Canada invests in livestock and poultry welfare

With funding under the AgriAssurance Program, the organisations will update industry standards for the care and handling of animals and evaluate technology to more efficiently trace farm animals in the production system in the event of a disease outbreak.

Specifically for the poultry sector, the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council in Ontario will receive up to $35,750 to update its animal welfare programme for hatcheries to meet the requirements of the National Farm Animal Care Council‘s Code of Practice for the care and handling of hatching eggs, breeders, chickens and turkeys.

“This important financial contribution allowed CPEPC to convene a group representing poultry producers, breeders, hatcheries, veterinarians, academics, retailers and animal welfare association representatives. Together, this group reviewed Canadian hatcheries’ animal care programme, to ensure it aligns with the Code of practice and fosters compliance across Canada’s hatchery sector,” commented Jean-Michel Laurin, president and CEO of the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council.

Then, Animal Health Canada will receive the bulk of the funds (up to $2.9 million) to update national codes of practice for the livestock sector, including the code for the safe and humane transportation of livestock.

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency will receive up to $52,140 to evaluate the use of ultra high frequency (UHF) scanners to read cattle identification tags to quickly trace the movement of animals in the event of a disease outbreak. Tag readings are recorded in a database that makes it possible for government and industry to rapidly contain the scope of a potential outbreak.