FORT SASKATCHEWAN, Alta. — Alberta pork producers are confident their animals are well cared for, but they aren’t willing to tie their sales to an animal safety program whose rules are still uncertain.
The voluntary Animal Care Assessment program was introduced in 2005 as a way to allow producers to demonstrate their high quality animal care and have it validated by a third party.
The Canadian Pork Council wants the assessment tool to be part of the Canadian Quality Assurance program by 2012. While voluntary, it would be necessary before selling hogs.
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Alberta Pork chair Jim Haggins said the organization is concerned about the future rules of a program that may force its members to make costly barn upgrades during difficult financial times.
The animal care program is a code of practice that provides guidelines for farmers to follow when looking after their animals and operating their barns. It was written more than 15 years ago.
A new, likely stricter code of practice is expected to be released within two years.
“It’s not about adhering to the code of practice today, but we don’t know what will be in the new document,” said Haggins.
“We don’t think the industry will have enough financial relief within the next two years and we are concerned about having new costs forced on them.”
The Canadian Pork Council announced in March that animal care assessments will become an integral part of the Canadian Quality Assurance program by 2012.
“Alberta Pork has some concerns about the inclusion in the CQA,” Haggins told an Alberta Pork regional meeting.
“In Alberta, we want to see new code of practice before automatically signing on.”
Wainwright pork producer Bryan Perkins said he has some of the most modern hog barns in the province but doesn’t know if his barns would meet new requirements, especially with housing sows.
“We don’t have a single farm that would qualify,” said Perkins.
The assessment tool is theoretically voluntary, but it will soon become a necessary requirement for selling animals, similar to the quality assurance program.
It is also voluntary but required by packers.
“CQA is no longer voluntary,” said Perkins.
Murray Roeske of Alberta Pork said producers may not like the new rules, but they have to be able to show proof that their animals are well cared for.
“We must be able to confidently say that the animals are cared for and this is the proof.”
Canadian Pork Council president Jurgen Preugschas said the CQA program is a marketing tool to allow Canadians to sell pork overseas.
“It’s voluntary, but it is the price of entry into foreign markets. If you didn’t have CQA, you wouldn’t sell at all.”
He said Alberta Pork’s concerns about making the assessment tool part of the quality assurance program has created difficulties for the national organization.
It had announced in March that all provinces were in agreement.
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