CALGARY, Alta. — The Livestock Transport Conference, themed “Are we there yet?” is slated for Jan. 29, 2009 in Calgary, and will be hosted by Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC).

The conference will offer a North American focus on how to achieve humane, safe and effective livestock transport, with insight from a “dynamic speaker line-up,” according to the organizers.

“The Livestock Transport Conference is an opportunity to learn and work together on a component of our business that is seeing more focus, progress, and new expectations every year,” says Dr. Bill Ballantyne, vice-chair of NFACC and director of technical services for Maple Leaf Foods.

There are thousands of trucks on the road every day transporting livestock, adds Doug Sawyer, a beef producer and chair of AFAC. “Providing the best in livestock care and handling at all stages is not only our responsibility, it’s an integral part of delivering high quality products.”

The conference targets all those involved in livestock transportation, including truckers, producers, processors, representatives from transport and food companies, enforcement and government. The agenda covers global initiatives, training, audit systems, science and regulations. The aim is to address the well being of animals, raise the profile of livestock transportation in the value chain, provide continuing education, and explore cross-border collaboration.

“We need to align our approaches and explore more ways for Canada and the US to work together on everything from trucker training to audit systems,” adds Ballantyne. “The conference agenda offers a big picture view of what is happening in both countries and globally, so we can see clearly those opportunities and how to capture them.”

For the agenda and to register for the Livestock Transport Conference call AFAC at 403-932-8050 or visit www.livestocktransport.ca.