Smallholders

Animal Health Surveillance Information for Smallholders

Smallholder farms are diverse systems. Canada's smallholder farms keep many animal types, including poultry, small ruminants, pigs, cattle and horses. Smallholder farms may focus on organic, biodynamic, or other specialized approaches to rearing animals, as well as diverse markets for their farm products. The CAHSS smallholder page brings together resources to support the health and welfare of animals reared on smallholder farms across Canada.

Smallholder Webinar Series - Fall 2026

The Smallholder Webinar Series is a six-week, six-session educational series designed for Canadian smallholders and producers working with small ruminants, swine, and poultry/small flocks. Each species is covered through two practical sessions: the first focuses on disease prevention and risk reduction, while the second addresses disease detection, response, containment, and recovery. Topics include recognizing signs of illness, animal movement, biosecurity, wildlife and pest risks, outbreak response, humane euthanasia and carcass disposal, zoonotic risks, and continuity planning.

The free online sessions run from October 7 to November 18, 2026, with 1.5 hours of RACE-approved continuing education credits available for each webinar, 9 hours of RACE credits for the entire series.

This series is organized by WeCAHN and CAHSS. Register below!

Small Ruminant Session 1: Disease Prevention and Risk Reduction with Dr. Paula Menzies

Session one of the two part webinar series on Small Ruminants is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on practical ways to recognize signs of illness in the flock, manage the risks associated with animal movement and new purchases, prevent disease spread through people, equipment and other mechanical sources, control pests, and reduce contact and disease transmission between small ruminants and wildlife. **This Session has been approved for 1.5 RACE credits.**

**Wednesday, October 7, 2026 07:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time**

Small Ruminant Session 2: Disease Detection, Response and Containment with Dr. Paula Menzies

Session two of the two-part webinar series on Small Ruminants is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on recognizing important diseases and know actions to take when disease occurs in your flock. It will also cover humane euthanasia and safe carcass disposal, consider zoonotic and public health risks, and plan for continuity and recovery following an animal health event. **This Session has been approved for 1.5 RACE credits.**

**Wednesday, October 21, 2026 07:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time**

Swine Session 1: Disease Prevention & Risk Reduction with Dr. Suzanne Burlatschenko

Session one of the two-part webinar series on Swine is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on practical ways to recognize signs of illness in pigs, manage the risks associated with animal movement and new purchases, prevent disease spread through people, equipment and other mechanical sources, control pests, and reduce contact and disease transmission between domestic pigs and wildlife, including wild pigs. **This Session has been approved for 1.5 RACE credits.**

**Wednesday, October 14, 2026 07:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time**

Swine Session 2: Disease Detection, Response & Containment with Dr. Suzanne Burlatschenko

Session two of the two-part webinar series on Swine is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on practical ways to recognize signs of disease in pigs and know when to take action, respond to suspected disease or outbreaks, manage humane euthanasia and safe carcass disposal, consider zoonotic and public health risks, and plan for continuity and recovery following an animal health event. **This Session has been approved for 1.5 RACE credits.**

**Wednesday, October 28, 2026 07:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time**

Poultry Session 1: Disease Prevention and Risk Reduction with Dr. Gigi Lin

Session one of the two-part webinar series on Poultry and Small Flocks is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on practical ways to recognize signs of illness in poultry, manage the risks associated with bird movement and new additions, prevent disease spread through people, equipment and other mechanical sources, control pests, and reduce contact and disease transmission between domestic poultry and wild birds or other wildlife. **This Session has been approved for 1.5 RACE credits.**

**Wednesday, November 4, 2026 07:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time**

Poultry Session 2: Disease Detection, Response and Containment with Dr. Gigi Lin

Session two of the two-part webinar series on Poultry and Small Flocks is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on practical ways to recognize signs of disease in poultry and know when to take action, respond to suspected disease or outbreaks, manage humane euthanasia and safe carcass disposal, consider zoonotic and public health risks, and plan for continuity and recovery following an animal health event. **This Session has been approved for 1.5 RACE credits.**

**Wednesday, November 18, 2026 07:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time**

Information for smallholder farmers

Smallholder Working Group

Started in 2020, this working group brings together representatives from producer groups along with federal, provincial and territorial governments to share information about animal health, and plan activities to protect animals kept on smallholder farms from infectious diseases.

Animal Health Insights

A podcast series from CAHSS that connects producers, veterinarians, and pet owners on topics of animal health, disease surveillance, and disease management practices across Canada.

Visit Podcast Site

Smallholder webinar series

Update on HPAI and Small Flock Poultry - March 15, 2022. Speakers included Brenda Reimer and Drs. Barb Wilhelm, Gigi Lin, Hollyn Malloney, Theresa Burns, Tyra Dickson, and Victoria Bowes. This recorded webinar was organized by WeCAHN and CAHSS.

Animal Health Surveillance Information for Smallholders

Smallholder Webinar Series - Fall 2026

Small Ruminant Session 1: Disease Prevention and Risk Reduction with Dr. Paula Menzies

Small Ruminant Session 2: Disease Detection, Response and Containment with Dr. Paula Menzies

Swine Session 1: Disease Prevention & Risk Reduction with Dr. Suzanne Burlatschenko

Swine Session 2: Disease Detection, Response & Containment with Dr. Suzanne Burlatschenko

Poultry Session 1: Disease Prevention and Risk Reduction with Dr. Gigi Lin

Poultry Session 2: Disease Detection, Response and Containment with Dr. Gigi Lin

Information for smallholder farmers

Smallholder Working Group

Animal Health Insights

Smallholder webinar series

Small Flock Poultry

Smallholder swine

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories