The public comment period begins April 13
The public will have a chance to weigh in on the updated Beef Cattle Code of Practice beginning next week.
The 60-day public comment period begins April 13, which is also the day the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) will make the draft Code available.
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is hosting a webinar that day to help the industry and Canadians digest the contents of the Code.
The webinar begins at 3pm ET and will cover the Code’s history, the review process, a broad overview of the updated draft, and how producers can provide feedback.
“The more producers who review the draft Code the more certain we can be that the final Code will represent how cattle are raised across Canada,” the CCA says on its website. “Cattle producers, consumers, and others with an interest in the welfare of beef cattle are encouraged to provide input to ensure that this Code reflects a common understanding of beef cattle care expectations and science-based recommended practices in Canada.”
Producers interested in attending the webinar must pre-register. And any questions can be sent to contact@cattle.ca.
Canadian cattle producers are operating under the 2013 Code.
The NFACC reviewed the Code in 2018 with no changes.
The NFACC’s Code Committee and Scientific Committee launched the new draft Code process in 2023 and identified multiple priority welfare issues.
These include pain control for painful procedures, health conditions at different stages of production, weaning, and end-of-life management.
The 60-day public comment period is the 5th step in a seven-step process.
Step six is to consider the input and viewpoints gathered during the public comment window and agrees on a final version of the Code and how the committee considered public feedback.
The final step is to submit the Code to the NFACC for publishing, and begin industry outreach and implementation.
The NFACC expects the process for the beef cattle Code to be completed in June 2027.