It’s a standard comment at livestock producer meetings in Canada.
When the topic of animal welfare comes up for discussion, a farmer or industry rep typically says that animal welfare organizations want to end animal agriculture and want every Canadian to become a vegan.
A recent decision by World Animal Protection, formerly the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), might change that perception.
World Animal Protection Canada announced Aug. 6 that it is now a member of the National Farm Animal Care Council, the body that develops national codes of practice for the care and handling of livestock.
Read Also
Dennis Laycraft to be inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame
Dennis Laycraft, a champion for the beef industry, will be inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame this fall.
The NFACC is a collaborative partnership, comprised of reps from commodity groups, restaurants, meat organizations and government. The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies is also a member of the NFACC.
Darren Vanstone, World Animal Protection corporate engagement manager, said the organization has been interested in joining the NFACC for several years.
“It’s the place where conversations about farm animal welfare in Canada happen,” Vanstone said. “There’s real value to being part of those conversations… and we stand to learn a lot from industry people.”
Vanstone said working from the inside isn’t new for World Animal Protection. It has global agreements with major corporations like Nestle and has formal relationships with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
“We are not out to end animal agriculture,” Vanstone said.
“We accept the use of animals in agriculture and our supporters understand that. Our supporters are fairly mainstream. They just want better lives for the animals that they eat.”
Vanstone said World Animal Protection is committed to listening to fellow NFACC members and developing consensus around livestock practices.
Consensus often means compromise, but Vanstone is OK with that because NFACC policies affect millions of Canadian farm animals.
“Our goal is to impact and im-prove the lives of farm animals at scale,” he said. “We understand that welfare is a complicated issue…. We really do accept the idea that this is a movement of continuous improvement.”
Ryder Lee, NFACC chair and chief executive officer of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, agreed that continuous improvement is key to producer engagement.
“We don’t all do things the same, we don’t all live in the same situation, but we… can all work on getting better.”
Lee said World Animal Protection offers diversity and strengthens the NFACC.
“I just see this as an important step for NFACC, to keep adding voices to the table so that all of its members are more informed.”
Lee said the council wouldn’t allow an anti-agriculture group to join because members need to agree on basic principles.
“People do use animals and animals should be treated well. When you have that foundation you can move (forward) together,” he said. “What we’ve seen from World Animal Protection… you look at a group that is working to improve things.”
Lee said a few NFACC members took issue with World Animal Protection’s campaigns and tactics. But it’s important for council members to hear alternative points of view, he added.
“As representatives of cattle producers or pork producers, you only have so much of a chance to interact with non-agricultural folk.”
Vanstone said the council’s decision is a sign of the times in the livestock industry.
“It’s an interesting time in Canadian agriculture…. I think there’s been a real change,” he said. “We are a welfare organization. It’s a… bold move for them to vote us in for a membership.”
