As consumers become more aware of animal welfare the drive to push the global pig industry to stall-free housing is increasing. Eight major Canadian grocery chains have agreed to sell only stall-free pork by 2022, according to the Canadian Pork Council.
The grocery retail chains in Canada include Safeway, Costco, Federated Co-operatives, Co-op Atlantic, Loblaw Companies, Metro, Sobeys and Walmart. The Canadian Pork Council is looking to work with the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) on Sow Housing as an opportunity for productive dialogue between farmers and retailers.
“As a farmer, my first priority is the care and welfare of the animals. I am proud that my farm helps the Canadian pork industry provide consumers a healthy and safe food supply,” says CPC chair Jean-Guy Vincent. “Any change on farm must be done in a way that protects the welfare of the animals and keeps Canadian farms strong.”
Significant work has been undertaken by the industry in animal care through research, the Animal Care Assessment program and involvement in the National Farm Animal Care Council review of the Code of practice for pigs.
At the same time, the Canadian Pork Council understands that stakeholder expectations are changing.
The conversion to open sow housing is a significant investment which will substantial capital investments be needed to physically change barns but also considerable human resource efforts to choose the right system and train stockpeople to a new way of handing animals.
The CPC looks forward to meeting with RCC to hear its proposals on how changes to sow housing can be managed and how the value chain and others can share in the investment.
The grocery retail chains in Canada include Safeway, Costco, Federated Co-operatives, Co-op Atlantic, Loblaw Companies, Metro, Sobeys and Walmart. The Canadian Pork Council is looking to work with the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) on Sow Housing as an opportunity for productive dialogue between farmers and retailers.
“As a farmer, my first priority is the care and welfare of the animals. I am proud that my farm helps the Canadian pork industry provide consumers a healthy and safe food supply,” says CPC chair Jean-Guy Vincent. “Any change on farm must be done in a way that protects the welfare of the animals and keeps Canadian farms strong.”
Significant work has been undertaken by the industry in animal care through research, the Animal Care Assessment program and involvement in the National Farm Animal Care Council review of the Code of practice for pigs.
At the same time, the Canadian Pork Council understands that stakeholder expectations are changing.
The conversion to open sow housing is a significant investment which will substantial capital investments be needed to physically change barns but also considerable human resource efforts to choose the right system and train stockpeople to a new way of handing animals.
The CPC looks forward to meeting with RCC to hear its proposals on how changes to sow housing can be managed and how the value chain and others can share in the investment.
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