(Ottawa) – The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) are pleased to announce the release of the new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. The Code is available electronically at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/beef-cattle.
“Canadian cattle producers care for their cattle every day”, says Ryder Lee, Manager of Federal and Provincial Relations, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “What that care entails is not often fully understood by people unfamiliar with livestock production and the practices of the industry in general. The updated Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle will give people a better understanding of all that’s involved in raising beef cattle. And they can feel good knowing that the Code takes into account science-informed practices that are practical for producers to use and meet the public’s expectations for animal care.”
The Code’s development was led by a 15-person Code committee comprised of beef cattle producers (cow-calf, backgrounding and feedlot operators), animal welfare and enforcement representatives, researchers, transporters, processors, veterinarians and government representatives. Aiding in their work was a six-person Scientific Committee that included research and veterinary expertise in beef cattle behaviour, health and welfare.
“This Code of Practice sets a new standard that will improve the lives of beef cattle across Canada,” states Geoff Urton of the BC SPCA, who represented the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies on the Code Development Committee. “I’m encouraged to see this Code define minimum acceptable standards for cattle care and chart a path for more use of pain control during procedures like castration and dehorning.”
Canada’s Codes of Practice are a powerful tool for meeting rising consumer, marketplace and societal expectations relative to farm animal welfare. Codes support responsible animal care practices and keep everyone involved in farm animal care and handling on the same page. They are our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices, providing a foundation for animal care assessment programs and in some provinces, regulatory activities.
The beef cattle Code is the fourth of eight farm animal Codes of Practice currently under revision to be completed through the NFACC Code development process. More information on the Code development process is available at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice.
Source: NFACC