the members of the livestock industry.

I look forward to this year and the challenges that it may bring, but I would also like to recognize the efforts of everyone who has contributed so far in the efforts to improve the livestock-predator conflicts that we are currently facing.

I would also encourage all producers to fill out their livestock loss reports and submit them to the BCCA. If there is some uncertainty when to send them in because you don’t know what killed the animal, then just report the number you were short; this itself is extremely helpful.

The wolves shown in these photos were taken by a producer in the Smithers area. This group of three were responsible for killing the cow.

Good luck and prosperity over the next year.

Darrell

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11

PROVINCIAL News COOMBS FARMER'S INSTITUTE DOG COMMITTEE ~ Janet Thony Crocker Creek Farm

Synopsis of Report to the District ‘A’ AGM January 18, 2014 ur ad hoc committee formed in November of 2013, as a result of two events that occurred within weeks of each other. A pack of pit bulls launched a series of attacks in our small neighborhood; threatening, maiming and killing livestock.

This activity followed close on the heels of the sentencing of a Cariboo rancher, who was found guilty under the Criminal Code of killing a dog that had chased forty of her heifers.

Our neighborhood small farmer group went from saying “Someone should do something” to “Let’s do something”.

We contacted all of the appropriate governing bodies, various politicians and print and visual media. We received instant and enthusiastic support from the media, adequate hearings by the politicians, but, what we felt was a less than timely, helpful response from the appropriate governing bodies.

We have probably all availed ourselves of the ‘Shoot, Shovel and Shut-up Method’ when faced with marauding dogs. In some circumstances, this would clearly still be the preferred remedy. This practice, however, effectively buries the immense scope of the problem along with the offender.

Also, on Vancouver Island, where most farms count acreages in less than hundreds, populations are concentrated, roadways more numerous and non-rural sensibilities more easily aroused; the swift reach for a firearm during a high stress event, may create more problems than it solves. And, clearly, given the outcome of the Kamloops trial, the current Livestock Act should not be counted on as an automatic defense for the livestock owner believing themselves to be within their legal rights when dispatching a marauding dog.

So, given these limitations, our group set about trying to establish what required change. Our committee identified two levels of governance that, although there are others, we stood a chance of altering to more adequately meet the needs of livestock owners.

O

www.countrywools.com

The Livestock Act is provincial in scope and ‘trumps’ any municipal level of governance in an Electoral Area.

(As Electoral Area Bylaws differ widely, you must be familiar with the laws relevant to your farms’ location.)

We are currently, in conjunction with our Electoral Area Re p r e s e n t at ive, working on expanding and clarifying Bylaw 941, pertinent to Electoral Area ‘F’ in the Nanaimo Regional District. We have a meeting scheduled with the Senior Staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, to address needed changes to the provincial Livestock Act. Our Pacific Rim NDP MLA has assisted us with this.

As we moved forward with the pragmatic aspects of this global problem, researching articles, court cases, statutes, policies, Acts, Directives and Bylaws, we came to the realization that more law, no matter the level, regardless how precisely drafted; did not and could not, alter the basic cause of the phenomenon. That is, the unwillingness of many, if not most, dog owners to believe that their loyal, loving, devoted canine companion, can, given the correct circumstances, become a killer. The correct circumstances are easily arrived at. Former urbanites become rural dwellers and believe that their dogs should be able to roam freely. Property owners balk at the expense of fencing, and if they even get as far as building a fence, discover that dogs are rather difficult to contain. Many dog owners do not understand the danger to livestock of ‘worrying’, exemplified by the oft heard comment, “Oh, my dog won’t hurt your cow/sheep/goat/ chicken/goose/etc., he just wants to play with them.” And, ultimately, keeping a dog contained every day, all day, is a lot of work. Just ask us farmers who, by law, have to contain our livestock, all day, every day.

Which brings us to a glaring injustice, back in the realm of governance. Why on earth, we asked ourselves, given the level of injury that dogs can inflict, are dog owners not required by law to contain them? Why are we, the livestock owners, instructed, cautioned, admonished and required, to not only contain our livestock, but bear the onus of protecting them from uncontained animals? And collaterally then, to bear the financial loss, disruption of breeding programs, search for suitable replacements, etc., usually without benefit of compensation from anyone. ~ Continued on page 13

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Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

The conclusions and ‘best management practices’ we have arrived at, (so far) are these: * Safety of our livestock being the first necessity, develop a communications plan with neighboring farmers to alert livestock owners immediately when any dogs are seen at large. * When you see a dog on the loose or are alerted to such, secure the safety of your animals. If possible, capture the dog physically or take photos. If necessary, dispatch the dog. Alert your neighbors. * Contact all the appropriate authorities. Bylaw enforcement is usually contracted out by the Regional Districts. In the RDN, this office is carried out by Coastal Animal Control. We recommend also phoning the RCMP in the event of a dog being put down. Conservation officers could be of assistance also. They hold much broader powers regarding dogs at large, and can legally dispatch any dog found “at large in a wildlife management area”. (Which law clearly indicates that deer, for instance, are held to be of greater value than our farm animals.) * If you are able to identify the owner of the dog, make clear to them your intentions to defend your livestock and their responsibility to control their dog. * If you experience less than timely, helpful and effective remedy from the Bylaw Enforcement folks, continue to insist that they attend to the problem, including phone calls or emails to their employer, the Regional District.

