The public comment period for the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Goats ends February 22, 2021
REMINDER NOTICE: The draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Goats is available for public comment until February 22nd. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and the Canadian National Goat Federation (CNGF) announced the launch of the public comment period on December 18, 2020.
The draft Code can be viewed and submissions made through NFACC’s web site at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/goats. All comments must be submitted through the online system, for which easy-to-follow instructions are provided. This is an important opportunity for all stakeholders with an interest in goat welfare to contribute to the Code of Practice. Like all Codes, it includes requirements and recommended practices, and participants can review the entire draft Code or easily navigate to sections most of interest to them.
A Scientific Committee report summarizing research on priority welfare topics for goats can be found alongside the draft Code online. This peer-reviewed report aided the discussions of the Code Development Committee as they prepared the draft Code of Practice.
The goat Code is one of four Codes of Practice currently being developed as part of a multi-year NFACC project. Codes of Practice serve as our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices. The Codes cover housing, feed and water, handling, euthanasia, pre-transport decision-making and other important management practices.
The development of the goat Code began in 2018. A 13-person Code Development Committee that includes participants from across Canada including producers, animal welfare and enforcement representatives, researchers, veterinarians and government representatives led the Code’s development.
The Scientific Committee includes researchers with expertise in goat behaviour, health, and welfare. The aim is to have the updated goat Code completed before the end of 2021. More information on the Code development process is available at nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice.
Funding for this project has been provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal–provincial–territorial initiative.
