National Farm Animal Care Conference

Advancing Animal Care and Addressing Market Expectations

October 5-6, 2011

Speakers from across the food chain outlined the value of a disciplined plan and offered practical solutions for delivering on improved animal care at this NFACC conference. Key topics included: the Codes of Practice process, its progress and benefits; responding to consumer and market realities; and global advancements and roadblocks to real animal welfare improvements. The full agenda is below.

Conference feedback included:

I expected excellence from you and I was not disappointed. Great job. 

 I really enjoyed the variety of speakers from government, industry, welfare, international, retail, covering all aspects of welfare in different commodities.

 Excellent use of domestic and international speakers / content. Especially enjoyed Sobey's representative talk.

The conference was held at the Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport.

The next NFACC conference is slated for 2013. At all NFACC conferences we aim to provide the opportunity to:

  • build relationships and share information with groups that have diverse interests in animal welfare
  • stay current of new initiatives and be prepared for future challenges
  • enhance awareness of the complexities in addressing animal welfare.

AGENDA

DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY, OCT 5  

DISCIPLINED PLAN LEADING TO LASTING RESULTS

  • Moving forward with consensus and transparency - welcome address
    Robin Horel, Vice-Chair NFACC | Presentation | Audio |
  • The Codes, building the strong science foundation – value and benefits
    Jackie Wepruk, General Manager, NFACC and Jeff Rushen, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | Presentation | Audio |
  • Strategies for advancing Code implementation – featuring key NFACC partners 
    Catherine Scovil, Associate Executive Director, Canadian Pork Council  | Presentation | Audio | and
    Ron Maynard, Dairy Farmers of Canada | Presentation | Audio |
  • Responding to consumer and market realities – the value of NFACC’s approach to address animal welfare from a government perspective. Susie Miller, Director General, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. | Presentation |

DAY 2 – THURSDAY, OCT 6

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS MEETING MARKET REQUIREMENTS

  • Practical ways to deliver improved animal care – extension examples
    Dr. Anne Marie de Passillé, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | Presentation |
  • Benchmarking - the key to measuring improvements in animal welfare
    Dr. Ed Pajor, Professor, Animal Behavior and Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary | Presentation | Audio |
  • Moving forward together – a humane society perspective
    Geoff Urton, Animal Welfare Manager, BC SPCA | Presentation | Audio |
  • Trust me doesn’t cut it anymore – why NFACC's distinctive approach works as a model for success
    David Smith, National VP of Retail Strategy and Sustainability, Sobeys, Inc. | Presentation | Audio |
  • Farm animal welfare assurance – the science and application
    Dr. Jeff Rushen, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | Presentation |

GLOBAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ROADBLOCKS IN REAL ANIMAL WELFARE IMPROVEMENT

  • Animal Welfare and World Trade – an update from World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
    Tianna MacInnes, Senior International Standards Advisor, OIE Coordination | Presentation |
  • Market demand impacts on Code development: an Australian case study
    Kathleen Plowman, General Manager Policy, Australian Pork Limited | Presentation | Audio |
  • Panel Discussion | Audio |
    • Assessment concepts – what works, what doesn’t
      Dr. Ed Pajor, Professor, Animal Behavior and Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary
    • Assessment concepts – reliability and repeatability
      Dr. Tina Widowski, Associate Professor, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph
    • Assuring the basics of animal care
      Penny Lawlis, Humane Standards Officer, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
    • Culture conflicts
      Dr. Terry Whiting, Manager Animal Health and Welfare, Manitoba Agriculture and Food, Veterinary Services
    • Buying into animal welfare on the farm
      Dave Solverson, beef producer and Chair of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association Animal Care Committee 
  • Broad view on progress made and work yet to be done - closing remarks
    Dr. David Fraser, Professor,University of British Columbia | Presentation | Audio |

Agri-Flexibility Project

Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare
– a project made possible through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agri-Flexibility Fund.