Breaking: BC Government Strengthens Laws Protecting Dairy Cows Following MFA Investigation

Earlier today, BC Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick announced that the province will officially incorporate the National Dairy Code of Practice into the BC Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in an effort to improve the welfare of dairy cows. The Dairy Code of Practice—created by the National Farm Animal Care Council—sets forth certain minimum, generally accepted standards of care to ensure the humane handling and treatment of Canada’s dairy cows, including providing non-slip flooring, adequate bedding, and proper veterinary care, and prohibiting unnecessary mutilations and malicious and intentional acts of cruelty.

Now that the Dairy Code of Practice has been incorporated into BC’s provincial animal welfare regulations, it can be used to facilitate the prosecution of some of the most egregious acts of cruelty and neglect in the dairy industry.

Today’s announcement follows Mercy For Animals’ release of an undercover investigation at Chiliwack Cattle Sales in Chilliwack, BC—the largest dairy factory farm in the country—which documented workers beating, kicking, and punching animals, using chains and tractors to hoist cows into the air, poking and squeezing festering wounds, and punching bulls in the testicles.

You can watch that investigation here:


Mercy For Animals’ investigation uncovering sadistic and malicious animal abuse at Chiliwack Cattle Sales exposed the glaring deficiencies in BC’s farm animal protection laws. Today’s announcement marks important progress in the protection of cows who are all too often abused on dairy factory farms.

Mercy For Animals praises Minister Letnick for incorporating the Dairy Code of Practice into British Columbia law, and hopes that this meaningful action inspires other provinces to follow suit in increasing the legal protections granted to farm animals across Canada. Now we must work toward providing greater governmental oversight of Canadian dairy factory farms to ensure that these laws are actually followed and enforced.

The best way to help safeguard cows from abuse is to simply leave dairy out of your diet. For tips and delicious dairy-free alternatives, visit ChooseVeg.com.