PNS - Beef Cattle and Buffalo

Philippine National Standards (PNS)
Code of Good Animal Husbandry Practice for

Beef Cattle and Buffalo
Quality Evaluation and Standardization

(QES)
1. Scope
 Thiscode sets out the general principles of good practice
and minimum requirements in the commercial or
backyard rearing/farming of beef cattle and buffalo for
food use. Industry specific requirements for the different
types of animals and different types of production
system may be developed provided that it satisfies the
minimum requirements set out in this Code.
2. Normative References
 The following referenced documents are indispensable for the
application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited
applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
• Animal Welfare Act (Republic Act 8485)
and its amendment (Republic Act 10631)
• PNS/PAES 405:2001 Cattle Feedlot
• PNS/PAES 408:2001 Carabao Feedlot
• PNS/PAES 406:2001 Cattle Ranch
3. Objective
The purpose of this Code is to ensure that the farming
practices of the establishment provide greater confidence in
consumers’ expectations that the final products are safe and fit
for human consumption, while ensuring health safety and
comfort to both the farm workers and animals, without any
degradation to the environment
4. Definition of terms
For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply:
4.1. abnormal behavior
 any behavioral change developed as a response to disease or poor management practice
causing stress to the animal
4.2. animal
 large ruminant (e.g. cattle, buffalo,) livestock conventionally raised or reared for food and
non-food (e.g. animal by-products such as leather, etc.) purposes
4.3. authorized
 that which has been permitted by the competent authority
4.4. competent authority
 an entity/agency who has the knowledge, expertise and authority as designated by law
4.5. beef cattle
 bovine animal that has been genetically selected primarily for meat production
4.6. buffalo
 bubaline animal that has been genetically selected primarily for meat production; also
known as carabao, water buffalo, swamp buffalo, riverine buffalo, etc.
4.7. dam
 female animal used for breeding and having given birth at least once
4.8. dehorning
 removal of horns after they have already formed
4.9. disbudding
 removal or destruction of horn buds, done in young animals whose horns have not yet
formed
4.10. establishment
 given due permission, a firm authorized to operate
4.11. farm operator
 farm owner
 legal entity who is responsible for the management and general operation of the farm;
the term maybe used interchangeably
4.12. farm technician
 a certified trained personnel who is technically skilled and knowledgeable in the
 various aspects of specialized farm operation
4.13. farm worker
 trained personnel directly responsible for the rearing of animals
4.14. feeds
 any single or multiple materials, whether processed, semi-processed or raw, which is
intended to be fed directly to domesticated animals to meet the nutrient requirements
in order to maintain life, promote growth, production and reproduction
4.15. feed supplement
 refers to a feed ingredient or mixture of feed ingredients intended to supply the
deficiencies in a ration or improve the nutritive balance or performance of the total
mixture.
4.16. forage
 anything grown on the ground intended for use as animal feed, whether for grazing,
cut-and-carry, ensiling, or haying
4.17. gait
 way of walking or pace of the animals
4.18. ration
 total amount of feed given for one day
4.19. rearing
 farming
 the act of raising of animals
4.20. vehicle
 any means of transporting large animals, including but not limited to trucks, tractors,
trailers, trains, ferries, and ships
4.21. weaning
 a process of complete withdrawal from the dam and withdrawal of milk feeding
5. Minimum Requirements
5.1 Responsibilities of the Farm Operators and Workers
5.1.1 General Skills and Responsibilities
 Same as that of PNS of Dairy Cattle and Water Buffalo
5.1.2 Legal Responsibilities of the Farm Operator/Owner
5.1.3 Animal Welfare Responsibilities
5.2 Farm Location
5.2.1 Site Selection
5.2.2 Site history
5.3 Animal housing and facilities
 Farm owners/operators when building animal housing facilities may refer to PNS/PAES
405:2001 Cattle Feedlot,
 PNS/PAES 408:2001 Carabao Feedlot,
 PNS/PAES 406:2001 Cattle Ranch and other animal housing standards.
5.3.1 Housing
5.3.2 Facilities
5.3.2.1 Working corral or yard
a. The working yard or corral should have appropriate restraining tools and equipment.
b. There should be facilities that would permit necessary segregation of animals. In
particular, an isolation pen or area for sick, injured, or disabled animals that require
necessary veterinary attention.
c. If applicable, facilities for breeding and other husbandry practices should be
properly designed to provide the animals a comfortable and conducive environment
for reproduction.
5.3.2.2 Pasture area or Paddocks

5.3.2.2.1 Grazing Animals
a. There should be enough space for the animals.
b. Shade or shelter within the pasture area should be provided.
c. Pasture area must be properly maintained and managed to avoid being over grazed
and polluted or heavily infested by parasites. Rotational grazing may be practiced, i.e.
the herd is moved after one pasture lot has been grazed for some time.
Rotational Grazing
In agriculture, rotational grazing, as opposed to

continuous grazing, describes many systems of pasturing,
whereby livestock are moved to portions of the pasture,
called paddocks, while the other portions rest.
Each paddock must provide all the needs of the livestock,

such as food, water and sometimes shade and shelter. The
approach often produces lower outputs than
more intensive animal farming operations, but requires lower
inputs, and therefore sometimes produces higher net farm
income per animal.
5.3.2.2.2 Confined Animals
 Same as that of PNS of Dairy Cattle and Water
Buffalo
5.4 Farm Management

5.4.1 Animal sourcing, identification and traceability
a. Animal identification should be done (ear tagging
and other forms of identification that are compliant
with animal welfare regulations) and the records of
identification for the animals should be kept properly. If
needed, animal identification records may be reported
and registered with the local government authority.
b. If the establishment imports animals, records of pertinent documents should be kept.
c. The farm operator should record all movement of animals in and out of the farm. This
includes records of veterinary protocols as prescribed by the concerned authority.
5.4.2 Breeding and weaning

a. Only sexually mature animals of appropriate age and weight, and free from any
disease or probable inherited abnormality should be bred.
b. In natural mating, appropriate ratio of male to female animals should be practiced;
general recommendation is 1 male for 25 females.
c. Only duly trained certified personnel should perform assisted breeding
techniques (e.g. artificial insemination, embryo transfer and ovum pickup) on the
animals.
d. The calves should be weaned only at a recommended body weight and age.
e. Weaning should be conducted with minimum stress to both the dam and its young.
f. The farm operator should provide the basic facilities for the newly weaned animals.
g. The farm operator should maintain individual animal records that contain their
lactation, breeding and reproductive performance.
h. Breeding programs and activities should be properly recorded, maintained, monitored
and evaluated.
5.4.3 Feeds and Nutrition

Same as that of PNS of Dairy Cattle and Water Buffalo
5.4.5 Other management practices
5.5 Animal health management

5.6 Animal welfare management

5.7 Animal Transportation

5.9 Farm Sanitation Program and Environmental Management
6. Review and Evaluation of Practices


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Philippine National Standards (PNS)

Code of Good Animal Husbandry Practice for

Quality Evaluation and Standardization

5.3.2.2 Pasture area or Paddocks

In agriculture, rotational grazing, as opposed to

Each paddock must provide all the needs of the livestock,

5.4 Farm Management

5.4.2 Breeding and weaning

5.4.3 Feeds and Nutrition

5.5 Animal health management

5.6 Animal welfare management

5.7 Animal Transportation

6. Review and Evaluation of Practices

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