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New Funding to Strengthen Farm Animal Care Communication Oct 22, 2002 ... High quality animal care is crucial to the future of Alberta's livestock industry, and new funding will help deliver that message to producers along with practical information for addressing animal care on their operations. The Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund (ALIDF) is supporting an expanded communications effort by the Alberta Farm Animal Care Association, a producer organization that has become a leading voice for promoting responsible animal care. The funding will advance a number of AFAC communications efforts, ranging from regular conferences and newsletters to transferring information from the latest applied research. "When it comes to livestock welfare, AFAC believes that industry-driven change, when change is needed, is the best way to improve," says Susan Church, Manager of AFAC. "This depends on a strong communications effort to help producers stay abreast of emerging issues and management information. Up to now, we've maintained an effort on a modest scale, and the new ALIDF funding will allow us to really march forward." Raising awareness of animal care issues and management options is a core part of the activity of AFAC, which was formed in 1993 by Alberta's major livestock groups, says Church. Its goals include promoting responsible, humane animal care within the livestock industry, monitoring and participating in issues and legislation that affect animal care, and encouraging relevant research. A key message for the industry is that livestock well-being is part of quality assurance, she says. Today's consumers are directly associating the quality of farm animal care with food quality, safety and health, and this is translating into a high demand for quality livestock care. "Producers are well aware there are sound economic and ethical reasons to ensure livestock are treated humanely in the production process, but we as an industry need to demonstrate what we are doing to care for our animals and fix any problems." says Church. "This is more important than ever, given marketplace expectations." A prime example is that the fast-food industry is beginning to recognize that the quality of animal care has the potential to affect their bottom line, she says. Fast-food retailer Burger King is one of three U.S. chains that now demands its suppliers meet standards for humane animal treatment. This demand illustrates the need for aggressive research and education programs about what constitutes quality animal care. "The AFAC farm animal care communication program will not only encourage relevant research in animal care, it will also communicate the results of that new research to producers," says Church. "Currently, not enough producers are aware of the research and resources developed by AFAC and the industry." Ongoing research and education programs are needed for continued progress in animal welfare, she says. In order to plan for the future of the industry, researchers, retailers, producers, industry and the general public need to be aware of the impact and value of good animal handling and they must be given the opportunity to access information about current research and education initiatives. ALIDF funds projects that help Alberta livestock producers provide safe, high-quality products while at the same time supporting a strong responsible livestock industry for the future. AFAC's farm animal care communication program is one of 18 new projects that ALIDF has funded. "The Alberta livestock industry is considered a leader, nationally and internationally, with regard to its attitude and action on animal care issues," says Darcy Fitzgerald, the Fund's General Manager. "ALIDF is proud to support efforts that communicate farm animal care issues which help to keep the Alberta livestock industry responsive to the needs and wants of society." The next round of ALIDF funding began on August 1, 2002. An outline of the organization's mandate and progress is on the ALIDF website at www.alidf.ca. |
