WeCAHN Smallholders Network

Animal health and surveillance information for smallholder/small-scale producers of poultry, swine, cattle, sheep and goats, and their veterinarians

WeCAHN Smallholder Animal Health and Surveillance Information

Smallholder or "backyard" producers face unique challenges in maintaining and promoting the health of their animals. The WeCAHN smallholders network is made up of producers, veterinarians, researchers and extension workers sharing information and experiences to improve the health and welfare of smallholder animal production in western Canada.

WeCAHN supports smallholder producers, and the veterinarians who serve them, in a variety of ways: updates on emerging issues, timely infographics and reports on important topics, and podcasts, for both producers and veterinarians. For full access to these materials, please join us.

Veterinarians are also invited to subscribe to WeCAHN listservs in which the questions of non-specialist veterinarians serving smallholder clients are answered by swine and poultry experts. To subscribe, please contact us

WeCAHN Smallholders Network Reports

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Upcoming events

Small flock poultry

The British Columbia (BC) Poultry Health Network has many upcoming events in person and online! Registration is required, and the links to register are on the Coming Events page of the website.

  • Small Flock Poultry Health & Biosecurity Workshops IN-PERSON
    • May 30, 2025 – Euthanasia Training, Grand Forks, BC
    • May 31, 2025 – Small Flock Poultry Health Workshop, Grand Forks, BC
    • June 1, 2025 – Small Flock Poultry Health Workshop, Creston, BC
    • June 5 & 9, 2025 – HPAI, Disease Prevention & Biosecurity Evening Sessions, Coombs, BC
    • June 8, 2025 – Poultry Health & Disease Prevention Workshop, Salt Spring Island
    • June 21, 2025 – Euthanasia, Gabriola, BC
    • June 22, 2025 – Small Flock Workshop, Gabriola, BC
Small flock sheep and goats

Optimizing Sheep Nutrition: A virtual management series. Six virtual sessions (May 6, May 13, May 20, May 27, June 3 and June 10) for a fee. Register on the webpage of the Michigan State University ANR Events Management System.

Small herd swine

University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Allen D. Leman Swine Conference September 20 to 23, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota

Western veterinary practitioners accepting small scale producer clients

Name: Dr. Christina Lyn
Email: christina@greenbeltvet.com
Phone:
Address: Greenbelt, Kamloops
Province: British Columbia
Name: Dr. Andrea Lo
Email: info@royalvethospital.com
Phone: 403-452-9444
Address: Royal Veterinary Hospital, 108-500 Royal Oak Dr. NW, Calgary
Province: Alberta
Name: Dr. Carling Matejka
Email: carling@fenvet.com
Phone: (587) 602-4442
Address: Fen Vet, Airdrie
Province: Alberta
Name: Dr. Michelle Woodruff
Email: drmichelle@woodruffvetservices.com
Phone: (780) 339-2131
Address: Woodruff Veterinary Services Ltd, Tomahawk
Province: Alberta
Name: Dr. Nicole Desautels
Email: drnicole@animalcarecentre.ca
Phone: (403) 901-1800
Address: Animal Care Centre, Strathmore
Province: Alberta
Name: Dr. Karen Liljebjelke
Email: karenkatdok@gmail.com
Phone: 403-797-4267
Address: Cremona Veterinary Clinic, 4342 Township Rd 301A, Cremona, AB T0M 0R0
Province: Alberta
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  • Swine
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  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
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Latest additions to WeCAHN Smallholder Surveillance Programs and Projects

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Latest additions to WeCAHN Smallholder Animal Health Surveillance library

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Subsidized testing programs available to smallholder flocks and herds

There are selected testing available to small flock and small herd veterinarians and producers in the western provinces. Some programs require a Premise ID. Select the snapshot of the table above to download the summary table or go to the WeCAHN Information Library.

Premises identification is important

The identification of premises consists of providing information about a specific location (i.e. contact information, location, type of agricultural and agri-food operation on the site, and animal species kept). Once the information has been received and validated by the provincial or territorial government where the premises is located, a unique identification number is provided for this specific location. This premises identification number is then used when reporting the receipt or departure of animals from this premises. Premises identification is a way of linking livestock and poultry to land locations and is critical to support disease control activities and for managing animal health emergencies.

For more information, or to register your farm, following are the provincial premises ID websites:

British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

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Small scale swine resources

Information on small scale swine production
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Small scale poultry resources

Infographics and reports on small scale poultry production and animal health
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Small scale small ruminant resources

Small ruminants infographics and reports
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Small Scale Animal Health Podcasts

Updates on current topics in smallholder production and animal health
LISTEN TO PODCASTS