In summary, there are, of course, many other aspects and opinions relevant to this immense problem. We recognize clearly that in most cases it is simply easier to shoot the offender and not say anything to anyone.

However, the dog that has gone missing will, more often than not, be replaced by the same irresponsible owner, and the cycle will continue. Will clarifying and enlarging Bylaws and drafting a more inclusive and hopefully concise Livestock Act solve the problem? No. What these efforts might accomplish however, is that in the event a livestock owner believes killing a dog to be the only remedy, that he or she be protected from prosecution for this action, and that there be, written in law, a clearly definable and fair recompense for any losses incurred. If we can, by the same effort, shift the burden of responsibility for dog harassment and attack to where it belongs, the dog owner, we may have made some headway.

Janet Thony, Dog Committee Chair, Coombs Farmers’ Institute.

Note: If you would like to participate in this discussion, or if you require further information contact Janet Thony at 250-738-0888 or crocker1@telus.net

PROVINCIAL News

www.bcsheepfed.com

13

PROVINCIAL News 2013 SEMINAR and FIELD DAY

~ Roma Tingle

T

he 2013 Seminar and Field day was held October 5-6 2013, hosted by Fort George Shepherds in Prince George.

Tables were set up for information and sheep displays. Books, wool, and sheep equipment were made available for purchase.

Speakers include a morning seminar given by Dale Engstrom, on sheep nutrition. Handbooks were given out to all registrants and made available for purchase by others.

Vic Martens gave a presentation on the TAP and Growing Forward 2, explaining available funding opportunities for producers.

Jeremy Ayotte gave a presentation on the wild sheep/ domestic sheep separation working group and update on his activities, which included an application to Ardcorp’s AEI program for a project on refuge pastures.

Darrell Ashworth , Provincial Coordinator for the livestock predator conflict committee gave a presentation on the current activities of the Conservation Officers with regard to predator issue, particularly those involving sheep.

Laura Grafton, Planning Advisor for the Environmental Farm Plan program gave a presentation on the EFP’s and BMP;s Funds for this year are committed but there is still money for renewing or doing new EFPs.

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Brian Looker with New Zealand Heading dog.

Mike Noullett gave a presentation on the BC Meat promotion program , currently completing the BC Beef section and soon to move on to the BC Lamb promotion.

Brent Barclay from the Ministry of Agriculture gave a presentation on Business Risk Management and funding available to help with farm planning.

No representative from the Canadian Lamb Co-op was available to attend.

The day ended with the BCSF AGM held in conjunction with the seminar and a delicious roast lamb dinner, and silent auction.

There was a change of venue for the field day for October 6. This was held at the Mueller farm west of Prince George.

Clint Thompson gave an interesting talk on electric fencing and pasture management using rotational grazing.

This was followed by a stock dog demonstration and short workshop by Bryan Looker and his New Zeeland heading dogs.

Participant numbers were less than expected. This was partly due to a 4-H event held the same day which took away potential 4-H members as well as parents.

However there were representatives from most of the sheep associations in the province and all took home information to be communicated to their members.

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Clint Thompson of Williams Lake giving workshop on use of electric fencing for pasture management in Prince George.

14

Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

CCWG News

CCWG WOOL INDUSTRY

The CCWG recently held Management and Board of Director meetings at the 95th Annual General Meeting in Saint-Hyacinthe, QC on October 18 & 19, 2013.

The 2013 elected Board of Directors are as follows: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1st Vice President - David Mastine, St. Felix de Kingsey, QC 2nd Vice President - John L. Farrell, Wingham, ON

- John D. Woodburn, Grimshaw, AB Additional Directors on the Board are as follows: Margarete Zillig, Scotch Village, NS (Audit Committee) Lee Sexton, Hanley, SK (Audit Committee) Roma Tingle, Prince George, BC (Audit Committee) Brian Greaves, Miniota, MB (CSF Representative) Warren L. Moore, Stavely, AB Ward Harden, Fir Mountain, SK Sincere appreciation for his many years of service are extended to retiring director and past president John D. Balderson who has represented Alberta South for the past 20 years.

We also wish to recognize the long time service of Ken H. Mallinson who very capably represented British Columbia on our board. We are sorry to advise that Ken passed away in May 2013, we extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Nancy and their families.

