The federal government is supporting the Canadian livestock sector in its efforts to raise healthy, productive and well-cared for animals.

The Liberals have announced an investment of up to $1.31 million to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition to help ensure the safe transportation of livestock, develop emergency management tools for the livestock industry and improve animal care assessments.

"The Canadian Animal Health Coalition appreciates AAFC's continued support of Canada's farmed animal health and welfare system through project funding to develop Canada's Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals and affiliated animal care assurance programs," said Jennifer MacTavish, Chair of the Canadian Animal Health Coalition.

The investment will be divided between four projects including:

-Up to $223,929 to develop a new livestock transport on-line certification program that will simplify, standardize and provide an opportunity for truckers, shippers and receivers to more easily access the training necessary to improve handling practices.

-Up to $160,713 to update the Transportation Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals during transport.

-Up to $813,200 to develop an emergency management plan for the Canadian livestock industry to help mitigate, to respond to, and to recover from major hazard emergencies.

-Up to $112,180 to revise the Chicken Farmers of Canada's (CFC) animal care assessment program to meet the new Code of Practice for hatching eggs, breeders, chickens and turkeys. The project will strengthen the poultry industry's capacity to respond to ever increasing demand by markets to demonstrate effective animal care standards.

Canada's poultry and livestock industries generate over $15 billion in farmgate receipts.