Originally published on July 8, 2024 on RealAgriculture
By Lyndsey Smith
Each livestock group in Canada has a Code of Practice for Care and Handling that producers must follow. These codes, guided by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), follow a review process on a rotating schedule.
Currently, the beef cattle, equine, pig, and poultry codes are being updated, and now the latest code up for review and consultation is the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep.
The code development process includes a survey, launched at the outset of each review, to capture top-of-mind welfare concerns from any and all stakeholders. The input received will help the Code Development Committee understand the kinds of issues people wish to see considered in the update, says NFACC.
Everyone is invited to participate; the survey for the sheep code will be open until July 25, 2024 and is available at NFACC’s web page dedicated to the process.
Canada’s Codes of Practice provide guidance for the care and handling of farm animals. The codes reflect our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices and serve as educational tools, reference materials for regulations, and the foundation for farm animal care assessment programs, NFACC says.
Financial support for the review of the Codes is provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.