Canada’s Codes of Practice
The Codes of Practice are nationally developed guidelines for the care and handling of farm animals. These Codes are national animal care requirements and recommended practices that farmers (and all Canadians) are to follow to ensure the welfare of animals in their care.
Review and update of the Codes of Practice are coordinated by the National Farm Animal Care Council, which works with government, farmers, veterinarians, humane societies, food companies, restaurants and others to develop a national approach to animal welfare.
The Codes, which are internationally-recognized as models of responsible animal care, spell out what is appropriate in the daily care and handling of livestock and poultry in areas such as:
- Accommodation/housing/handling facilities
- Food and water
- Management
- Health (sick and injured animals, lameness, condition scoring, record keeping)
- Transportation
- Euthanasia
- Husbandry/stockmanship
Codes of Practice have been established for beef cattle, veal cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, goats, dairy cows, bison, farmed salmon, and many others. The National Farm Animal Care Council ensures an opportunity for public comment on all Codes of Practice under review.
To see all the Codes and for more information on how they are developed, visit www.nfacc.ca.