The Milk Producer - June 2009 - (Page 17)

NATIONALPOLICY By Jacques Laforge Proactive initiative D ear Dairy Producer, New Code of Practices lets us take I invite you to look through the Code of Practices for animal care into our own hands the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle that most of you will find in this mailing. Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has invested 18 months in revising the Code of Practices, which was first launched in 1990. Since then, there has been a lot of research done on animal welfare, health and comfort. DFC and your provincial boards have sponsored this research, which has resulted in a better understanding of what our animals need in terms of care and comfort. DFC named four producers to the committee that undertook the revision of the Code of Practices. Michael Hall, Ontario, chaired the committee. Bruno Letendre, Québec, Ron Maynard, Prince Edward Island, and Bill Swan, Manitoba, also sat on the committee with the National Farm Animal Care Council, scientists, veterinarians, government representatives and a representative of the Canadian Federawhether related to animal care, environment, food safety tion of Humane Societies. or other such public concerns. As dairy farmers, we take great pride in caring for our DFC is therefore pleased to present this Code to you animals, for professional and business reasons, and some- today and hope this will become your on-farm reference times, just because we genuinely like our cows that much. for animal care and welfare for the years to come. Our efforts do have an impact. In several DFC conThe Code was revised by dairy farmers, for dairy farmsumer surveys since 2000, Canadians were asked what ers, setting out industry standards of care for Canadian they thought of the treatment of dairy cows: 84 to 97 per calves and cows on our farms. It is solidly grounded in scicent of Canadians believe dairy farmers treat their cows ence, and we intend to make sure it remains relevant for well or very well, even though 50 per cent still say they dairy animal care by revisiting it regularly—every five have concerns about the treatment of farm animals in years or so. general. With this revised Code, we demonstrate that we are Sincerely, making conscious efforts to remain proactive in impleJacques Laforge menting practices that make our farms more sustainable, DFC President and New Brunswick dairy farmer MilkPRODUCER | June 2009 | 17

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - June 2009

The Milk Producer - June 2009
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
National Policy
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Processor Spotlight
Empowering an Industry
Research
Applied Science
Rumi Nations
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - June 2009