Animal Care

Canada’s producers work hard to care for their animals every day. The success of the Canadian cattle industry relies on healthy, well cared for cattle. Farmers and ranchers, in partnership with CCA, seek to continuously improve animal care standards through research, communication, and education.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is illegal to wilfully neglect, maim, wound or injure an animal. Provinces and territories also have laws regarding the care and treatment of farm animals. The Canadian beef cattle industry follows the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. Codes of practice are intended to be renewed on a 10 year cycle. A new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle will be developed through the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) process. Codes of Practice are science-based national guidelines for the safe care and handling of farm animals.