US Humane Society Guarantees Animal Welfare

US - A recent broadcast on ABC "Nightline" showed poor treatment of dairy cows and the procedure of tail docking, which the American Humane Association call an inhumane practice. The Association has said that consumers can support the humane treatment of farm animals by purchasing American Humane Certifed dairy products.
calendar icon 3 February 2010
clock icon 2 minute read

“The producers certified under the American Humane Certified programme have committed to the humane treatment of their animals and are verified by an independent, third-party auditor,” said Tim Amlaw, director of the American Humane Certified programme. “Our standards state that the practice of tail docking is disallowed.”

The Nightline segment also showed inhumane dehorning procedures on dairy cattle. According to the National Milk Producers Federation’s fact sheet on Animal Care on Dairy Farms, “Dehorning has been used for decades to help reduce the risk of injury to cows and animal handlers. Dairy farmers and veterinarians ensure the comfort and safety of an animal during the dehorning process through sedation or anesthesia.”

In addition to the standards in which tail docking is prohibited, American Humane Certified also does not allow for dehorning (also known as disbudding) without anesthesia after 4 months of age. The science-based standards of the programme insist that all practices are performed by trained and competent livestock managers in a way that minimises suffering.

“Consumers who choose to purchase products with the American Humane Certified seal are effectively using their voices to tell grocery stores, the agricultural industry and the food industry that they expect humane treatment of the food products they buy,” Mr Amlaw said. “And American Humane Certified producers have heard their call.”

The American Humane Certified programme is the fastest-growing third-party, independent animal welfare program in the US. American Humane has certified producers raising more than 60 million farm animals, including more than two-thirds of the nation’s cage-free eggs.

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