Chicken farmers launch national animal care program

Friday, September 25, 2009

by SUSAN MANN

A new program intended to quantify animal care means some more paperwork for chicken farmers, say those involved in its launch.

Ontario’s farmers will receive details about the program at regional meetings next month. Implementation begins in January.

David Fuller, chairman of Chicken Farmers of Canada, says most farmers are already doing many of the program’s requirements. “The issue is we’re not recording what we say we’re doing.”

The program means “a little more paperwork” for most. But it’s very important for both farmers and the industry to maintain consumer confidence in their chicken product, he says.

Steve Leech, national program manager, says the records can be used “to demonstrate the level of animal care shown on farms.”

The program will compliment the already running national on-farm food safety assurance program. It’ll cover chicken production on farms from an animal welfare perspective. The animal care program records are being combined with the food safety ones so Leech says farmers won’t have to do a lot of extra recordkeeping.

Farm audits for both programs will also be combined, he says.

A Chicken Farmers’ survey of people’s attitudes done every three years shows a growing concern about animal agriculture, says senior communications officer Marty Brett. “People do care a little more and are expressing that when it comes to surveys,” he says.

Leech notes that processors are also facing animal care assessments from their customers, such as retailers and fast food service outlets. Developing the program was a way for Chicken Farmers to ensure consistent requirements for farmers across Canada.

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association have endorsed the program, Leech says. BF