~ guest post by Tim Amlaw

“Talk is cheap,” they say.

With all due respect, those of us at American Humane Association’s farm animal welfare programs disagree. We think it’s time for farmers, ranchers and consumers to discuss why farm animal welfare’s important.

We’ve been talking about the topic since American Humane Association launched the first, and now largest, third party-verified farm animal welfare program in North America. These days we certify food producers representing over 135 million farm animals and more than 90% of the nation’s “cage-free” egg production.

Our programs arrived at a time when public awareness about the topic was low, but that’s not the case anymore: farm animal welfare has become one of the fastest-growing issues in America. Public awareness has never been higher in the wake of recalls and exposes, which have brought calls for increased oversight of food producers.

Unlike the sensational media coverage and often draconian solutions proposed by some, American Humane Certified farm animal program uses science-based standards to establish welfare guidelines that food producers must meet. Then we use third-party audits to verify those standards are met on an annual basis for a producer to use the American Humane Certified certification mark on its products. Our world-class scientific advisory panel of animal scientists and veterinarians, which includes expert Dr. Temple Grandin, keeps us abreast of the latest research and developments.

Here’s another significant aspect to our approach: we know there’s more than one way to deliver humane living conditions for farm animals, whether they be egg-laying hens, cattle or pigs. For example, we endorse three solutions for egg-laying hens: free-range, cage-free/aviary and enriched colony housing.

Currently, legislation defining humane conditions for egg-laying hens is working its way through the state legislatures in Washington and Oregon. While we aren’t in the business of writing legislation, we’re proud that both bills mandate enriched colony housing, which allows hens to move around and engage in the full range of natural hen behavior, from extending their wings and turning around, to perching, nesting and scratching. In addition to that freedom of movement, studies show enriched colony housing also has a positive impact on food safety.

This is not to suggest that many farmers and ranchers aren’t already using humane animal welfare practices. Scores of food producers have made the decision to improve animal welfare at their own operations in recent years, whether or not it’s mandated by legislation. These enlightened businesses are not only making the right ethical choice, but the right practical one, as consumers are demanding that animals that produce food for our tables be humanely treated.

We applaud them for their choice, which cuts to the core principal of everything we do: Americans have the right to eat whatever they wish, NO one has the right to treat animals inhumanely.

We understand that finding the best possible farm animal welfare solution can be an often controversial, emotional and complex effort. But rather than shy from the challenge, we’re encouraged that people are talking, whether it be in legislatures, on social media (like this great website) or across the fence.

After all, we happen to think talk has great value. What do you think?

Tim Amlaw is the vice president of American Humane Association’s ground-breaking American Humane Certified farm animal welfare program. Tim has more than 35 years of experience in the agricultural and beef industries. To learn more about American Humane Certified farm animal welfare programs visit https://thehumanetouch.org. They also tweet at https://twitter.com/HumaneTouchOrg.