Sheep Code of Practice public comment period ends September 6
August 27, 2013 - REMINDER NOTICE: The draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep is available for public comment until September 6. The Canadian Sheep Federation and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) announced the launch of the public comment period on July 9.
The draft Code can be viewed and submissions made through NFACC’s web site at nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/sheep. All comments must be submitted through the online system, for which easy to follow instructions are provided.
A Scientists’ Committee report summarizing research on priority welfare topics for sheep 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.
Codes of Practice serve as our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices. The sheep Code is one of eight farm animal Codes of Practice that were under revision as part of a multi-year NFACC project. The Codes cover housing, feed and water, handling, euthanasia, transport and other important management practices.
Revisions to the sheep Code began in March 2011. A 16-person Code Development Committee that includes participants from across Canada including producers, animal welfare and enforcement representatives, researchers, transporters, processors, veterinarians and government representatives led the Code revisions. The Scientists’ Committee includes researchers with expertise in sheep behaviour, health and welfare. The aim is to have the new sheep Code completed by the end of the year. More information on the Code development process is available at nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice.
Funding for the Codes of Practice is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agricultural Flexibility Fund, under the Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare initiative, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