For the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013 the co-operative recorded gross sales of $8,688,513 which represents an eight percent increase from the previous year. Sales have increased almost 28 percent over the past three years. The Board of Directors have authorized a dividend payment of seven percent to the shareholders of record date December 31, 2012 and 5 cents per pound to the Shareholder Wool Shipper Loyalty Reward Program (SWSLRP). Full details on these programs can be found on the company website www.wool. ca. Wool volume increased by 8.2 percent in 2011 and 8.6 percent in 2012 but slipped by 6.5 percent in 2013, due mainly to a reduction in wool consignments from Québec.

The national wool Certificate of Merit recipients for 2012 were announced as follows: Atlantic - Ian Tapper - Roving Downs Farm, Upper Stewiacke, NS Québec - Christian Bellaar-Spruyt, Alcove, QC Shearer: Tom Redpath Ontario - Keith Sinclair - Montclair Farm, Churchill, ON Shearer: Don Metheral Ontario - Richard Metheral, Glen Huron, ON

Ontario - Jack Daigneault, Gores Landing, ON Shearers: Gerald Gemmill & Don Metheral Ontario - Jim Johnston - Pasture Hill Farm, New Liskeard, ON Shearers: Gerald Gemmill & Mark Lenover Manitoba - Graham Rannie, Binscarth, MB Manitoba - Grant & Shelley Zahaiko, Newdale, MB Saskatchewan Range - Vivian Kimber, Abbey, SK Saskatchewan Range - Steve Kucherhan, Asquith, SK Saskatchewan Domestic - Marla & Kevin Moulton, Earl Grey, SK Saskatchewan Domestic - Edith Halyk, Foam Lake, SK Alberta Range - Livingston Colony, Lundbreck, AB Alberta Range - Mannville Colony, Mannville, AB Alberta Domestic - Alan & Jennifer King, Bittern Lake, AB British Columbia - Peace View Colony, Farmington, BC British Columbia - Hani Gasser, McBride, BC NOTICE OF MOTION - CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT / CCWG DIRECTOR REPRESENTATION It was moved by Margarete Zillig, seconded by John Woodburn and carried that an elected and voting Board of 10 Directors should continue to be maintained and that this number of directors should not be exceeded. However, the current makeup of the board should be reconstructed or realigned to provide for 2 elected directors from the province of Québec in view of their sheep numbers and wool production (25 percent in 2011/12). Consideration might be given to appointing non voting board advisers or associates from time to time as may be required.

An amendment to the motion was made by Ken Mallinson, seconded by John Balderson and carried that one director position from the province of Saskatchewan be eliminated.

Note: this Notice of Motion was discussed at the 2012/13 provincial shareholder meetings. It was then voted on by the CCWG board of directors at this year’s AGM which was held in Saint-Hyacinthe, QC on October 19, 2013. Shareholders were encouraged to contact their director representative on the CCWG board to express their views.

Both the amendment and the motion voted on by the CCWG Board of Directors were defeated.

NOTICE OF MOTION - CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT / CCWG DIRECTOR REPRESENTATION It was moved by Brian Greaves, seconded by John Farrell and carried that CCWG increase the board of directors to eleven elected directors, with the director representation for the province of Québec increased from one to two elected directors with a provincial boundary to be established.

Note: this Notice of Motion will be discussed at the 2013/14 provincial shareholder meetings. It will then be voted on by the CCWG board of directors at next year’s AGM which will be held in Lethbridge, AB on October 18, 2014. Shareholders are encouraged to contact your director representative on the CCWG board to express your views.

www.bcsheepfed.com

15

SHEEP Health COCCIDIA AND COCCIDIOSIS ~ compiled by Bev Greenwell

C

occidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract of animals caused by coccidian protozoa.

The disease spreads from one animal to another by contact with infected feces or ingestion of infected tissue. Diarrhea, which may become bloody in severe cases, is the primary symptom. Most animals infected with coccidia are asymptomatic, but young or immunocompromised animals may suffer severe symptoms and death.

While coccidia can infect a wide variety of animals, including humans, birds, and livestock, they are usually species-specific.

Scouring lambs that do not appear to respond to treatment with traditional de-worming medications, coccidia is often the real culprit. Coccidiosis, like other internal parasite problems, is directly linked to contamination of the lambing area or pastures with coccidia “eggs” (oocysts) passed in the manure by infected ewes and lambs. While a certain base level of coccidia contamination of the environment goes along with raising sheep (often resulting in no obvious clinical signs), clinical disease develops when an unreasonable number of oocysts become established in the environment and ingested by non-immune lambs.

Signs of clinical disease (scours) generally occur about 18 to 20 days after ingestion of sufficient amounts of coccidia oocysts from the contaminated environment.

Understanding parasite life cycle and the relationship of that life cycle to your specific production scheme is of enormous importance in prevention, diagnosis and control of coccidiosis outbreaks. It is also important in understanding why some medications designed for prevention are not particularly effective.

