 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|||
|
Livestock Care Conference 2002 Research—Refine—Rethink—Retool—Reassure Livestock Care Conference signals rising importance of farm animal welfare Jun 28, 2002 ... Increasing public concern for how livestock are cared for on Canadian farms is reshaping Canada's agriculture and food industry. That's the message from a major Livestock Care Conference held June 25 in Edmonton. The conference was sponsored by the producer group Alberta Farm Animal Care Association (AFAC) and the University of Alberta. The more than 150 people attending included a broad cross section of the livestock, academic, research and retail communities. Speakers from across Canada and the U.S. outlined how major food companies are demanding assurance that livestock they purchase are cared for properly in the production and marketing chain. That demand for quality control from food industry leaders is driving aggressive education programs by Canadian livestock producers, and is resulting in a new wave of leading edge research. "Increasingly, the livestock industry is being asked to prove that all animals are treated humanely at all stages of the production and marketing chain," says Susan Church, AFAC manager and co-organizer of the conference. "Clearly, consumers want reassurance that livestock are handled humanely. Animal welfare is associated with food quality, safety and health, and must be an integral component of any quality assurance program." Corporate fast-food retailers are hearing this message and have stepped-up their role in setting the animal welfare agenda. Burger King, for example, has been working with animal welfare experts and the industry to develop standards for animal welfare practices that it expects to be met by its beef, pork, poultry and dairy suppliers. "The message here is be involved with us; don't pretend the issue is going to go away," says Chet England, Senior Director, Product Safety and Regulatory, for Burger King Corporation. "This is an opportunity for the various links in the food chain to work together, to improve the well being of the animals throughout the system." Internationally, the animal welfare issue is driving greater transparency in food animal production, says Dr. David Fraser, Head of Animal Welfare at the University of British Columbia and advisor to U.S. food industry animal welfare initiatives. A key trend is the move to develop clear, simple standards that can be implemented and audited. Any industry responses should be grounded in science, emphasized several speakers. "There are numerous examples of animal welfare decisions being driven by uninformed opinion, often based on anecdotal evidence," says Dr. John Church, Livestock Welfare Specialist with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Farm animal management strategies must be backed by science in order to be credible and sustainable, he says. A good example of Alberta-based progress is in the area of livestock transport, says Tim O'Byrne, a livestock-handling consultant with experience in the cow-calf and feedlot business. AFAC has supported research into livestock handling and hauling that will lead to pre-transport management strategies for minimizing the effects of transport on the animal. "The Livestock Care Conference is part of AFAC's ongoing education effort," says Susan Church. "It illustrates what is needed for continued progress in animal welfare - bringing together researchers, retailers, producers, industry and the public to increase awareness, encourage cooperation and help chart a course for the future." AFAC was formed by Alberta's major livestock groups in 1993 to promote responsible animal care. This includes supporting research projects, and pursuing education initiatives that target both the industry and the public.
|
