Ethical Husbandry

Animal Welfare Approved Sets High Standards

Photo courtesy of Living Earth Farm

Farmer Sharon Blick (right) and family at Living Earth Farm in Eugene, Oregon. by Kelly Eisenbarger Farmer Sharon Blick of the Living Earth Farm in Eugene, Oregon, cares deeply about the animals she raises for food. After 30 years as a vegetarian the decision to raise meat, and even eat it herself, was not taken lightly. We care a lot about animal welfare, and its sort of the reason we started to farm as we did not want to contribute to the misery of animals in factory farms, Blick said. It wasnt until we started raising our own animals and could see that they were happy that we felt good about eating meat again. Blick finds that her views on ethically raised meat are mirrored by consumers. A combination of consumer interest and personal ethics led the Living Earth Farm to become certified Animal Welfare Approved along with other animal welfarebased certifications. In 2006, as a response to growing consumer demand for meat, eggs and dairy products from animals treated with the welfare of the animal and the environment in mind, the Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) food label was created. As stated in the AWA mission statement, The AWA program operates on the simple understanding that the way we raise our animals, the nutritional quality of the meat, milk and eggs they produce, and the impact of farming systems on the environment, are all intrinsically linked. AWA looks at the animal from birth to slaughter and the land it affects. EnReprinted from

vironmental sustainability concerns are worked into the detailed standards the program has created for raising animals. The standards were developed by scientists, veterinarians, researchers and farmers across the globe. The program strictly approves pasture-based farms for the well-being of the animals, the environment and consumers. They see pasture-raised and grassfed cattle as a way to curb the greenhouse gas emissions resultant of feedlots with grain-based diets. AWAs report, A Breath of Fresh Air: The truth about pasture-based livestock production and environmental sustainability takes an in-depth look at the science relating to greenhouse gas emissions among different cattle production systems.

February 2014 Vol. 41, No. 2

STRINGeNT STANDARDS Animal Welfare Approved prides itself on having the most rigorous and stringent standards of all animal welfare certifications. They say that the economic viability of a farm is paramount and that their standards are feasible for most farms. According to AWA standards, a farm must provide their animals with continual access to pasture or range, as well as the opportunity to perform natural and instinctive behaviors which AWA finds essential to their health and wellbeing. AWA requires audited, high-welfare slaughter practices and is the only label that requires pasture access for all animals. Their standards are listed on their website by animal type for complete transparency. The Living Earth Farm is located just west of the city limits of Eugene on 15 acres. Sharon, Jim and Selena Blick started the farm in July 2007. They raise dairy goats, chickens, pigs and sheep and also have a small orchard, a berry patch and grow a variety of vegetables. They have been certified Animal Welfare Approved for one year for their chickens and goats. They use organic methods but are not certified organic. The Blicks have been concerned about animal welfare from the start. When looking into certifications they aimed to be Certified Predator Friendly but once that certification was absorbed by Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network, they had to re-audit. The Blicks were told that Animal Welfare Approved could be audited at the same time. They heard what the auditor had to say and found only a few minor things to be changed on the farm to meet compliance. Things, Sharon said she might not have done without prodding from Animal Welfare Approved, such as creating raised platforms for their goats to climb upon for exercise while they were in the barn. They also require that goats be castrated and disbudded before seven days of age, Blick said. We did that this year, and I think its a great idea. I hadnt thought about it before, but I think they were much less sensitive to the pain. Their experience with AWA has been positive despite an issue with finding chicken feed approved by both AWA and the Blicks chickens. The program does not approve chicken feed with fish meal unless the fish is a by-product of a human fishery. This standard aims to protect the sustainability of fish. The Blicks are

Photo courtesy of Animal Welfare Approved

Cattle at Rare Earth Farms in North Carolina.

Photo courtesy of Whole Foods

Hogs farmed for the Niman Ranch Pork Company. having a hard time finding a feed that fits the bill. While on certified organic meal their chickens started to pluck their feathers out, lay fewer and smaller eggs, as well as throw their food out on the ground. This was unusual behavior for the Blicks chickens and they looked into the ingredients of the new meal. They found soybean meal from China in the food, something the Blicks did not want. They also realized that since Oregon was suffering a drought there were fewer bugs for their chickens to nibble on combined with the lack of fish from their meal meant the
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chickens seemed to be suffering from thiamine deficiency. They then looked to find a certified organic meal with fish and none was to be found. The auditor would not authorize a switch back to fish-based chicken feed. The Blicks are still looking for a solution. ChALLeNGeS ON The FARM Stephanie Schneider of Together Farms in Mondovi, Wisconsin, has had an overall beneficial relationship with AWA for the last two years but says she sees some standards as being difficult to meet.

