5 Pillars of sustainable food production Alberta Agriculture s Role and Sheep Welfare in Alberta Isabelle Girard, MSc Animal Health and Assurance Division Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Fall 2015 Food Safety Human Well-Being Animal Health & Welfare Our Social Commitment Economics & Food Affordability Environment Why do we care about animal welfare policy? The five freedoms as currently expressed Animals contribute to society and GDP in many ways that are entwined Good animal welfare policy and a credible animal protection system contributes to a stable business environment Humans have a moral obligation to animals 1. Freedom from hunger or thirst 2. Freedom from discomfort 3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease 4. Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour 5. Freedom from fear and distress (Brambell, 1965) Animal welfare is about the animal How an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. (OIE, Terrestrial Animal Health Code). 5
Animal protection: Protecting animals from people FEDERAL Frequent legislative interactions Compliance and enforcement activities undertaken when animals are reported as in distress, lacking care or subjected to willful abuse PROVINCIAL Marketing of Agriculture Products Act Federal, provincial and municipal jurisdiction Different from animal control and bylaws that protect people Part of the animal welfare system PROVINCIAL ENABLING APA- Animal care duties A person who owns or is in charge of an animal must: a) ensure that the animal has adequate food and water, b) provide the animal with adequate care when the animal is wounded or ill, c) provide the animal with reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold, and d) provide the animal with adequate shelter, ventilation and space. APA - Prohibition against causing distress 1) No person shall cause or permit an animal of which the person is the owner or the person in charge to be or to continue to be in distress. 2) This section does not apply if the distress results from an activity carried on in accordance with the regulations or in accordance with reasonable and generally accepted practices of animal care, management, husbandry, hunting, fishing, trapping, pest control or slaughter. 9 AB s animal protection system AB s animal protection system challenges CRIMINAL CODE Public Safety / Social Justice RCMP / Municipal Police ANIMAL PROTECTION ACT Protecting Animals RCMP / Municipal Police / Peace Officers INDUSTRY Codes / Standards Opportunity / Markets Complaint driven process limited inspection power within the Animal Protection Act CRUELTY DISTRESS VIGOR social control (minimum expectation / requirement) Tools for animal protection: Prevention Enforcement Remove the distress (provide animal care) Costs of care and/or seizure Mandatory reporting Administrative orders / penalties Prohibitions Punishments social license (exceeds expectations) Consistent application of the law & consistent penalties standards multiple expectations livelihood vs companion AF only has oversight of one agency - SPCA
Alberta SPCA APA - Consequences Enforce the APA and deliver protective services in rural Alberta Receive animal care concerns Investigate complaints All animals, including livestock Education on humane care in classrooms Pet safekeeping 12 (1) is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than $20 000. (2) the Court may make an order restraining the owner from continuing to have custody of an animal for a period of time specified by the Court. 13 14 What does AF want from animal welfare policy? Support humane animal use Science informed policy that balances of economic, social, ethical, and environmental drivers Continuous improvement in animal welfare Establish a stable business environment Speak to AB s animal welfare system with confidence that inspires public assurance Clarity and cooperation along the continuum of authorities and stakeholders involved in AB AF s role in the continuum of animal welfare CRIMINAL CODE Public Safety / Social Justice RCMP / Municipal Police ANIMAL PROTECTION ACT Protecting Animals RCMP / Municipal Police / Peace Officers INDUSTRY Codes / Standards Opportunity / Markets CRUELTY DISTRESS VIGOR Humane destruction & Emergency response planning for farm animals Lead animal welfare policy Manage the APA and enforcement funding Liaise with enforcement agencies Administer GF2 Tech support for animal management programs and technology adoption Fund and participate in AFPA AFAC Public education Research Enabling legislation (MAPA) Alberta Farm Animal Care Welfare - sheep industry Coordinated approach for all areas of livestock production to work together to advance and promote responsible livestock care. Producer resources, info, videos Humane handling guidelines Emergency trailers and handling equipment Livestock Care Conference Stressful handling and management Poor nutrition Transport On-farm euthanasia Painful procedures Flock health Accelerated lambing Neonatal care Young lamb at auction markets 17 18
Poor Nutrition Drought and dry conditions Winter grazing and snow as a water source Poor nutrition Balanced ration Thin eweses Poor supply of colostrum, milk yield Small weak lambs High lamb losses, reduced growth Decreased economic returnrn 20 Stressful handling and management Stressful handling and management 21 22 (Code of Practice Sheep, 2013) Transportation Fit Animal Able to withstand stress Transported without suffering Compromised Animal (Transport only with special provisions) Compromised Animal (Do not transport) Frostbite, bloat, laboured breathing, blindness 2 eyes, amputated or missing limb, rectal or vaginal prolapse, recent birth, etc. Downers, dehydration, exhaustion, impending death, nervous system disorder, fever, uterine prolapse, etc. 23 (CFIA, 2013) 24 (Code of Practice Sheep, 2013)
On-farm euthanasia necessary when medical care to alleviate pain and suffering is not feasible, or there is no reasonable prospect for recovery Where to from here? When Who How Must be able to recognize when an animal needs to be euthanized Must have the ability to euthanize animals 25 26 Lets talk. Growing Forward 2 What is your organization s perspective on animal welfare policy? Are you comfortable with your current management practices? Would you change anything? Livestock Welfare Programs Producer Processor (Registered and licensed) Delivery Agent training programs and publication of training/educational materials; promotion and/or implementation of national Livestock welfare standards and assessment programs; feasibility and risk/gap assessment activity; technologies for improvement of Livestock Welfare; 28 Growing Forward 2 Eligible expenses: Livestock Welfare Producer Program Implementation of humane methods of livestock euthanasia Adoption of internationally recognized mass destruction technologies for compromised livestock The elimination of injury and distress through the adoption of low stress livestock handling systems Crowding tub, corral, gates Squeeze Loading chute Shearing chute Tip table Labor Stunning equipment 29 30
Example ineligible expenses: www.growingforward.alberta.ca Lambing pen, isolation pen New barn New electric system Lighting Insulation Waterer Scale Tag reader Windbreak Fence around pasture or for predator control Complete Application 31 32 Complete Application Questions? 33 34