In winter lambing production systems, coccidiosis outbreaks are common in 3 to 6-week-old lambs that are infected with coccidia oocysts shortly after birth (first few days of life). Outbreaks of clinical disease in winter lambing flocks commonly occur when lambs are about 20 to 30 days old and when the wet and relatively warmer transitional weather of late February and March contributes to coccidiosis survival and spread in the environment. Also, increased crowding of lambs and ewes during the second half of lambing season exponentially increases environmental contamination of the lambing facility.

In contrast, flocks utilizing spring lambing production systems usually experience coccidiosis outbreaks while lambs are on pasture and wet weather occurs. Newborn lambs spend little or no time in highly contaminated lambing barn environments, therefore, outbreaks on pasture can occur at various ages. Successful prevention, control, and treatment of coccidiosis requires a basic understanding of the parasite and its life cycle.

Key Elements of the Disease 1. Clinical coccidiosis predominantly affects young, growing lambs. Unexposed lambs confronted with large numbers of the parasite develop clinical disease , but they will also develop immunity, (resistance) 3 to 4 weeks after infection.

2. The ewe, although immune to clinical coccidiosis, harbors the parasite in its intestinal tract.

Therefore, initial transmission of coccidiosis to the lamb occurs via the ewe. Lambs, once infected, then contaminate each other. Prevention of clinical coccidiosis in lambs necessitates targeting of the ewe flock. Prevention in purchased feeder lambs requires targeting infected lambs.

3. Transmission of coccidiosis occurs via oral ingestion of the parasite. Adult ewes, pass the infective stage of the parasite (oocysts) in their manure. Fecal contamination of hay, grain, bedding, pasture, teats, water troughs, creep feeders, etc., are all sources of infection. Signs of clinical disease develop about 17 days after infection with pathogenic levels of coccidia oocysts. This 17 day “incubation period” is often helpful in determining when exposure occurred and how to prevent future exposure to oocysts in your specific production system. It also helps to illustrate just how early oocysts infect lambs in a winter lambing system and why medicated creep feeds often fail to prevent clinical disease (lambs are not eating medicated creep feed when contaminated very early in life). Furthermore, the importance of preventing the asymptomatic ewe from contaminating the lambing barn with oocysts should be obvious.

16

~ Continued on page 17 Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

SHEEP Health 4. Transmission of coccidiosis to lambs favors warm, wet environmental conditions. Coccidiosis is seasonally related to when a flock lambs. Clinical disease typically erupts during transition from winter to spring. Outbreaks are often related to seasonal variations in rainfall.

5. The coccidia organism does not respond to any of the standard deworming products commonly used in the industry. This is the reason why producers often continue to observe scouring after deworming -- coccidia were really the cause.

6. Medications used to treat clinical coccidiosis differ from medications used for prevention. Producers need to identify if treatment and/or prevention is desired and use the appropriate medications.

7. Environmental buildup (concentration) of the organism occurs in the lambing barn and feedlot. Lambing barn outbreaks of coccidiosis often correspond to the second half of the lambing season, when organism concentrations, animal crowding and wet conditions are conducive to oocyst transmission. Pasture outbreaks of coccidiosis often correspond to spring or fall rains.

8. Fecal flotation may or may not be a helpful diagnostic tool. Veterinarians utilize microscopic identification of coccidia oocysts in the manure of a scouring lamb to link scouring to coccidiosis. However, failure to demonstrate coccidia oocysts in a fecal sample from a 4-week-old lamb may not necessarily indicate that coccidia are absent.

Example: Coccidiosis is common in 3 to 4-week-old lambs, yet these lambs seldom shed coccidia organisms in their manure when the outbreak begins. Scouring usually starts about 17 days after infection, however, coccidia oocysts may not be evident in the fecal sample for another 5 days (about 22 days after initial infection). In other words, the coccidia organism is mature enough to cause scouring, but not mature enough to shed oocysts in the manure.

9. Individual animal treatment for clinical coccidiosis is difficult, but often necessary, if affected lambs are extremely ill or have not been weaned. Logistical problems result from: 1) the large number of lambs infected; 2) orally administered medications; and 3) daily treatment regimes for 3 to 7 days.

Prevention is a much better alternative - especially where large numbers of lambs are invovled.

10. Lamb feed consumption (especially unweaned lambs) is unpredictable. Preventive/therapeutic medication of creep and grower rations often must exceed federally approved levels if therapeutic/preventive amounts of medication are to be consumed. Early outbreaks of coccidosis in lambs are difficult to prevent viam medicated creep feed alone. The problem is not so much ineffectiveness of the medication, but instead, lack of adequate intake in very young lambs and contamination very early in life.

