Rules for transporting cattle have changed

Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep.

Livestock that cannot walk or stand on their own cannot be shipped to an abattoir under new rules being implemented by the Canadian Food Inspections Agency (CFIA). Following is information from a CFIA news release on the new rules.
The CFIA said it is moving ahead with amendments to clarify its regulations on the humane transportation of animals. Non-ambulatory livestock should not have been shipped under the existing regulations but they were still showing up far too often. That’s because the existing regulations didn’t offer sufficient guidance on what conditions would make animals ineligible for transportation to a slaughtering plant, the agency explained.
The new regulations contain “a clear prohibition against the transportation of non-ambulatory animals.” It is proposed, however, to allow non-ambulatory animals to be transported for the purpose of veterinary treatment or testing.
The amended regulations define a non-ambulatory animal as being “unable to stand without assistance or to move without being dragged or carried.” As well, “a non-ambulatory animal is an animal that cannot be transported without undue suffering during the expected journey.”
National surveys found that 99 per cent of the non-ambulatory cattle, mostly dairy cows, arriving at slaughtering plants left the farm in that condition. More than a third of them were condemned. The situation with hogs wasn’t much better.
In the past, farmers shipped downer livestock to try and get a few dollars for the animal. However, the CFIA says “the small potential salvage value does not justify the animal’s suffering, reduced meat quality and negative impact on the image of the Canadian livestock industry that are associated with the transportation of non-ambulatory livestock.”
The agency said keeping non-ambulatory animals out of the food chain will result in increased product quality and consumer satisfaction. Increased compliance will reduce injuries and result in less mortality. This, in turn, will reduce insurance claims and cost to the industry. Productivity and quality gains will occur due to decreases in stress, bruising, injuries and mortality.
More details on the proposals are available from the health of animals section of the CFIA web site at www.inspection.gc.ca
Dates to Remember
Feb. 2 - Rancher’s Choice Beef Coop Ltd Information Meeting, 7:00 pm, Our Lady of the Way School, Stratton.
Feb. 18 - Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Stratton. Call 1-800-652-8573 to register.