NFACC Information Update: August 2017
In this issue:
- NFACC welcomes new Associate Member – Cara
- Market Relevant Codes and Communication Leadership project update
- Professor Jeff Rushen wins 2017 UFAW Medal
- Call for abstracts: Canadian Federation of Humane Societies 2018 National Animal Welfare Conference
- Equine survey: implementation and compliance to the Code of Practice
- National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare (NFAHW) Council releases report on the management of cull dairy cows in Canada
- Upcoming events
NFACC WELCOMES NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER: CARA
NFACC is pleased to welcome Cara as new Associate Members.
“Cara recently celebrated its 125th birthday and owns many of Canada’s favourite restaurant brands including Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s Kelsey’s, Montana’s and Milestone’s Bar and Grill. Cara is committed to the humane treatment of animals, and to working with Canadian farmers to achieve this goal. We are proud supporters of NFACC and look forward to working with the many partners that make up the organization to maintain credible animal welfare standards in Canada.” - Peter Vale, Vice President, Strategic Sourcing
MARKET RELEVANT CODES AND COMMUNICATION LEADERSHIP PROJECT* UPDATE
Bison – the updated bison Code was released on August 9, 2017. The job of promoting the new Code is already underway. The Code has been featured at international venues like the International Bison Conference in Big Sky, Montana and the International Society of Applied Ethology Congress in Aarhus, Denmark.
Veal Cattle – an updated veal cattle Code will be released on November 27, 2017. Watch NFACC’s website for this new Code, which was updated in accordance with NFACC’s Code development process. A news release will be issued just as the Code goes “live”.
A great deal of commitment and hard work amongst very diverse groups went into making this Code possible. Congratulations to the Code development committee for a job well done.
Rabbits – the Code development committee met in May to deliberate on the comments received through the public comment period and will meet a final time in September. The estimated release date for a final Code is now winter 2017.
PROFESSOR JEFF RUSHEN WINS 2017 UFAW MEDAL
Congratulations to Dr. Jeff Rushen for winning the 2017 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science. “The UFAW Medal recognizes exceptional achievements of individual scientists who have made fundamental contributions to the advancement of animal welfare over a number of years.”
Dr. Rushen was recognized, in part, for his many contributions to the Codes of Practice in Canada. He currently represents the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies on the veal cattle Code development committee. He has also served as co-chair of the Scientific Committee and member of the Code development committee for the dairy Code.
Dr. Rushen served on NFACC’s Board as the researcher representative from 2009–2014.
More information on the award is available at: www.ufaw.org.uk/ufaw-medal-for-outstanding-contributions-to-animal-welfare-science/2016-award-winners.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: CANADIAN FEDERATION OF HUMANE SOCIETIES 2018 NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE
Submission deadline is September 8, 2017 at 5pm ET. The 2018 CFHS National Animal Welfare Conference takes place at the Hyatt Regency Calgary, April 21–24, 2018. The conference committee is seeking proposals for several animal welfare topics including:
- Farm Animal Welfare: programs and initiatives dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals, new research on farm animals, environmental impacts and initiatives related to farming and any other emerging developments in this area.
More information is available at: http://conference.cfhs.ca.
EQUINE SURVEY: IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE TO THE CODE OF PRACTICE
“The survey was designed to provide insight into the level of awareness of the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines and the self-assessed compliance to the standards and requirements set forth within them. Results will identify opportunities for educational programming and resources and to set the foundation for an equine care assessment tool.”
More information is available at: www.horsewelfare.ca/news/266-survey-equine-code.
NATIONAL FARMED ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE (NFAHW) COUNCIL RELEASES REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CULL DAIRY COWS IN CANADA
The NFAHW Council is an advisory council to the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Regulatory Assistant Deputy Ministers of Agriculture Committee, but reports to all stakeholders. It recently released its report, “The Management of Cull Dairy Cows in Canada”. The report is available at: www.ahwcouncil.ca.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Visit www.nfacc.ca for more information and links.
*A project made possible through the AgriMarketing Program under Growing Forward 2, a federal–provincial–territorial initiative.