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Sheep at Clover Creek Farm in Jonesborough, Tennessee. After looking at what all was involved with other animal certifications, Certified Humane and the like, it quickly becomes apparent that their rules were written so people didnt have to change what they were doing. They [other certifications] really dont mean a lot, Schneider said. AWAs rules are really looking out for the animals and not for the industry. You dont have to look real hard to see AWA really has welfare in mind, but maybe they go a little too much in the other direction. The Schneiders are working through their own standards issue as well. AWA favors banding for the castration of lambs but the Schneiders have seen first-hand bad outcomes of the procedure. The banding process, in place of surgical castration, creates the anaerobic conditions favorable for tetanus formation. The Schneiders have lost lambs to tetanus, a significantly painful death, resultant of banding. They are appealing to AWA for a derogation from banding. Schneider sees the quick surgical route as more humane. We are willing to work with them, Schneider said. A lot of farms say they do things organically or humanely but arent certified. We are getting Certified Naturally Grown and are AWA. Im not sure how many consumers know what AWA is, but I think it is worthwhile to be certified because you can actually say you are something. Some farmers find the rigid standards of AWA too difficult to meet for their

smaller operations. For Jim Richardson of Richardson Farms in Rockdale, Texas, becoming Animal Welfare Approved is a goal but not possible at this time. Breed requirements for laying hens as well as the unavailability of stunning electrocution for poultry has made it not possible to become certified. For Jim, a retired veterinarian, animal welfare is at the forefront of his mind and that is why the Richardsons raise pigs, cattle, laying and broiler hens and turkeys all free range. They grind their own pig feed from grain raised on their farm and feed only grass to their cattle. The Richardsons grow by organic principles but are not certified. OTheR CeRTIfIcATIONS Larger companies are recognizing the rising consumer demand for ethically raised meat and are attempting to gain their own certifications. Butterball LLC announced that they are seeking an American Humane Association Certification on their farms which pump out over 1 billion pounds of turkey annually. This program includes the review of an independent advisory council which meets biannually. Members of the first council include Temple Grandin, Ph.D., professor of Animal Science and Michael Martin, Ph.D., professor of Poultry Health Management at North Carolina State University. This announcement followed the arrest of six Butterball employees for animal abuse. The arrests led to a veterinarian with the North Carolina Department
Photo courtesy of Living Earth Farm

Photo courtesy of Animal Welfare Approved

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Sharon Blick finds her views on ethically raised meat are mirrored by consumers.
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of Agriculture being charged and suspended from her job. The American Humane Certified label was the first certification program created in the United States to protect farm animals. The certification includes basic requirements such as access to adequate food and water, the ability to perform natural behaviors, and that the animals are not overcrowded and have freedom of movement. Minor violations found during the initial inspection do not necessarily disqualify the producer. Approved producers are given the opportunity to correct any violations and may be suspended for non-compliance. Outdoor access is not required for the certification. AHC also allows debeaking, tail-docking and sow crates. The natural food superstore Whole Foods looked into animal welfare certifications before creating their own. Employing the set standards of AWA or like certifications across their stores nationally and internationally would prove difficult. In 2008 Whole Foods created the Global Animal Partnership, an independent nonprofit charitable organization, as a five-step rating system to use in its stores and beyond. Anne Malleau, Whole Foods global animal production and welfare coordinator, sees the five-step system fitting with Whole Foods mission and goals. There are three main drivers for us using this system, Malleau said. It spurs continuous improvement in a supported way, it fosters innovation, and it helps us help suppliers and give them a platform to grow. Whole Foods has had an overall positive response to the system which starts at step one requiring that there are no cages, no crates and no crowding, all the way to step five which is an animalcentered farm where the animal spends their entire life. When I ask our team members at our meat counters what customers are saying we get a lot of enthusiastic answers, Malleau said. People love the different

Photo courtesy of Animal Welfare Approved

colors and that there are different steps. It might be overwhelming at first but our educated staff is there to answer all questions. FARM-TO-TABLe Chef Nick Stefanelli finds that there is a small, but growing, population of consumers very conscious of where and how their meat is raised. They might not recognize the AWA label itself but they understand their mission. Stefanelli has been at the restaurant Bibiana in Washington, D.C., since their opening four years ago. Its kind of the way Ive always cooked and was taught to cook, Stefanelli said. We always bought whole animals in the restaurants I worked in, and we always had a relationship with the farmers and growers. Its been a way of life for me for the past 12 to 13 years. Bibianas pork and beef are sourced from Leaping Waters Farm which is AWA certified. Stefanelli looks for animal products that match his lifelong respect for animals. He contends that people should carefully consider animal food choices. Stefanelli strives to make sure that the meat he serves is done properly, that it was raised with welfare in mind.

Its not just a piece of protein on a plate, Stefanelli said. The staff at Bibiana is trained so they are able to tell the stories of exactly where the meat came from and how it was raised. The meat suppliers are not just delivering to Bibianas doorstep, they are eating there as well. Stefanelli has made sure to make Bibiana as farm-to-table as possible. The AWA label is not necessarily integral to Stefannelli but the methods and practices AWA-certified farms employ are. Resources: Animal Welfare Approved, www.animalwelfareapproved.org, 800-373-8806 The Living Earth Farm in Eugene, Oregon, www.thelivingearthfarm.com Together Farms in Mondovi, Wisconsin, www.togetherfarms.com, 715-2104740 Richardson Farms in Rockdale, Texas, www.richardsonfarms.com, 512-6353691 Leaping Waters Farm in Alleghany Springs, Virginia, www.leapingwa tersfarm.com, 540-268-5498

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February 2014 Vol. 41, No. 2