Animal Welfare Approved has the most rigorous standards for farm animal welfare currently in use by any United States organizations. Its standards have been developed in collaboration with scientists, veterinarians, researchers, and farmers across the globe to maximize practicable, high-welfare farm management. Animal Welfare Approved's standards incorporate best practice and recent research and have been adopted only after rigorous review. The basic premise of all the standards is that animals must be able to behave naturally and be in a state of physical and psychological well-being.
Animal Welfare Approved program audits and certifies family farms raising their animals humanely, outdoors on pasture or range. Farmers who bare the AWA seal benefit from having a third-party vertification of their high-welfare practices and consumers benefit by knowing that the humane label means what it says.
Animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range on true family farms with the "Most Stringent" humane animal welfare standards according to the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Annual audits by experts in the field cover birth to slaughter.
AWA is able to offer this certification and technical and marketing services to farmers at no charge. Because AWA is not finanacially dependent on farmers fees, the program is unbiased and completely transparent.
The Animal Welfare Approved program and food label promote the well-being of animals and the sustainability of humane family farms and meat plants. We united conscientious consumers with farmers and meat producers who raise and harvest their animals with compassion. Our label adds value to meat products for those people raising, handling, and harvesting meat animals.
The Guidelines for Red Meat Slaughter Facilities should be followed by plants that slaughter cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats. Plants that slaughter poultry and rabbits should refer to Guidelines for White Meat Slaughter Facilities.
For more detailed information on Slaughter Guidelines please visit AnimalWelfareApproved.org