by SUSAN MANN
A new program intended to quantify animal care means some more paperwork for chicken farmers, say those involved in its launch.
Ontario’s farmers will receive details about the program at regional meetings next month. Implementation begins in January.
David Fuller, chairman of Chicken Farmers of Canada, says most farmers are already doing many of the program’s requirements. “The issue is we’re not recording what we say we’re doing.”
The program means “a little more paperwork” for most. But it’s very important for both farmers and the industry to maintain consumer confidence in their chicken product, he says.
Steve Leech, national program manager, says the records can be used “to demonstrate the level of animal care shown on farms.”
The program will compliment the already running national on-farm food safety assurance program. It’ll cover chicken production on farms from an animal welfare perspective. The animal care program records are being combined with the food safety ones so Leech says farmers won’t have to do a lot of extra recordkeeping.
Farm audits for both programs will also be combined, he says.
A Chicken Farmers’ survey of people’s attitudes done every three years shows a growing concern about animal agriculture, says senior communications officer Marty Brett. “People do care a little more and are expressing that when it comes to surveys,” he says.
Leech notes that processors are also facing animal care assessments from their customers, such as retailers and fast food service outlets. Developing the program was a way for Chicken Farmers to ensure consistent requirements for farmers across Canada.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association have endorsed the program, Leech says. BF
Comments
Chicken Farmers of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies wish to correct a false statement in Susan Mann’s recent article “Chicken farmers launch national animal care program”. The article states that “the CFHS and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association have endorsed the program”. This is not accurate. The statement should read: “The CFHS and the CVMA have reviewed and support the implementation of Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Animal Care Program”. These words were carefully chosen to articulate the CFHS’ position. The words ‘endorsed’ and ‘support’ are not interchangeable as they reflect a different type of collaboration.
The CFHS commends Chicken Farmers of Canada for developing and launching their Animal Care Program. They were very receptive to our feedback in the development of the program and are to be applauded for a program that encourages producers to achieve higher standards of welfare for their birds. We hope that producers will strive to meet the higher standard of care set out in the ‘Highly Recommended’ practices contained in the manual.
Shelagh MacDonald
Program Director, CFHS
Steve Leech
Manager of Food Safety, Animal Care and Research, CFC
EDITOR'S NOTE: This word change occurred during the editing process and in no way originated with Susan Mann.
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