Ontario Beef Helpline Service
The Ontario Beef Helpline is a confidential “farmer helping farmer” approach to advice and referral on proper beef animal care administered together by the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and Farm & Food Care Ontario. It provides a confidential way for people to report situations of beef animals that they feel require better care. BFO currently has twenty trained Helpline representatives, covering all areas of the province, who respond to these situations by meeting with each farmer to discuss animal care issues and offer practical advice or necessary assistance to correct the situation if there is a problem. The Beef Helpline representative then reports back details from his/her visit to BFO and Farm & Food Care who, in turn, will relay this information back to the caller if they are interested.
Helpline calls are accepted at the Farm & Food Care office at 519-837-1326, during regular office hours, typically Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm. Callers are asked to provide specific and detailed information necessary to pursue the case. The information about the case, but not the name of the caller, is then passed on to the Beef Farmers of Ontario for follow-up and/or visit.
Callers to the Helpline are asked to identify themselves for purposes of follow-up, but such information is kept strictly confidential with Farm & Food Care.
Anyone who is having difficulties meeting acceptable levels of care and management for their farm animals and anyone else who witnesses situations where animals are not being properly cared for are encouraged to use this service.
