Animal Care | Food Safety | Ontario Pork's Industry
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Ontario Pork's Industry - Social Responsibility • Animal Care | Food Safety | Ontario Pork's Industry

Animal Care

Together with food safety, animal care is increasingly scrutinized in the agri-food sector, especially at the production level. In this context the pork producer’s primary goal is to maintain high husbandry standards while remaining competitive. This requires adopting the high standards set by the industry and government agencies on issues including animal care, biosecurity and antibiotic use.

Score Legend

The practice is adopted by more than 80% of producers
The practice is adopted by more than 80% of producers
The practice is adopted by between 50% and 79% of producers
The practice is adopted by between 50% and 79% of producers
The practice is adopted by less than 50% of producers
The practice is adopted by less than 50% of producers
The practice is to be tracked
The practice is to be tracked and reported on during the next reporting period

Dimension 4 | Animal Care and Food Safety

OBJECTIVES
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
SCORE
COMMENTS
Adoption and compliance with recognized standards regarding: animal care, biosecurity, and antibiotic use
Number of pork producers who have made changes in their barns, equipment and/or practices to improve animal care.
The practice is adopted by less than 50% of producers
This result reinforces the industry’s commitment to animal care and well-being.
Number of pork producers who have read the Pig Code and have made changes on their farms.
The practice is to be tracked
The industry will continue to evaluate changes to best management practices incorporating the Pig Code.
KPI to be defined in 2016 based on new Canadian Quality Assurance/Animal Care Assessment programs’ requirements and Health Canada legislation.
The practice is adopted by less than 50% of producers
Antimicrobial use regulations come into effect Dec. 1, 2018 and CQA/ACA rolls out in 2019. Commitments related to both will be established in the future.
Total budget invested by Swine Health Ontario.
The practice is adopted by less than 50% of producers
Ontario Pork has championed Swine Health Ontario through contributions of $168,067 since 2016.

Pig Code

Pig Code

The Pig Code contains guidelines for the care and handling of pigs on Canadian farms throughout their lives. In 2014, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) released its revised Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs (Pig Code).
Transportation

Transportation

Those transporting pigs or arranging for pigs to be transported must follow the most current national and provincial animal transport requirements. The federal requirements for animal transport are covered under the  Health of Animals Regulations, Part XII (Transportation of Animals). 

Certification in either the Transport Quality Assurance Program or the Canadian Livestock Transport Certification Program are available to Ontario transporters and truckers:

Ontario Pork regularly sends out resources for transporters/truckers including hot and cold weather kits, loading densities, emergency procedures and care of hogs in transit documentation.

For more resources on transportation please click here

 

Reporting concerns about animal care

Ontario Pork is committed to high standards of animal care, as outlined under Canada’s Pig Code.
Please note, as of April 1, 2019, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is no longer involved in livestock investigations or enforcement. Ontario Pork continues to work with government, police and agricultural groups to develop a sustainable, responsible and effective way forward.

If you have concerns about an animal welfare situation involving pigs in Ontario, please contact Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or your local police service. A listing of regional police services can be found here. 

Additional information is available through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The Agriculture Information Contact Centre can be reached 24 hours a day, at 1-877-424-1300.