Where is the Beef? Survey Seeks Input on Beef Cattle Code of Practice

Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Encourages Beef Producers to Participate

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is currently seeking input from beef farmers on the Code of Practice relating to on-farm management cattle identification, dehorning and castration practices. Beef cattle producers who wish to provide feedback are encouraged to participate in the online survey.

“Now over half-way through its mandate, the beef code committee is seeking input on several key animal management practices in order to create guidelines that are both relevant and practical,” the CCA's Ryder Lee said in a release. “This is an important part of the process, have your say — complete the survey.”

The CCA wants to utilize the information provided from the survey to assist with updating the beef cattle Code of Practice for the National Farm Animal Care Council’s (NFACC) project that provides guideless for animal welfare practices for farm animals. The initiative is being funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Flexibility Fund.

The 1991 was the last time that the code for beef cattle had been revised and since then, best practices for the beef industry have evolved and technological advancements have been made. An up-to-date code will help the beef cattle industry engage in a fact-based way about how beef cattle are to be raised and cared for by Canadian beef producers. The CCA’s leadership on this initiative is essential to the ongoing dialogue with the consumer.

The CCA represents Canada’s 83,000 beef farmers and act as an important advocacy group for the beef industry. The organization wants to ensure that Canadian cattle farmer’s voices are heard and that current industry practices are noted in the redevelopment for the Code of Practice. The NFACC hopes that the revised Code will be implemented by March 2013.