Farm Animals are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) only when used in biomedical research, testing, teaching and exhibition. Farm animals used for food and fiber or for food and fiber research are not regulated under the AWA.
Farm Animals
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, 2012 Report (PDF | 3.5 MB)This recent report, focused mostly on Europe, finds that as of this time, the management of farm animal welfare appears to have received much less attention than other issues on the corporate responsibility agenda.
Farm Animal Welfare and Food Safety Fact Sheets
USDA. ARS. Livestock Behavior Research Unit.
LBRU scientists have produced the first of a series of fact sheets covering important farm animal welfare and food safety topics.
States' Farm Animal Welfare StatutesNational Agricultural Law Center.
Provides easy and free access to the farm animal welfare statutes in each state. On the map, just click the state you want to learn about!
International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS)Provides free access to online information (electronic books, proceedings, calendar of events) for veterinarians, veterinary students and animal health professionals worldwide.
Livestock Behavior Research UnitUSDA. Agricultural Research Service.
The mission of the Livestock Behavior Research Unit is to develop scientific measures of animal well-being, through the study of animal behavior, stress physiology, immunology, neurophysiology, and cognition, that will allow an objective evaluation of animal agricultural practices.
Animal Well-Being and Stress Control Systems
USDA, Agricultural Research Service.
This Web site describes ARS research initiatives in the area of farm animal well-being and stress.
FASS Policy Statement: Farm Animal Well-BeingFederation of Animal Science Societies.
Adopted in August 2010 by the FASS Scientific Policy Committee.
Gateway to Farm Animal Welfare
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Animal Production and Health Division.
Provides a web resource for international farm animal welfare standards, practices and policies.
Animal Well-Being ProgramUSDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
CSREES identifies critical animal well-being issues to provide America with safe and affordable food animal products.
Farm Animal Welfare ReportsFarm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), United Kingdom.
An independent advisory body established to review the welfare of farm animals on agricultural land, at market, in transit and at the place of slaughter.
Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture ProceedingsNetwork for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture.
Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (NAHWOA). Proceedings are available online and in full text. Topics covered include defining and assessing welfare, stockmanship, preventive and alternative medicine.
Livestock Behaviour, Design of Facilities and Humane SlaughterColorado State University.
Provides information about welfare audits, humane slaughter of livestock, design of animal facilities, animal welfare, and behavior. Information from Dr. Temple Grandin, Department of Animal Science.
Animal Welfare Policy StatementsAmerican Veterinary Medical Association.
Position statements covering recommendations on antimicrobial use, euthanasia, abuse, pain, and other important animal welfare concerns.
International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS)Provides free access to online information (electronic books, proceedings, calendar of events) for veterinarians, veterinary students and animal health professionals related to farm animals. Book chapters can be printed on a desktop printer for easy reading.
The Animal Welfare GroupMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry. Biosecurity New Zealand
Full text Codes of Practice and recommendations for minimum standards for livestock and other species are available at this site. Humane treatment of livestock during transport, slaughter, and sale yards covered.
Animal Behavior and Welfare GroupMichigan State University.
Offers students the opportunity to assess the welfare of animals maintained under different housing, husbandry and environmental conditions.
Animal Care and Food SafetyUSDA. Economic Research Service.
ERS tracks animal health and welfare issues as they relate to food safety and the production and availability of animals for processing into meat.
Food Supply Veterinary MedicineAmerican Veterinary Medicine Association.
A clearinghouse of information on food supply veterinary medicine, including videos, links to state information, statistics, adn media coverage.
Compendium of Animal Health & Welfare in Organic FarmingDuchy College, Cornwall with VEERU at The University of Reading and The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow.
This compendium is funded by DEFRA and provides information on veterinary medicine, animal health and welfare, and disease management in organic livestock production.
Welfare on the Farm: Treating Pain and Distress in Food Animals
American Veterinary Medical Association.
General comments regarding the current status of veterinary guidelines regarding pain in farm animals.
Harmonization of the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in ResearchNorecopa
Links to pdf files of the presentations at this meeting.
