March 30, 2023 –
The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) have released the updated Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle. The updated Code is now available at nfacc.ca.
The Dairy Processors Association of Canada (DPAC) was an active member of the Code Development Committee. The Committee included representatives from the Dairy Farmers of Canada, Humane Canada as well as a cross section of industry, government and veterinary experts.
Working together, Committee members identified evidence-based solutions to address farm animal care concerns and meet consumers’ expectations. The updated Code is the result of consensus building from a diverse group of stakeholders through shared learning and decision making.
Many positive outcomes have emerged from the revision of the dairy cattle code, and DPAC vows to continue working collaboratively with all stakeholders to improve animal welfare practices in Canada.
Backgrounder – Codes and National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC)
Codes exist for the vast majority of Canada’s animal agriculture industries and are managed by NFACC. These codes serve as a national baseline for animal care requirements and recommended practices and are often incorporated by reference into provincial animal welfare legislation.
Codes are also used by industry to promote sound husbandry practices, such as housing, animal care and handling, as well as transportation. The Codes are therefore foundational for animal care assessment programs, such as the Dairy Farmers of Canada’s proAction program.