11. Stress often induces outbreaks of coccidiosis. Coccidiosis often follows weaning or shipping stresses.

12. Pneumonia outbreaks often parallel or follow clinical coccidiosis infections. The conditions conducive to lambing barn pneumonia (poor ventilation, humidity, over crowding, wet bedding etc.) are also conducive to coccidiosis.

13. Lots of dry straw also helps to “bed away” from infective oocysts and the moisture they need to survive. A thick, well bedded manure pack allows more moisture to leave the surface layer of bedding than does a thin pack on freshly cleaned cement. Coccidiosis is one disease where excessive cleaning of cement floored barns may actually be conducive to moisture accumulation and oocyst survival.

Hopefully, the preceding generalizations concerning coccidia infections have left you with the feeling that there aren’t any black or white answers to the coccidiosis question.

That was the intent! Producers need to recognize that a combination of factors precipitate coccidiosis and a similar combination of factors can aid in prevention. Needle and syringe delivery systems just don’t work! Coccidiosis control necessitates understanding how your management decisions affect the disease.

References: Coccidiosis in Lambs J. S. Rook, D.V.M. MSU Extension & MSU Ag Experiment Station Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine Michigan State University

www.bcsheepfed.com

17

SHEEP Health

BAYER HEALTHCARE ANNOUNCEMENT

Bayer HealthCare Announces Baycox® 5% (toltrazuril) Oral Suspension Approved for Sheep in Canada TORONTO, ON January 10, 2014 – Bayer HealthCare is pleased to announce Baycox® 5% is now approved to prevent clinical signs of coccidiosis and to reduce coccidian shedding in lambs caused by Eimeria crandallis and Eimeria ovinoidalis.

Canadian veterinarians and producers can now use Baycox 5% to protect lambs from the infection and avoid serious economic losses. In 2010, Health Canada approved Baycox 5% for the treatment of preclinical cocidiosis due to Isospora suis in neonatal piglets.

Baycox 5% is a single-dose, ready-to-use product that is easy to administer. A single oral treatment of Baycox controls coccidia infection without impairing the ability of animals to acquire immunity, and promotes resistance to reinfection.

I

ERGOT CONTAMINATION

t’s time to start thinking about what grain will be used in winter rations for your flock. This year in particular, it is important to purchase high quality feed grain particularly for pregnant and milking ewes and for next year’s growing lambs.

Ergot contamination is proving to be an issue of concern as this year, not just wheat - but oats, barley and triticale are testing positive for ergot. And, not just grain, but ergot is a concern in some mature forage crops as well. Also you need to consider ergot in commercial screening pellets or grain screenings from seed cleaning plants.

Be sure to ask if there is ergot present in the product you are purchasing. Levels in screenings can be very high. If ergot is present, it may be necessary to dilute these feeds with clean grain. Be aware of the problem and do the necessary testing when sourcing feed grain.

“Ergot is a plant disease caused by the Claviceps purpurea fungus and this year has been found in rye, triticale, wheat, barley, bromegrass, wheatgrass, bluegrass, quack grass, orchardgrass, meadow foxtail and wild rye,” says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Ergot is most easily recognized by the hard, black bodies that replace the kernels on the seed head.”

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Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

BITS n' Bites

STARTING THE STOCKDOG PUP ~ Bryan Looker

I

like to take a pup to stock at 5 or 6 months. This is not a training session but more of an evaluation session. What I am looking for is the reaction of the pup to stock. I usually use sheep for this and try to get a group of somewhat passive sheep if possible All I do is release the pup in the general area of the sheep and stand back and watch what happens.

Several things can happen: 1. There will be no interest.

2. The pup may show some signs of curiousity.

3. The pup may advance towards the sheep.

4. The pup may charge the sheep.

5. The pup may start to circle (head) the sheep.

When checking this out you should try and have the sheep moving slowly. This may spark some interest to the pup. Now if there is no interest after a few moments, at this early age this is no real problem. The hormones and instinct have not kicked in yet. I will take the pup away and try again in about 2 weeks time and continue this until there is a reaction. There is no sense in trying to force the issue as you may end up doing more harm the good.

Now if the pup takes an immediate interest and starts to do something then I will give him a few minutes and then call the pup off. I want you to note what I said here: “I call the pup off ”. This is very important because if you can not call the pup off you have not done your preliminary training.

Handlers have to accept the fact that not all pups can be started early. I have known dogs that were18 months before they were turned on. I'm not sure if I would want to wait that long and usually would place the dog in a good home.

If you take a look at the following picture, you will see a very young bitch pup displaying obvious herding instinct.

No commands are attempted and she is allowed to “do her thing”.

She was first taken to sheep at 5 months and displayed similar behaviour. She is 6 months in this photo.

I took her off the stock after approximately 5 minutes and chained her to a post while I did some training on another dog. When I finished the training session I let her have another short go at the sheep be for calling her off. I will follow this routine every couple of weeks and watch as her confidence builds. I suspect at 7-1/2 to 8 months she will be ready for daily training as well as doing some work with the other dogs.

