Advancing Farm Animal Care in Canada

May 17, 2010... The Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) and National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) are pleased to accept support from the federal government for a project that will allow Canadian animal agriculture to more effectively address the increasing public interest and concern regarding farm animal welfare.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced the funding approval for NFACC’s Agricultural Flexibility (Agriflex) Project, Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare on Friday, April 30, 2010, at the University of Guelph.

“Taking care of the livestock is the first chore in the morning and the last chore at night because farmers know that healthy animals mean a healthy business,” said Minister Ritz. “The Government of Canada is proud to partner with Canadian farmers to further develop best-practices that will strengthen our livestock industry.”

This investment of up to $3.4 million will help improve farm animal well-being and address the expectations of consumers and the public. Approved activities include developing or revising Codes of Practice for various farmed animal sectors and a framework model for on-farm animal care assessment. As a framework for the Codes, NFACC will use the revised National Development Process for Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals that they piloted last year in the dairy industry with support from federal adaptation funding.

“Responsible livestock care is important to everyone, from the animals themselves to producers and consumers, said Edouard Asnong, Chair of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). “We are pleased the Government of Canada has chosen to invest in this project to help improve farm animal well-being and address expectations of consumers and the marketplace.”

“CAHC has been successful in bringing groups together for common purposes, including establishing the National Farm Animal Care Council and providing support for its continued development,” said Mark Beaven, CAHC Executive Director. “CAHC thanks the Federal Government for its support for the project and is committed to facilitating the successful outcomes that support farmed animal health and welfare, alongside farmed animal production and trade”.

NFACC, working with the secretariat support of the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC), provides a vehicle for ensuring a national coordinated approach on farm animal care among all stakeholders across the entire value chain. For more information about NFACC, visit www.nfacc.ca.

CAHC is a partnership of organizations all recognizing a shared responsibility for an effective Canadian animal health system. For more information about CAHC, visit www.animalhealth.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Beaven
CAHC Executive Director
mark@animalhealth.ca
519-292-0585

Jackie Wepruk
NFACC General Manager
nfacc@xplornet.com
403-783-4066

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