OHS Position Statement: Food Animals
The OHS accepts the husbandry of animals for human consumption provided that the production methods are in compliance with best practices for humane and ethical food production.
The OHS believes that ethical and humane husbandry practices are those that are responsive to the five freedoms of animal welfare:
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst — by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from Discomfort — by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease — by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour — by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.
- Freedom from Fear and Distress — by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
Reference: Farm Animal Welfare Council
The OHS recognizes that identification and processing of farm animals often involves castration, dehorning, de-beaking, branding, tail docking, ear tagging, nose rings, and tooth pulling, among other invasive procedures.
The OHS encourages the selection of less invasive forms of identification as well as performing surgical procedures under the guidance of a veterinarian using anaesthetics where appropriate. This can minimize pain and suffering to animals and can lead to greater production gains.
The OHS believes pharmaceuticals should be used only for the treatment of illness, disease or injury and opposes:
- antibiotics in feed in sub-therapeutic amounts;
- growth enhancing hormones; and,
- any inappropriate use of pharmaceuticals for food animals.
The OHS is opposed to any method of slaughter which does not quickly render the animal totally unconscious prior to being killed.
The OHS believes that transportation of food animals can be the source of unnecessary pain and stress due to duration of travel and over-crowding in trucks and pens. Animals, including those which are not accepted for human consumption, must be processed quickly and humanely.
The OHS supports the work of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) to:
- establish humane slaughter procedures;
- review and update standards for humane transportation; and,
- review and update, to international standards, the current Codes of Practice for food animals.
The OHS supports the accurate informational labeling of food animal products that allows consumers to make informed and educated choices on ethical food consumption.
For further information on the CFHS and its work on the following food animal issues is available on the CFHS website:
- Slaughter [http://cfhs.ca/farm/slaughter];
- Transportation [http://cfhs.ca/farm/transportation/];
- Codes of Practice [http://cfhs.ca/farm and http://cfhs.ca/farm/codes_of_practice/];
- Food animal product labeling [http://cfhs.ca/farm/humane_labelling].
Approved by the OHS board of Directors May 2007.