Now this all may sound like I am trying to force the training issue. Quite the opposite. If a pup is ready then it will become more satisfying to the pup, after all, these are herding dogs and that is what they do.

The key is don't force it. Also remember “exercise, discipline, then affection” makes for a happy pooch.

Check out the BC Sheep Federation on Facebook! www.facebook.com/BarbBCSF?sk=wall

www.bcsheepfed.com

19

BITS n' Bites DANGEROUS LIAISONS Dangerous Liaisons The Future of Wild Sheep in B.C. May Depend on Keeping Them Apart ~ author Shannon West

T

he November rut is a magnificent display of strength and agility, a refined ritual that has been practiced by bighorns for centuries. The sights and sounds of these iconic B.C. mammals vying for dominance evoke a sense of respect for the ruggedness of a species that Theodore Roosevelt referred to as “one of the noblest beasts”.

Yet the rut can be a treacherous time for bighorns, far beyond the risk of injury from their intra-species tussles. For these highly social animals, the real danger can lie with the company they keep.

Wild sheep share a number of similarities with their domestic cousins: they will use the same forage and water sources, and can even interbreed. Where bighorn range and domestic sheep operations overlap, it’s understandable that a randy ram might find a large flock of domestic ewes worth a closer look.

Unfortunately, these forays can have deadly consequences.

Even nose-to-nose contact between the two species can result in the transfer of a pathogen lethal to wild sheep. And because it takes time for animals to become symptomatic, an infected (but visibly healthy) bighorn that returns to its herd will spread the disease, potentially decimating an entire population.

For nearly a century, domestic sheep interactions were a suspected cause of bighorn die-offs, and the disease transfer mechanism was irrefutably confirmed through marked protein experiments in 2010. The culprit was found to be Mannheimia haemolytica, a pneumonia-causing bacterium commonly carried by domestic sheep. Domestics have evolved resistance to this particular strain and rarely show symptoms, but wild sheep are highly susceptible and often die within days of contracting it. In B.C., mass bighorn die-offs have been documented since the early 1900s, with the last major die-off occurring in the Okanagan in 1999. M. haemolytica-induced herd mortalities have occurred in the United States as recently as August of 2013.

Provincial wildlife veterinarian Dr. Helen Schwantje is no stranger to the issue: she began studying disease transfer from domestic to wild sheep as part of her Master’s thesis in the 1980s. Since then, she has witnessed many developments in the science used to pinpoint the pathogens causing die-offs, but says researchers still haven’t come up with a silver bullet. “We haven’t developed effective vaccines to prevent these deaths in bighorns, nor do we have an effective method of delivering vaccines to these wild animals,” Schwantje says. “In the absence of a medical solution, wildlife agencies in North America recommend that wild and domestic sheep populations be completely separated to avoid disease transmission.”

Schwantje was one of the original architects of the B.C. Sheep Separation Program, developed in response to pneumonia die-offs in the East Kootenay. The program aims to achieve effective separation between the two species through education, stakeholder consultation, policy development and on-theground action. The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation has supported the Sheep Separation Program for nearly a decade, and in more recent years, the Foundation has funded the program’s provincial coordinator position. Jeremy Ayotte took on the role in July, and is already working hard to move the program forward: “Shortly after I started the job, I put out an invitation to bring together some of the stakeholders, both to introduce myself and to provide a forum to exchange ideas.

The response was amazing. The Wild Sheep Working Group is made up of a real diverse bunch of participants: domestic sheep producers, regional biologists, hunters… a great group of passionate, knowledgeable people wanting to work towards a solution.

“We really want to take a positive approach- a collaborative approach - rather than running around placing blame.”

Ayotte is already exploring innovative ways to allow and encourage sheep farmers to provide effective separation between their flocks and wild sheep. Traditional management plans have focused on creating buffer zones and the use of noncontact fencing, but these methods have drawbacks: buffer zones require large tracts of land (impractical on smaller agricultural properties), and double-fencing entire pastures is expensive and can interfere with wildlife migration patterns.

“One of the new management techniques we’re exploring is the idea of a refuge pasture: this would be a smaller, fenced field within a larger pasture that farmers could place their sheep in if bighorns are spotted nearby, or during times where there’s a high risk of contact, such as during the rut,” Ayotte explains. His team is also looking at potentially starting a certification program to recognize lamb producers following separation management guidelines, along the same lines as dolphin-friendly tuna. “A positive marketing angle such as “bighorn-friendly” lamb would also be a great way of increasing awareness of this issue,” says Ayotte. “I think the program’s done a good job of educating commercial producers, especially in high-risk areas, but there’s still some work to be done with small-scale landowners, who might want a couple of lambs for vegetation control or 4-H purposes. Even a single sheep in a high-risk area can pose a danger to bighorns”.

