Chicken farmers launch national animal care program

September 25, 2009, Better Farming

Farmers and the industry must maintain consumer confidence says Chicken
Farmers of Canada chairman

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