Quebec-based DuBreton farms has announced that it is now California Animal Care Program Certified.

Nov 13, 2023

Canadian swine producer surpasses Prop 12 requirements

California’s controversial Proposition 12, known as prop 12, requires that swine livestock producers restrict gestation crate usage, and says that each sow must have 24 square feet of space.

“Today, we reach another step forward, since we are not just compliant, but fully audited and ready for California’s Proposition 12, which goes into effect on January 1st, 2024.” shared Vincent Breton, CEO.

DuBreton farms is a fourth generation farming operation that has raised crate-free pigs since 2003.

Unlike DuBreton, many US and Canadian farmers say they won’t be making changes on their farms to become compliant.

For many farmers the issue is that the Prop 12 and similar laws in Massachusetts and New Jersey will force swine producers to make their barn sizes larger, or reduce the number of sows in their herd to be able to give the required 24 square feet of space.

Video: 2026 T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science - Dan Weary

T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science: "Using science to assess and improve the welfare of dairy cattle"

Dan Weary is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. Dan did his BSc and MSc at McGill and Doctorate at Oxford before co-founding UBC’s Animal Welfare Program where he now co-directs this active research group. His research focuses on understanding the perspectives of animals and applying these insights to develop methods of assessing animal welfare and improving the lives of animals. His work has helped drive changes in practices (including the adoption of higher milk rations for calves and pain management for disbudding) and housing methods (including the adoption of social housing for pre-weaned calves). He also studies cow comfort and lameness, social interactions among cows, and interactions between cows, human handlers and technologies like automated millking systems that are increasingly used on farms. His presentation will outline key questions in cattle welfare, highlight recent UBC research addressing them, and showcase innovative methods for improving the lives of cattle and their caretakers.