Subject: Comment on Draft Beef Cattle Code of Practice

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To the Beef Cattle Code Development Committee,

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Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle, open for public input until June 12, 2026. I am writing as a concerned member of the public who wants Canada’s national standards for beef cattle care to reflect current science and strong public expectations for animal welfare.

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I am concerned that the draft Code is built around a consensus process that gives significant weight to industry practicality, rather than clearly putting animal welfare first. Many of the most important protections are only “recommended practices” instead of mandatory requirements, which means better welfare is often treated as optional. Painful procedures like branding, dehorning, and castration are still allowed, with delayed or partial pain control, even though effective pain relief and alternatives are available. 

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The Code also allows controversial practices such as using snow as the only water source in some conditions and does not set standards for animal welfare during transport, relying instead on separate regulations that are already considered weak by many advocates. I respectfully urge you to strengthen the draft Code, so it is truly science based, clear, and enforceable. This should include: 

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(1) making key welfare measures mandatory rather than just recommended, especially immediate pain control for all painful procedures and much tighter limits on branding and dehorning; 

(2) replacing vague “outcome based” and “practical” wording with specific standards that are easy to understand and enforce; 

(3) adding stronger protections for cattle during transport; and 

(4) prohibiting or strictly limiting the use of snow as the sole water source. The final Code should be written so that its requirements can be incorporated into law across provinces and territories, with independent oversight instead of relying mainly on industry self-regulation.

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In short, I ask that the final Beef Cattle Code clearly prioritizes animal welfare over industry convenience, and that it set ambitious, enforceable standards that meaningfully reduce pain, stress, and suffering for cattle in Canada. 

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Thank you for considering my comments.

Sincerely,

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[Your name]

[City/town, province]