Carol, I have some experience with this group in the realm of biomedical research. I have always considered the AWI a part of the animal rights movement. Frankly, though, it has been quite some time since I've been involved in those issues, and I don't recall whether this group might lean more toward animal welfare than rights. I'll take a look a their website, and see if I can find my old copies of some of their publications, and let you know more.
I have no interest in having my farm "certified-humane" or "animal welfare approved" or what have you, by any group. For one thing, it's a bit gimmicky. I think these groups are more geared toward the big agribusiness-type farms. Purdue chicken might need to participate, to assure their totally out-of-touch customers thousands of miles away that their "organic" factory farming is "humane". But I think my customers can judge my practices for themselves when they visit the farm (and my website, which I hope to have up at some point). I believe that when local customers see how we treat our animals, it will be much more meaningful than any seal of approval. So these humane groups are totally superfluous to my operation. It would just be another set of regulations to adhere to that I not only don't need, but don't want. I don't want somebody else telling me what the animal welfare standards are going to be; I am as good a judge of that as any regulator. Why should I give yet another regulator the power to weigh in on my farm decisions? They may not be the USDA, but if you buy in to their program, you are bound to do what they dictate. I'm not volunteering for that. And, if all of that weren't enough, I certainly already have more than enough paperwork to keep me busy. Just my opinion, Stephanie Parrish Westminster, SC On Nov 17, 2007, at 2:35 PM, Carol J. Elkins wrote: > I recently was approached by an organization called "Animal Welfare > Institute" and I would like to ask if any of you know, or have > experience with, this organization. Their Web site is at > http://www.awionline.org/farm/fivefreedoms.htm. > > I'm particularly interested in one of their new programs called > "Animal Welfare Approved." Simply, the program promotes family > farmers who treat their animals with high welfare standards and > allows those farmers to label their products with a seal. This > enables consumers, grocers, chefs, and other food buyers to > differentiates the family farms that treat their animals humanely > from agribusinesses that subject animals to cruel and unnatural > conditions. > > To me, this is a good thing. I am so opposed to agribusiness and its > treatment of animals that I can't see straight. I WANT to buy meat > from farmers who provide their animals a humane life and a humane > death. It is what I do on my farm. I'd like to be involved in > programs that promote local farmers and sustainable farming > practices. But before I get involved with this organization, I want > to learn more about what company it keeps. The American Livestock > Breeds Conservancy has endorsed them, and Niman Ranch, a farm that I > respect, participates in the program. From what I've learned, the > organization has nothing to do with PETA or other "animal rights" > organizations. What do YOU know about the organization? > > I have read the group's standards for sheep farmers at > http://www.awionline.org/farm/standards/sheep.htm With only one > exception, I see these as standards that all of us should employ on > our farms. The exception is the recommended weaning age of 4 months > (I believe this is too long and endangers the ewe). They also have a > policy against docking tails. Blackbelly farmers have no need to dock > tails, so we would have no problem meeting this standard, unlike 98% > of the other sheep breeds in the U.S. The rest of the standards I > already meet and I suspect most of you do, too. > > Unlike other programs I've looked into, there is no charge for > bearing the Animal Welfare Approved seal. That tells me that they are > more interested in animals than they are in the income generated by > their interest in animals. Of course, they'd like you to join the > association, but I can't find anywhere that says it's mandatory. The > association is over 55 years old and they are respected in the > non-profit world. > > I don't agree with some of its politics and activities--it is an > activist organization and seeks legislative solutions to issues that > I believe are best left to farmers. I don't want the government > telling me how to farm. But that is why I am interested in this > Animal Welfare Approved seal. It is a way for those of us who can > meet certain standards concerning how we treat our sheep to visually > demonstrate that to our customers. It is voluntary; it doesn't try to > mandate what anyone other than a voluntary participant does. I > compare it to the "Certified Naturally Grown" movement that formed in > opposition to the USDA's Organic program. > > I would be interested in hearing your opinions or any information you > may have about this group. > > Carol > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
