Severn Veterinary Services

04/21/2023

There are a couple of options for selling alpaca fibre (wool) in Ontario: 1) Farmgate sales, i.e. marketing directly to customers, 2) Sell to the Alpaca Fibre Co-operative of Ontario (AFCO). AFCO buys alpaca fibre from its members/owners and develops natural fibre products. These are then offered wholesale to AFCO members and qualified retailers, and marketed at retail price to the general public. For more information, visit https://alpacafibreco-op.com/ and be sure to visit SevernVetServices.ca

04/18/2023

If you want to sell your goat milk, there are three major steps to getting started in Ontario. 1) Call the OMAFRA Dairy Food Safety Program at 1-519-826-4583 and request a new goat milk producer information package. You will want to meet with an OMAFRA raw milk specialist to discuss your plans BEFORE starting construction on a milk house or barn; they will help you navigate any potential compliance issues with the Milk Act before you have invested valuable dollars in infrastructure. 2) Obtain a broker contract *in writing* with one of the three goat milk brokers in Ontario (in no particular order: Gay Lea Foods/Hewitts Dairy Ltd, Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative, Goat Milk Canada). Again, do this before you have invested in infrastructure or building your flock. Without a contract, you cannot sell goat milk in Ontario. 3) Obtain your Grade A licensing. The Raw Goat Milk Quality Program in Ontario is regulated by OMAFRA. Your contact from step 1 will help prepare new entrants for their first Grade A licensing, often visiting your site 2-3 times before your final inspection. For more information like this, visit SevernVetServices.ca

04/16/2023

Consider purchasing your spring chicks from an accredited hatchery. While a good deal on kijiji can be tempting, purchasing chicks from flocks with unknown health history can be a recipe for disaster. Accredited hatcheries offer accountability and quality control programs, are monitored for Salmonella, and have other health programs in place such as in-ovo (in-egg) vaccination. This protects vulnerable newborn chicks from various diseases, including Marek's disease (causes paralysis and ultimately death) and coccidiosis (intestinal parasite causing potentially life-threatening diarrhea). Here's a link where you can search for licensed chick hatcheries in your area: https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/licensed-hatcheries-in-canada/eng/1464108675209/1464109620337

Happy spring! 🐣🐤🐥🐔🐓

03/25/2023

7 Likes, 0 Comments - Dr. Shannon, Severn Veterinary Services () on Instagram

03/25/2023

Most farmers are either champions of women, or are women themselves... But the odd time when you butt up against adversity, it feels good to rub it in a little bit... in a compassionate way, of course. We are trained professionals after all 😇😁🐄

4 Likes, 1 Comments - Dr. Shannon, Severn Veterinary Services () on Instagram: "Most farmers are either champions of women, or are women themselves... But the odd time when you ..."