Recently, Chicken Farmers of Ontario’s (CFO) Farming Operations Representatives (FOR) attended an Animal Welfare Assessment training session as an opportunity for continuous learning on animal welfare recognition techniques. The training session was created and held in partnership with the Campbell Center for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW) at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario.
“Through conducting regular on-farm audits, FOR’s help our farmers uphold animal welfare standards by visually assessing birds and making recommendations accordingly,” said Shannon Nicholson, a CFO FOR who collaborated with CCSAW to develop the training. “It’s important for us to have a thorough understanding of what to look for in terms of bird welfare, and this training was a great opportunity for FORs to continue to improve their confidence and skills in evaluating bird health and wellbeing.”
The training is supplemental to the Chicken Farmers of Canada’s (CFC) Raised by a Canadian Farmer Animal Care Program (ACP), which provides the standards that Ontario chicken farmers follow to uphold a high level of care for their birds. As part of the training, FORs learned additional tactics for evaluating birds using animal-based measures, which include visual assessments for physical injuries, species-specific behaviors, and overall bird health.
“This training is an additional way for Board staff to stay up-to-date on new learnings and advancements in animal welfare and is one of the many ways our FORs show their commitment to supporting our farmer-members in achieving 100% compliance with best chicken welfare practices,” said Ed Benjamins, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Ontario.
“Animal welfare is a top priority for CFO and its farmer-members,” stated Rob Dougans, President and CEO of Chicken Farmers of Ontario. “Our FORs are a front-line support in helping Ontario farmers stay aware of advancements in maintaining respectful, humane treatment of all the birds in their care.”
Click here to learn more about CFO’s commitment to animal health and welfare.
Click here for more information on the Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Raised by a Canadian Farmer Animal Care Program (ACP).
