AFAC’s Livestock Welfare Extension & Training Policy

A plan or guiding principle intended to influence and
determine decisions and a course of action.

Of the four pillars of AFAC’s mandate — advancing responsible animal care, monitoring issues and legislation, encouraging research and engaging in discussion with the public — advancing responsible animal care is the primary one.  This is accomplished through several extension and training delivery approaches.

The target audiences for AFAC’s extension and training efforts are:

• Those working in the agriculture industry and owning and handling livestock;
• Rural youth and students owning and handling livestock and entering the agriculture workforce.

Five guiding principles influence AFAC’s course of action regarding livestock welfare extension and training:

1. AFAC must be responsive to industry needs, proactive in addressing ways to improve livestock welfare in Alberta, encourage the use of experts, recognize the value of a grassroots approach to extension and ensure the livestock industry (AFAC member organizations) support the extension and training messages.
2. Available science related to livestock welfare and practices in Canada’s livestock industries’ Recommended Codes of Practice for Care and Handling of Farm Animals must be accurately communicated in all extension programming.
3. The benefits (economic, food and human safety and others) of good stockmanship, handling and management must be reinforced.
4. All contracted delivery agents must demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of livestock husbandry and the laws (Animal Protection Act, Meat Inspection Acts and Health of Animals – Animal Transport Regulations).  They cannot make any disputable claims or be inappropriately critical of the industry.
5. Every effort will be made to solicit feedback, evaluations and actual measurable improvements.