Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is committed to updating the proAction program to reflect the latest science and best practices, ensuring dairy farms across Canada are meeting the high expectations for our industry. To this end, the proAction technical committees and the proAction committee review the program at least every two years for opportunities for improvement.

Most recently, DFC implemented new requirements for the proAction program on Sept. 1. The revisions are minor but include the following notable changes.

Animal care: Cattle assessments

As published in a Notice of Change in March 2023, DFC re-evaluated the expectations for corrective action and continuous improvement for the cattle assessment requirement, and has implemented the following changes:

• The Dark Red Zone and its continuous improvement requirements will be maintained (i.e., not combined with the Red Zone).
• No additional continuous improvement requirements will be added to Red Zone results in 2023.

These changes were implemented in the cattle assessments this past spring, and the changes are reflected in the new Workbook and Reference Manual, July 2023. 

Livestock traceability: Tagging

As published in a Notice of Change in September 2020, proAction is phasing out the use of the yellow button tags for calves born on dairy farms. As of September 2023, calves born on a dairy farm destined for purposes other than dairy must be identified with approved white dairy tags (i.e., single button RFID tag or dual tag set), and the exception which allows these animals to have a yellow button tag applied at birth will be fully phased out. This also includes no longer allowing yellow button tags for cull cows if the original tag is lost. There is no change for the province of Quebec, as dual tagging of all dairy animals remains a provincial requirement.

Using the single white button tags will keep these animals’ information within the national dairy traceability database, enabling more effective emergency response and value-added opportunities, as well as keep the tag revenues within the dairy industry, ensuring a financially sustainable system.

For more specific information, the Notice of Changes Coming in September, Revised Workbook and Reference Manual, July 2023 includes an information sheet detailing the tag requirements changes and the rationale. 

Biosecurity: Risk Assessment Questionnaire

DFC has updated the Dairy Farm Biosecurity Risk Assessment Questionnaire (Record 6b) to reflect current practices, expand questions to provide clarity and change the scoring categorizations to help guide farmers and their veterinarians in more accurately answering the questions. Farmers and veterinarians need to use the new version (July 2023) effective September 2023. It is available on the proAction website in the Forms & Records section and in the new workbook. 

Other changes to note

There are some other improvements for clarity or ease of use, as well as other minor changes of note:

• The standard operating procedure (SOP) for shipping cattle has new required elements to reflect the changes to tagging. 
• Farmers now only need to record nine digits (not all 15 digits) of an animal’s identification number on traceability records.
• An improved cattle assessment correction action plan (Record 7b) is available for use with herd veterinarians or dairy professionals.  

A detailed Notice of Change outlining the revised requirements and providing farmers with advance notice to make any necessary adjustments on their farms is available at proAction website under “Resources.” You will also find the new Workbook and Reference Manual available in this section. 

These changes maintain the proAction program as a national quality assurance framework under which Canadian dairy farmers can demonstrate and document best practices in producing some of the safest, highest-quality milk on the planet. DFC would like to thank everyone – including farmers, experts, researchers and industry partners – for their dedication, contributions and implementation of this program.

For more information on proAction, visit the Dairy Farmers of Canada website.

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and promote dairy products and their health benefits. Visit DFC’s website for more information.