REPLAY - Mar 30 INTRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK DEPOPULATION & THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ON FARMERS

WEBINAR REPLAY:
INTRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK DEPOPULATION & THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ON FARMERS

Recording of the live webinar held on March 30, 2023.

The relationship between farmers and their livestock is neither simple nor static. For farmers and farming communities, herds of cattle or flocks of sheep, chickens and turkeys are not only a source of income but are an ongoing part of their lives, often leading to a blurring of the socially constructed categories of ‘livestock’ and ‘pet.’ In the event of a farm-animal epidemic, the normal cycle of human-animal relations is disrupted, and the incident can have devastating effects on the farmer, the veterinarian, and the community.

In this webinar, we covered:

• the common farm-animal epidemics impacting Alberta farms,

• what depopulation is and why it is used,

• the current state of depopulation in Western Canada, and

• research examining the mental health impact of depopulation on farmers and veterinarians.

We'd love for you to help us spread the word and welcome you to share this event with mental health professionals and healthcare providers within your network that you think would be interested in learning more about livestock depopulation and farm animal epidemics.