proAction: Are you Ready? 50 th Annual Grey Bruce Farmer’s Week 2016 January 7, 2016
proAction: Are you Ready?
50th Annual Grey Bruce Farmer’s Week 2016January 7, 2016
Outline
o What is proAction?o Dates to remembero When will proAction become a
requirement?o proAction trainingo Program requirements
WHAT IS proAction?o Quality Assurance / Sustainability Program
o Developed by Dairy Farmers of Canadao Supported by Provincial Boards across Canadao In Ontario Delivered by DFO (as with CQM)
o Includes:o Animal Careo Livestock Traceability o Biosecurityo Environmento Food Safety – Canadian Quality Milk (CQM) Program
DATES TO REMEMBER
o October 2015: Animal care and livestock traceability manual finalized and published.
WHEN DO I HAVE TO IMPLEMENT proAction?
o September 1st, 2017: Animal Care and Livestock Traceability become mandatoryo Farmers required to meet program requirementso Validations commence – two year cycle
(following CQM cycle)o New Integrated Farmer Manual will be issued –
Animal Care, Livestock Traceability, Biosecurity and Environment
o September 1st, 2019: Biosecurity becomes mandatory
o September 1st, 2021: Environment becomes mandatory
TRAINING
o Veterinarians will be proAction Advisors (trainers)o Veterinarians will be trained in March-April 2016o Producer classroom training sessions available in
Spring 2016o DFO will fund classroom trainingo Details will be provided - letter
Animal Care
HOUSING
o Calves: Stand up, lie down, turn around (unweaned), adopt normal resting postures, visual contact.
o Bulls: Stand up, lie down, adopt normal resting postures, mount safely.
o Mature cows:o Stocking densities: • <1.2 cows/stall (free-stall); • 120 ft2 per Holstein cow (bedded pack).
o Cow cleanliness: Udders, legs and flanks.
HOUSING
o Calving area: Clean and dry.o Sick/Hospital area: Clean and dry.o All groups: Clean and dry Provide bedding.o Electric trainers: Max. 2,500 volts, height
adjustment, located over the chine.
FEED AND WATER
o All cattle: Access to watero Heifers: Adequate rationo Calves (SOP):
o Feed newborn calves 4 L (for a 100 lb. calf) of colostrum within 12 hours of birth
o Feed calves enough volume to keep them healthy
o Increase volume during cold weather by about 25%
FEED AND WATER
o All cattle: Access to watero Heifers: Adequate rationo Calves (SOP):
o Feed newborn calves 4 L (for a 100 lb. calf) of colostrum within 12 hours of birth
o Feed calves enough volume to keep them healthy
o Increase volume during cold weather by about 25%
HEALTH AND HERD MANAGEMENT
o Animal health practices (SOP): Dehorning, castration, teat removal.
o Provide prompt medical care for cattle that are sick, injured, too thin(BCS≤2), in pain or suffering.
o Euthanasia (SOP): Promptly, confirm death.o Tail docking is not permitted.
HANDLING AND SHIPPING / STAFF TRAINING
o Avoid use of electric prods.o Shipping cattle (SOP): Do not ship animals unfit for
transport, prepare cattle for trip, etc.o Animal handlers must be familiar with quiet
handling techniques and animal behavior.o Have a Corrective Action Plan for downed cattle.
ANIMAL ASSESSMENTS (major/minor)
o Have milking herd assessed for:o Body condition scoreo Injuries – hock, knee and necko Lameness
o Every two years, within 12 months of the validation
o Keep records of the resultso Take corrective actions if results are in yellow
or red zonesExcellent
≥90%
75th percentile 25th to 75th percentile
25th percentile
Herd Size Sample size
20 1430 1840 2150 2370 2790 29
100 30150 33250 37550 40700 40
≥1000 5%
ANIMAL ASSESSMENTS
• First round – Benchmarking (set targets)o Between September 2016 and September
2018o Performed by Holstein Canada (HC)
• Cost:o HC clients: • No additional cost • Including non-classified animals
o Non clients: • $6 per animal assessment• $100 herd visit fee• For a 70-cow herd: 27x6 + 100 = $262
ANIMAL ASSESSMENTS
• Second and subsequent rounds:o Service provider to be determinedo Potential choices: Holstein Canada,
Veterinarians, Nutritionists, FSRs• Consequences if animal assessment is not
done:o Major on AC Question 15
Livestock Traceability
REQUIREMENTS
o Premise ID – already in place in ONo Double-tag calves with approved dairy tags
and record births within 7 days or at the time the animal leaves.
o Report animal births to the national database within 45 days or before the animal leaves.
REQUIREMENTS (continued)o Maintain current animal move-in records on
farm and report to the national traceability database.o Within 7 days of the event or before the
animal leaves the farm.o Maintain tag retirement (deaths, exports)
records on farm and report to the national traceability database.o Within 7 days of the event or before the
animal leaves the farm.
Biosecurity Draft Requirements
DRAFT REQUIREMENTS
o Have your herd vet perform an annual Biosecurity Risk Assessment
o Record events of abortion, lameness, mastitis, diarrhea, pneumonia, fever, death
o Posted signage for visitorso SOPs:
o Vaccinationo Animal movement SOP - new / returning
cattleo SOP to prevent biosecurity risks from family,
employees, farm visitors and service providers
Environment Draft Requirements
DRAFT REQUIREMENTS
o Have a valid environmental farm plan (EFP).o Manage manure and silage storage to avoid
contamination of water.o Avoid application of manure in winter, or on
frozen or saturated soil.o Have a nutrient management plan (NMP) for all
fields and pasture that receive manure.o Milking center washwater properly managed.o Restrict cattle access to watercourses OR
implement practices to mitigate impact.
DRAFT REQUIREMENTS
o Maintain setbacks from a ditch, well or watercourse when applying pesticides, manure and fertilizers.
o Applicator of pesticides is certified OR implement SOP for pesticide use.
o Manage fuel storage contamination risks from fuel storage.
o Emergency response plan posted and employees trained on it.