Moving Forward From Here

When W5, a CTV current affairs and documentary program broke a story in October 2013 about alleged inhumane practices on two poultry farms in Alberta, those inside and outside the industry had many questions.

The video, filmed last summer at two Alberta farms – Ku-Ku Farms (layer hens) in Morinville, and Creekside Grove Farms (pullets) in Spruce Grove, seems to depict housing and euthanasia practices that are not compliant with industry recommendations and standards.

For poultry producers across Canada, the story was a heartbreaking one, yet many will only have had a chance to read and see reports from the mainstream media. Canadian Poultry is fortunate enough to enjoy good relationships with Canada’s egg industry, and spoke with representatives candidly about what was shown the video, levels of responsibility, recommended practices and, most importantly, continuous improvement.

EFA Weighs In
Amin Valji, owner of both farms, is a director on the Egg Farmers of Alberta (EFA) board, as well as an alternate Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) director. EFA says Valji will remain on the board. “As a second-generation egg farmer with over 35 years of experience, [he] brings a wealth of knowledge … EFA strongly believes the immediate and long-term benefits of working together with producers to resolve issues and correct problems are significantly greater than what would be accomplished with discipline alone.”

When asked if all EFA members, including Valji, had adequate knowledge of the proper and humane practices they should be using, and whether EFA shoulders any responsibility for the ongoing barn conditions and specific actions at the two farms presented on W5, they said: “EFA works hard to keep farmers informed of industry standards and best practices, as well as industry trends and innovative research.”

EFA says that to ensure hens are treated humanely, the egg industry follows practices outlined in a national Animal Care Program (ACP), based on the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets, Layers and Spent Fowl (or Code of Practice), which was developed in consultation with veterinarians, animal care scientists and representatives of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. “The ACP ensures hens have a safe and comfortable environment by not only providing guidelines, but monitoring on-farm compliance,” EFA states. “The ACP provides guidelines for space, water, feed, lighting, temperature, air circulation, and more. One hundred per cent of our farms voluntarily participate in the ACP, which includes annual auditing by EFC.” EFA continued by saying that measures are taken immediately to address departures from accepted industry practices outlined in the ACP and that the National Farm Animal Care Council is currently reviewing the Code of Practice.  

Additionally, EFA notes that Alberta’s egg industry has historically been proactive on the subject of hen housing: In 1990, Alberta became the first province in Canada to regulate cage density, and in 2009, an Alberta egg farmer installed the first fully enriched housing system in Canada.

“Since 2006, a growing number of egg farmers have either built new barns or renovated existing barns, and have chosen to install an alternative housing system such as enriched, free-run, aviary or free-range. In 2006, 98.5 per cent of the province’s egg farmers utilized conventional housing, but that number is now down to 82.8 per cent. Over the past two years (2012 and 2013), every Alberta egg farmer who has faced a hen housing decision has chosen an alternative system over a conventional cage system. Egg Farmers of Alberta’s board of directors adopted a provincial hen housing policy earlier this year, which states that ‘no new conventional or enrichable cage systems will be allowed to be installed in Alberta after December 31, 2014.’”  

With regard to on-farm inspection, EFA explains that their field inspectors visit every Alberta egg farm a minimum of twice per year to conduct tests for Salmonella Enteritidis and flock verifications. EFC field inspectors visit every Alberta egg farm a minimum of once per year to audit both the Animal Care Program and the “Start Clean – Stay Clean” on-farm food safety program. EFC audit reports are sent to EFA in order to follow-up with any required corrective actions. “EFA (and sometimes EFC) field inspectors will often visit farms to verify that corrective actions have been resolved. All farm visits are announced, typically only a few days in advance. The national on-farm programs are regularly reviewed and we are moving ahead with several planned enhancements, including the introduction of third-party auditing of the Animal Care Program. EFC has also approved the development of an Animal Care Program review panel to help guide future enhancements, which will likely include moving toward a ‘no notice’ policy for inspections.”

EFA adds: “EFA and EFC are always working to find new and better ways to improve and enhance the quality of care provided to egg laying hens in Canada.”

However, EFA did not comment on whether inspection results should be reported to the public.

