The 'musts' and 'shoulds' of Codes of Practice

Friday, April 3, 2009

The newest Code of Practice for dairy production, currently in draft form, (see related article on page 30) will recommend that dairy producers administer an anesthetic and painkillers before and after castrating bull calves. It doesn't necessarily follow that beef producers will have to do the same, says the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.

Beef animals are different from dairy "in genetics, behaviour and in management," says Ryder Lee, manager of federal-provincial relations.

Nevertheless, he says, if a particular practice "is required in dairy, the question will always be asked: Why isn't it the same in beef?"

Lee says that it's important to look at the "musts" and the "shoulds" in codes of practice.
"The musts are things a court will look at and say 'if you aren't doing those things, you are negligent,' or whatever the word might be."

Lee says that generally, in the past, the court has not enforced "shoulds" in regulations, but he warns that "you are playing a mug's game if you try to predict the future based upon the past." The draft Dairy Code of Practice says.

"Producers should castrate calves at a young age, use the Burdizzo method, rather than surgery, or constricting rings, use anesthetics, sedatives and analgesics to reduce the calf's response to pain."

Better Farming asked the Ontario Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) about the differences between the 'shoulds' and 'musts' of animal care.

In an e-mail, Kristin Williams, manager of marketing and publications, said that the dairy code "is voluntary and meant to help educate the community regarding the industry and common practices. Therefore, it is ultimately a guideline only and a recommendation." BF