Name

Mario Abella

Occupation

Herd Manager

What does your job entail?

Part of my job is to vaccinate the cows. Just today we did pregnancy tests for the herd. Every morning we do the milking and feeding of the cows. We’re also responsible for cleaning the barns.

How long have you been working in Canada?

I came here in 2014, so almost 10 years. I’m from the Philippines but I worked in Thailand before coming to Canada.

What do you like most about your work?

I like making sure the cows are healthy and really like taking care of them.

Tell me a bit about where you’re from and why did you decide to come to Canada?

I came from the Philippines. We lived in the province, not in the city. I came to Canada for the future of my family. In the Philippines, there isn’t enough work to support our family so I decided to come abroad. I have a wife and three children.

The farm has won a number of awards for your milk quality and the quality of the health of the herd. What do you think makes the farm and your cows so successful?

Checking the cows every day and making sure they’re healthy. We have lots of processes in place so we can maintain our number one spot in PEI.

What are your hopes for the future? What are your goals for the next couple of years?

I’d love to keep working here. Maybe someday my children can get into the dairy industry.

Is there anything about your job that people don't realize?

It’s hard work but very rewarding. I’m really happy here on the farm.

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