The Milk Producer - February 2010 - (Page 19)

NATIONALPOLICY By Shelley Crabtree Proactive approach How to ensure your farm measures up to Code of Practice for dairy cattle care quick, easy-to-use checklist Promotion and implementation of can compare the way you care the Code on farms is critical for the for your cattle with best man- dairy industry. A consensus docuagement and welfare practices recment on animal care, it reflects the ommended across Canada. It lets you industry’s values and, to some extent, assess your practices and the environ- views held by our society. ment you provide for your animals to ensure you comply with the recently updated Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle. Producer representatives and the National Farm Animal Care Council spent several months updating the Code, published in the spring of 2009. The assessment tool, available online at Dairy Farmers of Canada’s (DFC) website at www.dairyfarmers.ca, is one of several products resulting from the update. Sent to all Canadian dairy producers last June, the comprehensive Code provides guidelines, recommendations and requirements for dairy cattle care and handling. Subjects include housA checklist assessment is available online ing, management, transportation, at www.dairyfarmers.ca. processing and animal husbandry practices. Consequently, the industry, governThe science-based Code formalizes ments, animal care groups and and strengthens recommendations provincial farm animal councils will and requirements contained in the use the Code as the key document on document. Requirements are new to the best approach to care for dairy the Code and can refer to either a animals. Some provinces will referregulatory requirement or an indusence the Code in their provincial anitry-imposed expectation outlining mal welfare legislation. In the past, acceptable and unacceptable prac- Codes have been used in courts as a tices. Recommended best practices reference. strive for continuous improvement, Given the Code’s status in provinand encourage producers to provide a cial legislation and its use as a tool to higher level of care for their animals. evaluate best practices for animal care and welfare on farms, enforcement of Code compliance will vary from province to province. In Ontario, for example, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act refers to the care of agricultural animals according to reasonable and generally accepted practices of agricultural animal care, management or husbandry. In this case, the Code serves as the industry standard by which generally accepted practices would be measured and the basis on which the act could be enforced. Ongoing communications about the Code and specific changes made in the updated version will continue during the year. DFC, in collaboration with industry experts, will explain the importance of the changes and the scientific basis on which they were made. DFC’s board of directors expects the Code’s implementation should be seamless across the country. You are encouraged to use the self-assessment tool to measure compliance and implement the recommended best practices. The Code demonstrates strong leadership and a proactive approach to animal care and welfare in the Canadian dairy industry. It has signaled our industry’s strong commitment to the care and humane treatment of our animals. Shelley Crabtree is DFC’s acting assistant director, communications and policy. MilkPRODUCER | February 2010 | 19 http://www.dairyfarmers.ca http://www.dairyfarmers.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - February 2010

The Milk Producer - February 2010
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
DFC Policy
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Quest for Quota
Issues Update
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - February 2010