Ayotte is also working to consolidate data on program projects, sheep farming operations, and bighorn herd information so that it is kept accessible and current.

“There’s a lot of valuable data out there, collected by regional wildlife biologists and through citizen science: we’ve got great Rod & Gun Club support in many areas, where folks are annually conducting on-the-ground counts and recording any observation of sickness in the herd. ~ Continued on page 21

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Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

BITS n' Bites

A rare photo of a bighorn ram amongst a flock of domestic ewes in Arizona’s Dome Valley.

Photo Credit: Bob Henry

Prior to receiving the funding for this coordinator position, the program didn’t have the capacity to consolidate that data and use it effectively. Now, we’re looking at ways of utilizing it to improve effective separation. We’ve had a wonderful tool donated to us by the US Forest Service that has been specifically designed to identify the highest risk areas based on knowledge of sheep habitat and behaviour, so we can focus our resources on them.” Ayotte expects these areas will coincide with ones already identified, but he thinks having a sciencebased tool might go a long way in getting policy in place to prevent additional domestic sheep operations from starting up in bighorn territory.

Achieving any sort of protection through policy has so far proven a difficult road: in the Okanagan and the Kootenays, sheep farming is well-established, and previous attempts at using covenants and by-laws to restrict farming activity have had little effect due to ALR rules and the Right-to-Farm Act. There is, however, one area where Ayotte and his colleagues feel legislation could play a very important role: B.C.’s North, home to a significant portion of the world’s thinhorn sheep

Schoolside Suffolks & NorthCountry Cheviots

populations. “These sheep have never been in contact with domestics,” says Ayotte. “It’s chilling to think how potentially devastating this disease could be if that contact occurs.

“It’s a tough question: how much time and resources should we put into southern areas of the province where the disease is already established, versus working on preventative measures for the untouched populations of North?”

Managing livestock/ wildlife conflicts on private land is a daunting task, and the program will need to continue to foster innovation and collaboration in order to find effective solutions. But with challenge comes opportunity. “One of our goals is to monitor the different strategies we’re trialing, and then share our success stories, within the province and beyond,” Ayotte reflects. “Historically, the program’s had its ups and downs, but now that we’ve got some stability through funding, there’s a perceivable buzz: you can really feel the momentum starting to pick up.”

You can find out more about the BC Wild/Domestic Sheep Separation program on HCTF’s website at www.hctf.ca

Serving your community since

Freda Horton

2625, 13th Street Keremeos, BC V0X 1N6 Phone: (250) 499-5612

Email: schoolside@nethop.net

1919!

ABBOTSFORD DUNCAN KELOWNA W. KELOWNA NANAIMO PARKSVILLE SAANICH SALMON ARM

34633 Vye Rd. 5410 Trans Canada Hwy. 103-1889 Springfield Rd. 2565 Main St. Hwy.97 S 1-1277 Island Hwy. S 587 Alberni Hwy. 1970 Keating Cross Rd. 1771-10th Ave. S.W.

www.buckerfields.org

www.bcsheepfed.com

556-7477 748-8171 860-2346 768-8870 753-4221 248-3243 652-9188 832-8424

21

BITS n' Bites NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION (OR RE-PURPOSING) ~ Cynthia Mailhot

W

hile attending the Canadian Classics show in Barriere this past summer, we purchased 2 of the 3in1 feeders from Myrna and Marlin Huber. We were impressed with how they were supposed to work on limiting the amount of grain, creep or pellets that the sheep (or goats or calves) can ingest at any one time. The special design of the feeder allows the sheep to lick up the feed only until their tongue gets dried out (about 6 minutes) and they then leave to find other forage.

This actually works really well, and there is never a fight or crowding to get at the feed. I really hope that you check these feeders out because they are everything they are advertized to be.

3in1feeders.com/ca/ We were using these feeders in the night pens to supplement the market lambs and when we put the lambs in the barn, we also put the feeders in the barn. But what to do about feeding hay? We fed outside the pen last year, along a feeder fence where they had to stick their heads out to get at the hay. It worked, but made a dreadful mess. Now, all summer, my husband Keith, was bringing home the aluminum crates that held a plastic insert. The plastic, which was used to transport oils, lubricants and can be found in the juice and water departments, had been discarded and the 4 by 4 crates were also going to the scrap yard. Last spring we used some as lambing jugs because we were short of pens, worked perfectly. Just tip the crate, now a cage, over top of the ewe and lambs. She can stick out her head for food and water and can’t depart. So, while we were setting up the barn I had a brainstorm, a good one. If it worked for the ewe sticking her head OUT, it would also work sticking your head IN. We left the bottoms in the crate and filled them up with hay, easy to fork in, and VOILA, instant feeders with enough spaces for all the lambs to get their heads in. And NO MESS!

Here are a couple of shots, one from a temporary cat walk that gives a great birds eye view of the pens and feeders.

