GUELPH, Ontario – Updating animal welfare standards for livestock in Canada is the focus of a C$4.56 million investment in a program to be developed by the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) on behalf of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC).

According to a Feb. 19 announcement by Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the purpose of the investment is to improve current animal welfare practices by establishing new codes of practice for handling farm animals. The investment was made through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriAssurance program to update codes of practice for the treatment of livestock being transported as well as dairy cattle and goats. A fourth new code of conduct for aquaculture is also part of the initiative. 

“Livestock and poultry welfare is important to everyone,” said Ryder Lee, chairman of the NFACC, “from the animals themselves to producers and consumers. We are pleased the government of Canada has chosen to invest in this project to help improve farm animal well-being and address expectations of consumers and the marketplace.”

MacAulay added: “This investment will ensure Canadian standards are in place and up-to-date to meet new and emerging consumer and market demands, while building consumer confidence about how farmed animals are raised and transported.”