New beef practices open for comment

A new national code of practice for beef producers is open for public comment.

“The public comment period is an important opportunity for producers across Canada to review the draft code and provide feedback on how it applies to their operations,” Canadian Cattle Association president Tyler Fulton said in a statement announcing the draft code. “Producer perspectives from across the country help ensure the code reflects the diversity of Canadian beef production systems and remains practical for producers who raise cattle.”

BC Cattlemen’s Association is encouraging all BC producers to weigh in during the 60-day comment period that ends June 12.

The existing code was adopted in 2013 and is reviewed every five years.

Developed by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and CCA, the new draft code is informed by a peer-reviewed scientific committee report. BC producer Andrea van Iterson served on the development committee.

Priority issues addressed in the proposed code include pain management during painful procedures such as castration and branding; weaning; various health issues throughout the life cycle, including nutrition and lameness; and end-of-life management, including euthanasia.

Though beyond the scope of the review process, the scientific committee’s report highlighted the importance of factors such as climate, extreme weather, stockmanship and low-stress handling, housing conditions and record-keeping for disease management.

Proposed changes mandate greater monitoring of cattle and prompt action to mitigate adverse effects from weather, illness or other health issues.

A final code is expected to be implemented next year. Further information on the code and development process is available at [www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/beef-cattle].

The beef code of practice is one of five currently being revised. The others relate to poultry, horses, pigs and sheep. All are expected to be completed next year, except the code for pigs, which is scheduled for completion in 2028.

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1 day ago

It was another sell-out at the 31st annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival on Saturday with organizers selling 5,000 pounds of locally-grown, fresh berries in less than five hours. Youth from the Fort Langley Lions Club's Young Lions program scooped, bagged and weighed several pallets' worth of cranberries. Ocean Spray donated the berries, which the public bought to benefit the community. Local grower The Bog was also selling fresh berries, having brought 2,700 pounds, which were on track to sell out by the end of the#BCAgt.

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6 days ago

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Love it - Deb Etsell I see you 🤩

7 days ago

BC was the sole province to see farmland values decline in the first half of this year, dropping 1.9% according to a Farm Credit Canada report released Octover 7. This represented an acceleration in value declines from last year, and contributed to a 3.9% decline in the 12 montsh ended June 30. The drop follows on a 1.7% decline last year, which Farm Credit Canada attributed to tougher times in the fruit sector. However, the mid-year report points to a broader slowdown in value growth diven by higher production costs, tighter margins and uncertainty around trade, tariffs and international markets.

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Ndp

3 weeks ago

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Photo | Barb Edmonson / Firefly Ranch, Clinton

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Feedback on changes to rules governing food processing in the Agricultural Land Reserve has drawn about 250 submissions. But the proposal now hangs in the balance with Premier David Eby's decision to call a snap election, which also delays discussions of assistance for farmers hit hard by this year's wildfires and historic #BCAght.

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What would you expect from the NDP, when they still had a 2 year mandate?

Ridiculous timing. We have people needing answers and have to plan for winter supplies. Fires are long past, months have gone by knowing there was going to be the need for support. Drought was written on the wall even before summer began with no snow pack. This is not new to government and they are calling for another year just as bad for 2027. I throw my hands up and wonder what else needs to be more challenging than what we've experienced over the last 6 years in BC?

250 submissions.... I'm pretty sure there are more than 250 farmers in BC