Housing Archives - Sheep and Goat Production

Do you have a water contingency plan?

June 15, 2017Marlene Paibomesai, Dairy Specialist, OMAFRABusiness, Health & Nutrition, HousingLeave a Reply

In 2016, many areas of the province saw very warm and dry conditions, and many wells were still dry leading into the winter. In other years, like the start to the 2017 growing season, the province experienced periods of excessive rain, leading to saturated soils and flooding. Both situations create many challenges for livestock and poultry farmers. No one can control the weather, but we can plan for it. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) encourages you to plan for future weather – conserving water and using it efficiently can help during low water conditions, and having effective drainage systems in place can help with saturated soil and runoff. Things to consider for low water conditions: Plan…

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Reduce the Risk of a Barn Fire

December 21, 2016Marlene Paibomesai, Dairy Specialist, OMAFRAHousing, Risk PreventionLeave a Reply

Did you know? Faulty electrical systems cause approximately 40 per cent of barn fires with a determined cause, making it one of the leading known causes of barn fires. What can you do? Regular inspections and maintenance are key to reducing the risk of a barn fire. We recommend that you work with a professional to inspect and monitor your farm buildings. Have your buildings inspected and maintained regularly by a licensed electrical contractor. Develop a preventative maintenance and housekeeping schedule. Work with a professional to monitor the heat conditions of your barn using infrared technologies. Work with your local fire department and insurance company to identify problem areas on your farm, and fix any problem areas identified. Have a…

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Invest in a Handling Facility

September 19, 2016Jillian CraigHousingLeave a Reply

If you currently do not have a handling facility, you need to seriously question why you have not invested in one. Handling facilities are essential if producers expect to find any savings in labour and efficiencies in the management of their sheep. Handling facilities will: Save labour Reduce stress for the sheep and operator Ensure jobs get done when they need to Take advantage of sheep behaviour Sheep will move willingly through the system Some factors which should be taken into consideration if you are building or purchasing one include: The best location for the facilities (should be the centre point of your operation) How large of group the facility will need to handle (plan for expansion) How much labour…

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Would Your Barn Get a Checkmark? Barn Fire Safety Checklist

April 27, 2016ONswineHousing, Risk PreventionLeave a Reply

Take time to check how safe your barn is. The National Fire Protection Association has information related to fire, electrical and related hazards. National Fire Prevention Association Click on the image to make it larger.

The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management estimates that barn fires cost Ontario farmers more than $25 million per year (2012-2014 average)

March 10, 2016Delma KennedyHousing, Risk Prevention, StatisticsLeave a Reply

Do you know what to do in the event of a farm emergency? Do you know what to do if you have deadstock to manage? Barn fires, natural disasters, equipment failures and diseases are devastating events for farmers, their families and workers, and the neighbouring community. Planning ahead to reduce risks, and preventing accidents with a safe operation will help to protect employees, family members and animals. Emergency events can cause substantial loss to a farm operation and create unique challenges for farmers, including disposing of large volumes of deadstock. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has a regulation that gives you options for deadstock management. These options help to protect water quality, reduce environmental impacts…

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Preventing Barn Fires Resources

February 18, 2016ONswineHousingLeave a Reply

The recent number of barn fires involving livestock in Ontario has many people thinking about fire prevention. Food and Farm Care Ontario has a number of resources on their website (Food and Farm Care) for livestock producers and first responders on preventing barn fires and dealing with the aftermath of a fire. These include the OMAFRA’s Reducing the Risk of Fire on Your Farm.

Reducing the Risk of Barn Fires Publication from OMAFRA

January 15, 2016ONswineHousingLeave a Reply

Recent barn fires in Ontario remind us how important it is to check for fire hazards in our barns. OMAFRA Publication 837 REDUCING THE RISK OF FIRE ON YOUR FARM discusses leading causes of barn fires, ways to prevent fires and things you can do to reduce the impact of barn fires for all species of livestock.

Rodent Control on Sheep Farms

October 23, 2015ONswineHealth & Nutrition, HousingLeave a Reply

Rats and mice have long been a problem on farms where food and nesting sites are plentiful. These animals consume and contaminate food destined for livestock and other animals, as well as humans. Mice and rats have tremendous breeding potential. Under ideal conditions, a pair of rats and their offspring can produce 20 000 000 young in three years. Controlling rodents is therefore a high priority for livestock producers. The OMAFRA fact sheet, “Rodent Control in Livestock and Poultry Facilities,” provides information about rodents on farms and what you can do to control them.

Use Sheep Behaviour to Your Advantage When Designing Handling Facilities

July 3, 2015ONswineBusiness, Health & Nutrition, HousingLeave a Reply

Sheep handling in “make-do” pens is not only hard, difficult work, it is outright unpleasant. As a result, important jobs like vaccinating and deworming are often delayed or not done at all. Well-designed sheep handling facilities are essential to a successful sheep production operation. Few other investments will create such labour efficiencies and savings. Most producers will only build, or purchase, one handling facility in their lifetime, so planning is essential. Incorporate existing paddocks, laneways and barnyards into the handling system to allow for ample space when the flock is held in the yards for long periods of time. Sheep need to move smoothly between these areas with a minimum of fuss. To achieve this, a producer needs to understand…

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Are you ready for a power outage?

January 8, 2015ONswineHousingLeave a Reply

You never know when the hydro might go out. Is your generator ready? OMAFRA has some good advice on using farm generators. Standby Electrical Generators for Emergency Farm Use Farm Generators: Making Connections the Safe Way Tractor Drive Generators: Producing Quality Power

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Do you have a water contingency plan?

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Reduce the Risk of a Barn Fire

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Invest in a Handling Facility

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Would Your Barn Get a Checkmark? Barn Fire Safety Checklist

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The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management estimates that barn fires cost Ontario farmers more than $25 million per year (2012-2014 average)

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Preventing Barn Fires Resources

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Reducing the Risk of Barn Fires Publication from OMAFRA

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Rodent Control on Sheep Farms

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Use Sheep Behaviour to Your Advantage When Designing Handling Facilities

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Are you ready for a power outage?

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