Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


The 'musts' and 'shoulds' of Codes of Practice

Friday, April 3, 2009

The newest Code of Practice for dairy production, currently in draft form, (see related article on page 30) will recommend that dairy producers administer an anesthetic and painkillers before and after castrating bull calves. It doesn't necessarily follow that beef producers will have to do the same, says the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.

Beef animals are different from dairy "in genetics, behaviour and in management," says Ryder Lee, manager of federal-provincial relations.

Nevertheless, he says, if a particular practice "is required in dairy, the question will always be asked: Why isn't it the same in beef?"

Lee says that it's important to look at the "musts" and the "shoulds" in codes of practice.
"The musts are things a court will look at and say 'if you aren't doing those things, you are negligent,' or whatever the word might be."

Lee says that generally, in the past, the court has not enforced "shoulds" in regulations, but he warns that "you are playing a mug's game if you try to predict the future based upon the past." The draft Dairy Code of Practice says.

"Producers should castrate calves at a young age, use the Burdizzo method, rather than surgery, or constricting rings, use anesthetics, sedatives and analgesics to reduce the calf's response to pain."

Better Farming asked the Ontario Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) about the differences between the 'shoulds' and 'musts' of animal care.

In an e-mail, Kristin Williams, manager of marketing and publications, said that the dairy code "is voluntary and meant to help educate the community regarding the industry and common practices. Therefore, it is ultimately a guideline only and a recommendation." BF
 

Current Issue

May 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

How will Carney work with Farmers?

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Prime Minister Carney has a mandate to lead the country, but the country is quite divided, and much of the agriculture industry feels alienated. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre have both pledged cooperation on key issues like U.S. tariffs. As the new... Read this article online

Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top