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December 2013
Dear friend,
As the New Year
fast approaches we reflect on accomplishments made in the Canadian farming
industry in 2013. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) oversaw
completion of five new Codes of Practice: equine, beef cattle, sheep, farmed
fox and mink. Significant progress was also made on a new Code for Pigs, set to
be published in early 2014.
The SPCA Certified program continues to
grow, taking on two new, organic, large-scale beef cattle operations in 2013:
Lasser Ranches (> 500 head) and Beaver Meadows (introduced in this issue of
FarmSense). Want to know how our SPCA Certified standards measure up to the
Codes? Read on!
Also featured this month are new,
festive holiday recipes using SPCA Certified foods and a look into the future of cage-free egg
production in Canada.
From all of us
in the BC SPCA Farm Animal department, we wish you (and your animals) peace,
happiness, and the 5 Freedoms this holiday season!
Sincerely,
The BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Team
P.S. You can help spread awareness about the BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare department and our many programs. Forward this email to friends and colleagues.
New videos and fact sheets on horse health and welfare
Find out about the
industry-supported process behind the Equine Code as well as nutrition, health
management, breeding, housing, humane training and other requirements included
in the new Equine Code. Fact sheets on
horse care are also available.
The future of cage-free egg production in Canada
Is there a demand for cage-free eggs? Will
consumers pay more for these eggs? How is hen care and welfare different in a
cage-free system compared to a conventional battery cage system?
Two Canadian cage-free egg farmers, a
poultry welfare expert and SPCA Certified program staff discuss why keeping
hens out of cages can be better for farmers, hens, consumers and the
environment.
Are SPCA Certified
farm animal welfare standards up to Code?
In Canada, farmers are expected
to follow a set of farm animal care guidelines referred to as the Codes of
Practice. The Codes outline minimum requirements and recommended practices for
farm animal welfare in Canada. Adherence to the Codes is not yet consistently monitored
across the country.
Launched in 2002, the SPCA
Certified program is an independent, third-party farm animal welfare
certification system. SPCA Certified standards use the Codes of Practice as a
baseline level of care for farm animals and then incorporate practical,
evidence-based improvements to farm animal welfare. In other words, all SPCA
Certified standards meet or exceed the Codes of Practice.
Learn the specifics of how
SPCA Certified measures up to the Codes by visiting our Resources for Farmers page.
SPCA Certified welcomes Beaver Meadows to the program!
Beaver
Meadows, home of Natural Pastures Beef, is a third generation family-run
beef cattle operation located on Vancouver Island.
In addition to joining the
SPCA Certified Program, Beaver Meadows is Certified Organic, producing 100%
grass fed, and grass finished Angus beef cattle.
Festive
Holiday Recipes courtesy of SPCA Certified
Tired of
the same holiday dishes year after year? Why not try something new!
Wonderful
SPCA Certified holiday-inspired recipes, like Christmas Tree salad, gingerbread
cookies and holiday eggnog, are perfect for potlucks, a light meal, or for
family feasts.
Show Your Support
for Animals by participating in National Cupcake Day
Bake
cupcakes to raise money and improve the lives of animals!
National Cupcake Day registration opens
January 6th, 2014. Show your support for farm animal welfare by
baking your cupcakes using only humanely produced SPCA Certifiedeggs.
SPCA Certified goes online!
This fall the SPCA Certified program officially
launched its online web portal! Farmers interested in becoming certified can
now register online, and currently certified farmers can log in at any time to
update their farm information. The electronic system will allow for improved
data management, resulting less paperwork and better customer relationships; three
essential components of a rapidly growing certification program!