Egg Farmers of Canada
When asked if EFC takes any responsibility for the ongoing barn conditions and specific actions at the farms presented on W5, they refer to the ACP. They also repeat EFA’s message that, “the video footage shown on W5 contains scenes that depict practices that are unacceptable and not representative of what happens on Canadian egg farms. EFC made a statement to this effect upon the airing of the W5 show and an independent panel of experts commissioned to perform an assessment of the video confirmed its position. However, as noted by one of the experts, the short clips make it difficult to ascertain whether the images truly represented the way this farm was being managed.”

When asked, in light of the W5 episode, if its voluntary code of practice for treatment of animals needs to become mandatory, it stated that EFC’s ACP, which is based upon the Code of Practice, is already mandatory in some provinces and EFC has requested that all egg boards explore moving in this direction.

With regard to on-farm inspection, EFC states that in accordance with the ACP, “each regulated egg farm in Canada is inspected once per year at a minimum. Where required, Corrective Action Reports are provided to the producer and egg board to ensure that issues identified are corrected. For EFC’s “Start Clean – Stay Clean” program, which is a mandatory on-farm food safety program, each regulated egg farm in Canada is inspected once per year, minimum. Additional inspections by EFC or the provincial/territorial egg board could be necessary to ensure a problem identified in a Corrective Action Report had been addressed.”

Regarding whether the EFC on-farm inspection policy needs to change, EFC states that its on-farm programs are regularly reviewed and that they are moving ahead with several planned enhancements including introducing third-party auditing of their ACP. EFC has also approved the development of an ACP review panel to guide enhancements going forward, including moving toward a “no notice” policy for inspections.

“We expect everyone on the farm to show a high level of respect toward their hens. When things go wrong, we expect immediate corrective measures and a commitment to continuous improvement. In this case, the farmer immediately reinforced and reviewed training with all staff with the help of poultry veterinarians and is enhancing compliance measures. Egg Farmers of Alberta continues to work with the producer on a number of corrective measures.”

EFC states that it has conducted an independent, third-party expert review of the footage to confirm its initial assessment of some of the farming practices depicted and is working with the entire industry, including upstream and downstream stakeholders, on concrete actions that are appropriate to each entity’s relative responsibilities/authorities. “The Canadian egg industry took immediate action and considers this an opportunity to address gaps and strengthen animal care in the egg industry,” they said. As to whether on-farm inspection results should be reported to the public by EFC, EFC says: “Any farmer can provide its Animal Care Program results to those in their value-chain who may need that information.”

Chicken Farmers of Canada
Steve Leech, CFC’s national program manager (Food Safety, Animal Care & Research), says its ACP involves annual audits, when discussing CFC’s policies on on-farm inspection. “[This program] provide assurances that farmers are meeting appropriate animal care standards and has been supported for implementation by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, amongst others,” he notes. “Over 80 per cent of farms are certified on the program and CFC expects this number to climb significantly in the coming months.”

When asked whether CFC will move to a “no notice” inspection regimen, Leech says CFC’s ACP also provides the opportunity for triggered audits based on stakeholder complaints and concerns, which can involve audits with limited notice.

As part of the program’s educational component, CFC has developed communication material on appropriate euthanasia techniques and is currently in the process of developing further educational material on reasons for culling and appropriate culling practices. These materials will be incorporated into future farmer outreach campaigns. Leech adds, “Further modifications to CFC’s ACP will be based on the Recommended Code of Practice for Chickens, which is currently in the process of being updated.”

Preventing a Repeat
EFA says that it has been “working closely with Mr. Valji, who is deeply concerned about what happened on his farm. After a description of the video was shared, both EFA and EFC inspected the farms. Mr. Valji immediately reinforced and reviewed training with all farm staff with the help of poultry veterinarians, and is enhancing compliance measures. Working through a situation like the one he’s currently facing provides Mr. Valji with unique insight and experience, which will be a valuable lesson to be shared with the EFA Board, his fellow producers and the Canadian egg industry.”

Canadian Poultry will do its best to follow up with Mr. Valji about this experience, and lessons learned later in 2014.