The lambs are dragging very little hay onto the ground and that makes less waste. We are using High Hog panels that are built for cattle (a fantastic garage sale find) with gates and all but some of spaces were just a little too large to contain some of the smaller lambs and they could squeeze through the bars. While Keith was busy bringing some more crates down to the barn, I got to wondering how we could contain the lambs and not have escapees like we did last year. Well, on the sides of the re-purposed crates were these plastic panels that held the labels for the contents of the plastic inserts.

Hmmmm. They were the perfect size to fit between the rails when I used zip-ties to hold them in place. Way better than the boards which up to that point had been our only other option. So far, everything is working just perfectly. Also, we only need to fill the feeders every couple of days instead of forking them hay 2 or 3 times a day along a feeder fence. I think this is a terrific re-purposing idea built out of necessity.

Working Kuvasz Puppies ---Effective Predator Control--March litter expected.

Working Parents are CKC reg’d, health tested, Champion Lines Reliable Protection for Family & Flock

meadowskuvasz@gmail.com

(250)964-0142

Check out the BC Sheep Federation on Facebook! www.facebook.com/BarbBCSF?sk=wall

22

Vol. 22 #1 Spring 2014

Breeders Page BRAMBLEWOOD FARM DORSETS, ROMNEYS, and COLOURED LONGWOOLS

• PUREBRED BREEDING STOCK • HANDSPINNING FLEECES • FREEZER LAMB VISITORS WELCOME

27482 104 AVE. MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1M6

JO & DAVID SLEIGH PHONE: 604-462-9465 joannasleigh@aol.com

rican Clun Fo me r

es t Association

clun Forest

The Nort hA

Wind’s Reach FaRm sheep

Ann says the moose can eat up to 3 ton of hay a winter. But, she loves them!

Gen Ovis Canada’s National Genetic Improvement Program Performance Testing for Canada’s Sheep

Registered Breeding stock/market Lamb Barbara Ydenberg 27382 84th Ave., Langley, BC V1M 3L4 bydenberg@gmail.com www.windsreachsheep.com (604)856-3365

KATHY VELOCCI / B.C. Regional Resource Vernon, BC Phone: 250-545-4185 Email: rkvbc@shaw.ca

www.genovis.ca

BC STOCK DOG ASSOCIATION

More than just a friend... a working partner.

Promoting the use and training of working stock dogs

$20.00 membership offers you • Education, trials, clinics • Demonstrations • Quarterly newsletter • Contact with others interested in working stock dogs.

Fore more information, contact President, Larry Cochlan Phone 250-459-2521 Email: lcochlan@telus.net

www.stockdog.bc.ca

Registered Suffolks Genotyped for Scrapie Resistance

BEEJAY DORSETS AND MOUNTAIN SIDE SOUTHDOWNS Prince George, B.C.

Bev Greenwell & Charles Weber

We will have a good selection of dorset ewe & ram lambs, a few southdowns and dorset sired crossbred ewe lambs for sale.

Phone: Earl or Val Jackson 250-963-9409 Email: pineview@telus.net

1193 Hwy 3 East, PO Box 2356 Princeton, B.C. V0X 1W0

ALL INQUIRIES ARE WELCOME

Phone/Fax 250-295-6419 Cell: 250-582-9414 www.happyhollowfarm.ca happyhollow@nethop.net

www.bcsheepfed.com

23

BC SHEEP FEDERATION Membership Application Form Supporting BC’s Sheep and Wool Industry on a Provincial and Federal Level

*PLEASE PRINT*

Name of Farm __________________________________________________________________ Name of Member ________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________ Town ___________________________________ Postal Code __________________________ Phone (____) ________________ Fax (____) __________________ Email _________________________________________

I am currently a member of (local organization)_________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP DUES $20 Per Year: Membership includes a subscription to the N’ewes and a free listing in the “Buyers Guide” on our website: www.bcsheepfed.com Please send your dues along with this application/renewal form to: Barbara Ydenberg, Membership Secretary 604-856-3365 27382 84th Ave. Langley BC V1M 3L4 bydenberg@gmail.com ***************************************************************************** For your FREE LISTING in the “Buyers Guide” on the website, add the following information (If You already have an entry in the Guide, please note only the changes to your information) Breed(s) of Sheep_________________________________________________________________ Do you sell Registered Breeding Stock YES _____ NO ______ Approx # of Lambs sold/year A = 125 B = 25 - 50 C = 50 - 100 D = 100 - 500 E = 500+ Months Market Lambs Available _______________________ Other products you sell ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

***************************************************************************** PLEASE NOTE: BCSF members will be mailed the N’Ewes, quarterly as well as information thought to be of value to sheep producers. Please mark the box below if you DO NOT want this information.

(Privacy regulations requirement.)

*****************************************************************************

~ Become a member today ~

www.bcsheepfed.com