Humane Treatment of Farmed Animals

Project Report | Apr 15, 2026
Advancing Welfare through Action: April 2026 Update

By Giuliana Miguel Pacheco | Manager, Farmed Animal Welfare

Hello, thank you for your continued support of Farmed Animal Welfare in Canada. At Humane Canada, our ongoing engagement with the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) remains a cornerstone of our mission. As we move through 2026, we continue to advocate for tangible policy changes grounded in welfare science. With over 800 million animals at the heart of our food system, we are working tirelessly to ensure the Codes of Practice reflect both modern ethics and the high standards Canadians expect.

Our work has been marked by several significant milestones:

Strategic Advocacy at the Table: Our farmed animal welfare expert has been working side-by-side with our Code representatives during intensive in-person and online meetings. Together, they have developed a unified strategy to navigate the complexities of the NFACC process, aiming to secure long-term advances in animal protection.

Formal Submission for Equine Welfare: A comprehensive review and evaluation of the draft Equine code by our farmed animal welfare expert supported the official submission that called for stronger, measurable requirements, moving beyond vague suggestions to ensure horses have mandatory access to the resources they need to thrive, such as daily turnout and social interaction.

Amplifying Member Voices: True advocacy is a collective effort. We collaborated closely with our member organizations to ensure our submissions for the Equine Code directly reflect the specific concerns and values of our broad network of animal welfare supporters across the country.

Preparing for the Beef Cattle Code: With the Beef Cattle Code public comment period approaching, we are finalizing our technical reviews and educational materials. This is a critical window to address key issues like thermal stress, shelter, and painful procedures, and we are preparing to lead the way in securing more progressive standards.

Investing in Expert Leadership: Effectiveness at the negotiation table requires specialized skill. We continue to provide advanced training and support to our team of welfare experts, empowering them to advance farmed animal welfare during high-level Code deliberations.

Leading the Conversation for Farmed Animals at the Summit for Animals: Our farmed animal welfare expert is leading the Farmed Animal Welfare track at this year’s Summit for Animals again. By bringing the latest research and advocacy education to the forefront, the track fosters a more informed and united community of advocates dedicated to the future of farmed animal welfare.

With your continued support, Humane Canada remains the leading voice for animals at the decision-making table. Your contributions allow us to bring science, transparency, and accountability to the national stage, shaping the standards that will define the lives of millions of farmed animals for the next decade. Thank you for your continued kindness toward farmed animals.

Links:

Humane Canada

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Dec 23, 2025
Building Better Standards: Humane Canada's Role at NFACC

By Toolika Rastogi | Senior Manager, Policy and Research

Hello,

As we wind down 2025, we thank you for all your support in 2025. We are pleased to share with you the final update of the year.

At Humane Canada, our work with the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) places the welfare of Canada’s farmed animals at the center of food system discussions. More than 800 million animals are raised for food on Canadian farms every year, and the Codes of Practice developed through NFACC set the baseline standards for how these animals should be cared for. We are striving to ensure these Codes are informed by the latest science and reflect the values of Canadians who care deeply about the welfare of animals.

Our work in recent months has focused on several key areas:

Informing the Codes with Science: We diligently review key research and engage with national and international experts. This work forms the backbone of our efforts at the Code Committees, ensuring that the latest knowledge in animal behaviour, health, and welfare informs every proposal and contribution we make.

Building Consensus through Collaboration: We continuously work to bridge perspectives by collaborating with diverse stakeholders through individual meetings and at conferences.

Empowering Our Team: We provide ongoing support and training on negotiation tactics to foster collaboration and openness among our code experts. NFACC's process is built on consensus, and we want our team to have the skills to make a meaningful impact.

Preparing for Public Engagement: With both the Equine and Beef Cattle Codes approaching their public comment period, we are developing strategies and materials to ensure our supporters can learn about the key welfare issues and be ready to share their views. Public input is vital to shaping strong, progressive Codes that truly reflect the values of Canadians.

Focusing on the Future: We're continuing our work on the Poultry and Pig Codes . Each Code review is a critical opportunity to embed higher welfare expectations into Canadian farming practices, as the Codes will typically be in place for the next 10 to 12 years. We are dedicated to seizing every chance to advocate for meaningful improvements.

With your support, Humane Canada will continue to bring animal welfare science, ethics, compassion, transparency and accountability to the table, where decisions about Canada’s food system are made, helping to shape standards that improve the daily lives of millions of farmed animals.

We look forward to more progress for farmed animals in 2026 and we cannot do it without your support. We are immensely thankful to you for your kindness and wish you and yours a very happy holiday season.

Links:

Humane Canada

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Sep 2, 2025
Putting Farmed Animals on the new Federal Parliamentary Agenda and more

By Toolika Rastogi | Senior Manager, Policy and Research

Hi there,

We hope you are having a wonderful summer. We are happy to share with you recent updates in Farmed Animal Welfare at Humane Canada.

Putting Farmed Animals on the new Federal Parliamentary Agenda

Following the 2025 federal election and based on our long-standing advocacy for farmed animal welfare concerns, Humane Canada was invited to introductory meetings with government officials now working on these issues in the new Parliament. We highlighted animal welfare challenges and opportunities for the new Cabinet Ministers and Secretaries to be reflecting on, and we shared our priorities and recommendations, addressing issues of public accountability, regulatory improvements, and ethical practices.

Measuring Progress Toward a Humane Canada

Humane Canada released a new report under our project that measures indicators of a humane country. Among the topics examined in Transforming Our Behaviours to Transform Animal Lives are three that address farmed animals:

meaningful animal welfare labelling systems used in Canada

per capita meat consumption,and

Canadian corporations that reference animal welfare in their policies.

The report highlights actions that all individuals can take to make a real difference for animals and planet, while improving their own well-being. It is available at the project webpage.

Building Better Standards: Humane Canada’s Role in NFACC

At Humane Canada, our work with the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) places the welfare of Canada’s 800 million farmed animals at the center of food system discussions. The Codes of Practice developed through NFACC set the baseline for how animals are cared for, and we are deeply committed to ensuring these Codes are informed by the latest science and reflect the values of Canadians.

Our work in recent months has focused on several key areas:

Informing the Codes with Science: We diligently review key research and engage with national and international experts. This work forms the backbone of our efforts at the Code Committees, ensuring that the latest knowledge in animal behaviour, health, and welfare informs every proposal and contribution we make.

Building Consensus through Collaboration: We continuously work to bridge perspectives by collaborating with diverse stakeholders through individual meetings or at conferences.

Empowering Our Team: We provide ongoing support and training on negotiation tactics to foster collaboration and openness among our code experts. NFACC's process is built on consensus, and we want our team to have the skills to make a meaningful impact.

Preparing for Public Engagement: With the Equine Code nearing its public comment period, we are developing strategies and materials to ensure our supporters can learn about the key welfare issues and be ready to share their views. Public input is vital to shaping strong, progressive Codes that truly reflect the values of Canadians.

Focusing on the Future:We're continuing our work with the Poultry Code and preparing to initiate the Pig Code review. Each Code review is a critical opportunity to embed higher welfare expectations into Canadian farming practices, and we are dedicated to seizing every chance to advocate for meaningful improvements.

With your support, Humane Canada will continue to bring animal welfare science, ethics, compassion, and accountability to the table, helping to shape standards that improve the daily lives of millions of farmed animals. We are grateful for your ongoing support and we will continue to keep you updated on progress being made for farmed animals in our country.

Links:

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