Overview

In general, farmers and ranchers raising animals for the production of food and fiber have long known that healthy animals are productive animals. Producer livestock associations and allied industries have established voluntary science-based guidelines for the health and well-being of animals to ensure a safe, abundant food supply for consumers.

It is now possible for farmers who care for their animals using specific types of production practices to become certified with third-party agencies. This certification process offers farmers a label and marketing niche for the products to be sold. The certification process also communicates to consumers that products were raised a certain way.

Animal guidelines extend through the processing and retailing channels, too. The Food Marketing Institute, which represents food retailers and wholesalers, and the National Council of Chain Restaurants also have animal welfare policies on how animals are raised, transported and processed.


Sources

• American Humane Certified Program - This program, formerly known as the Free Farmed program, guarantees consumers that products they select are from animals that were raised and treated compassionately and humanely.
• Animal Agriculture Alliance - This organization represents those who are interested in helping consumers better understand the role animal agriculture plays in providing a safe, abundant food supply.
• Animal Welfare Information Center, USDA - This Web site is a clearing house for information related to animal welfare topics.
• Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights. What’s the Difference?, Fur Commission USA - This online debate discusses the difference between animal welfare and animal rights.
• Certified Humane Raised and Handled Humane Farm Animal Care - This nonprofit organization provides credible, monitored standards for humane food production.

International Animal Rights/Welfare

• Animal Welfare and Food Quality, World Trade Organization (WTO) - This site has the backgrounder of two animal welfare proposals before the WTO.
• Animal Welfare Verification in Canada: A Discussion Paper, Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Inc, 2002 - This paper includes a section on animal welfare in the United States.
• EU Regulation and Consumer Demand for Animal Welfare, AgBioForum - This document indicates European consumers are prepared to pay higher prices for food raised using more welfare-friendly practices.

Restaurants and Retailers Animal Rights/Welfare Information

• Animal Welfare, Food Marketing Institute - The site contains the organization’s animal welfare policy and program components. 
• Animal Welfare Program, KFC - Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, formed the Animal Welfare Advisory Council to provide the company with information and advice regarding animal welfare issues.
• Animal Welfare Standards, Whole Foods Market - This site by the self-proclaimed largest retailer of natural and organic foods in the world lists the standards it requires of food producers.
• Food Sellers Push Animal Welfare, USA Today, 2003 - In response to their consumers, supermarkets and fast food restaurants have shown increased concern for animal welfare in the past five years.
• Jack’s Way of Doing Business, Jack in the Box - This Web site lists the animal welfare principles of Jack in the Box restaurants.
• McDonald’s Corporate Social Responsibility, Animal Welfare - This site lists the animal welfare guiding principles of McDonald’s.
• Restaurants are Responding to Humane Farming Issues, Fast Food Embracing Animal Welfare, CBS Evening News, 2003.
• Sauder’s Eggs Animal Welfare Program, Sauder’s Eggs - This Pennsylvania-based egg wholesaler has implemented animal welfare guidelines and places a 'Certified Animal Care' seal on every egg carton.
• Wendy’s Animal Welfare Program - This site includes information on beef, pork and chicken supplier requirements.

Other Links

• Animal Welfare, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, USDA.
• Animal Welfare, Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Colorado State University - This site includes information addressing animal welfare from the production and processing standpoints and includes a list of related Web sites.
• Animal Welfare Position Statements, The American Veterinary Medical Association - This association of more than 75,000 veterinarians lists its position on animal welfare issues.
• The Farm Animal Welfare Debate, Choices Magazine, Third Quarter, 2009.

Checked December 2009.