Utah Adopts Farm Animal Best Management Practices

Recently, the Agricultural Advisory Board of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food adopted best management practices for the state’s animal agriculture industries. The new animal care standards, which will be reviewed annually by the advisory board, provide minimum guidance for the care and treatment of animals raised on farms in the state and cover cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry. The advisory board was required to adopt the standards under a law enacted in 2018, but had taken no steps toward fulfilling this obligation until pressed to do so by AWI. While the standards (which are recommendations) are not as strong as we would like, for those who opt to abide by them, they are a modest start toward meeting animals’ basic needs and providing some level of protection against neglect and suffering.

Program Terms: Farmed Animals

AWI Quarterly Terms: Quick Read