Don’t miss June 12 deadline: Share your feedback on the Beef Cattle Code of Practice

Public comment period nearing close on proposed updates to national beef cattle care standards.The Beef Code outlines expected and recommended animal care practices for beef cattle.

The public comment period is an opportunity for anyone who has an interest in how beef cattle are raised in Canada, including consumers, veterinarians, food service professionals, and producers, to review the draft content and share feedback.

Feedback gathered through the public comment period is critical and helps determine the content of the final document. Strong producer feedback from all regions of Canada is an important step in this process.

The Beef Code is meant to drive continuous improvement in animal welfare and is built to be scientifically informed, practical, and reflect societal expectations for responsible farm animal care. The Code uses an outcome-based approach that focuses on achieving successful standards while allowing for flexibility in how these outcomes are met rather than dictating exact processes or methods.

The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) (nfacc.ca) oversees Code of Practice development and review through a structured, multi-stakeholder process that includes producers, veterinarians, scientists, transporters, processors, retailers, government, and animal welfare representatives. The CCA is a member of NFACC and serves as the national commodity organization responsible for initiating the Code review process for its sector. Decisions are science-informed and consensus-based.

The review process involves two committees: the Code Development Committee and the Scientific Committee. The Code Development Committee updates the Code as required and the Scientific Committee reviews literature to determine priority welfare issues and summarizes the available research for the Code Development Committee. Science-informed, industry leadership on code development, reviews, and revisions ensures the Code reflects an animal care standard that is grounded in practicality while considering the diversity of Canadian beef cattle producers.

Maintaining an up-to-date Code informs potential policy conversations with industry expertise backed by science and prevents rules written by people far from primary production. A current Code can help inform policy by showing what’s workable and already in place, providing helpful context and a frame of reference on acceptable practices and standards of care in Canada.

The content and layout of the draft Code available for public comment remain largely consistent with the current Code (nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/beef-cattle). The proposed draft incorporates new scientific evidence and updated practices in beef cattle care.

The code committee uses a consensus-based process to propose changes. The draft code changes have been suggested with consideration for scientific evidence, societal expectations and feasibility of adoption in a wide variety of regions and production systems.

There are six chapters in the Code. Key topics of interest to producers are highlighted here. Producers are encouraged to review the document in full to provide feedback.

Animal Environment

• New section on mud and moisture to describe welfare impacts of mud and moisture, including reduced coat insulation and foot health problems
• An emphasis on the importance of safe, low-stress cattle movement that protects both cattle and handlers
• Considerations for housing severely sick or injured cattle

Feed and Water

• Stronger guidance on feed and water testing, toxic feeds, feed bunk management, and the use of nutritionists
• Proactive action to address cattle in poor and declining body condition scores
• Additional detail added on proactive strategies to manage the use of snow as a water source

Animal Health

• Detailed guidance around veterinary care and herd health management, disease reporting, and emergency preparedness
• Emphasis on the importance of an active veterinary-client-patient relationship, working with a veterinarian, and developing and regularly updating a herd health program
• New subsections on reproductive disease, neurologic disease, and pinkeye

Animal Husbandry

• Increased information on low-stress handling and behavioural signs of stress
• Clarified prod-use language
• New requirements for prompt care, safe handling, and access to feed and water for non-ambulatory cattle
• Increased requirements to provide pain control for painful procedures provided in consultation with a veterinarian
• Attention drawn to the importance of increased monitoring around weaning, and new content on pre-weaning, weaning, and post-weaning periods

Transportation

• Revisions to align requirements with updated transport regulations and remove duplication
• Focus on assessing fitness for transport and enhanced guidance around preparations for transport

On-Farm Euthanasia

• More practical, clear guidance for euthanasia methods and decision-making, including increasing specificity around appropriate firearms and ammunition for different classes of cattle
• Updates to include references to farmer-specific mental health resources

The finalized Code is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2027.

Producers, visit nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/beef-cattle before June 12 to ensure your feedback is considered!

This was first published in Volume 6 Issue 2 of ABP Magazine (June 2026). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily.