Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare Agri-Flexibility Project Update Canadian Animal Health Coalition Industry Forum Ottawa, Ontario December 7, 2010

Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare Recipient: Canadian Animal Health Coalition on behalf of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) Project Objective: To provide the Canadian livestock and poultry value chain with tools to address market challenges Project Description: Project will develop or revise current Codes of Practice, finalize and pilot the Animal Care Assessment Model, and undertake activities that will communicate and promote current Canadian farm animal welfare activities.

Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare Start Date: 2009/11/23 End Date: 2014/03/31 Total Funds from Agri-Flexibility: $3,472,235 Total Industry Contribution: $428,450 Total Project Cost: $3,900,685 Project Manager: Ed Empringham DVM Project Coordinator: Jackie Wepruk

Project Activities Codes of Practice Assessment and Product Assurance Eye on the Markets Animal Welfare Dilemma of a Market Breakdown

Project Activity: Codes of Practice Deliverables: 5 Codes finished, 3 initiated Code development schedules: Beef Cattle – September 2010 (completed by March 2013) Mink – October 2010 (completed by October 2012) Ranched Fox – October 2010 (completed by October 2012) Pigs – November 2010 (completed by May 2013) Equine – November 2010 (completed by May 2013) Sheep – January 2011 (completed by July 2013) Poultry and transport code updates may be initiated through the project.

Why is this the right approach? Provides clearer linkages between science and Code recommendations ▫Scientists Committee ▫References sound science and other knowledge sources Distinguishes between requirements and recommended best practices ▫Important for both regulatory and animal care assessment programs

Why is this the right approach? Transparent and credible ▫Breadth of representation ▫Public comment periods Industry involvement ▫Awareness, buy-in and implementation are vital

Considerations & potential limitations Project based funding ▫Strategy for ongoing Code updates ▫Maintaining trained human resource ▫Commitment from government Implementation ▫Commitment from industry Rate of progress vs current pressures for change ▫Retailer/food service awareness

Project Activity: Assessment and Product Assurance Deliverables: finalize Animal Care Assessment Model (ACAM) ▫Draft TOR for Steering Committee ▫Initial ID of Steering Committee members develop and pilot a test animal care assessment program ▫ID volunteer commodity in 1 st workshop benchmarking study and strategy ▫Assess the value of extension techniques for Codes ▫Proposing to do this with dairy

Considerations and potential limitations Retailers & food service industry awareness and involvement ▫E.g., Australian pork industry developments Raising producer awareness and implementation

Project Activity: Eye on the Markets Deliverables: 2 conferences – 2011 & 2013 Tell our story and understand what others are doing

Project Activity: Animal Welfare Dilemma of a Market Breakdown Deliverable: Animal Welfare Dilemma of a Market Breakdown workshop Approach being developed through the Project’s Steering Committee

Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare We have: The formula The opportunity The collaborative participation of all key stakeholders is critical for the challenges of animal welfare to be addressed in a sustainable manner.