Program Term Archive

Farmed Animals

Study Highlights Lack of Protections for Farmed Fish

Farmed Animals, Marine Wildlife

A recent study published in Cambridge University’s Animal Welfarejournal (Mood et al., 2023) estimates the number of farmed fishes slaughtered for food in global aquaculture from 1990 to 2019. The study...

Supreme Court Declines to Review North Carolina Ag-Gag Law

Farmed Animals

In October, the US Supreme Court denied a petition to review the Fourth Circuit ruling that struck down portions of the Property Protection Act—North Carolina’s latest ag-gag law—on the grounds...

USDA Establishes Animal Welfare Standards for Organic Program

Farmed Animals

In November, the US Department of Agriculture published a final rule establishing animal welfare standards for the millions of animals raised on organic farms. The Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards...

USDA Launches Antibiotic Sampling Program

Farmed Animals

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced in September that it had launched a new exploratory sampling program to assess the accuracy of “no antibiotic” marketing claims for beef...

Ag Appropriation Bills Address Animal Welfare

Companion Animals, Equines, Farmed Animals, Terrestrial Wildlife

The House appropriations committee and the full Senate have approved spending bills for the US Department of Agriculture, and both include important provisions for animal welfare. The House bill expresses...

AWI Donates $48,000 to Six Farm Animal Sanctuaries after Matching Giving Tuesday Fundraising

Press ReleaseDecember 11, 2023Farmed Animals

Today, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) awarded $48,000 to help rescued farmed animals across the country feel secure, respected, and nurtured, following a successful Giving Tuesday campaign last month. With...

New Report: Poultry Slaughter Plants Continue to Evade USDA Enforcement

Press ReleaseDecember 6, 2023Farmed Animals

The US Department of Agriculture continues to allow birds to be mutilated by machinery, slammed against walls, and buried alive in slaughterhouses without holding the industry accountable, according to a new...

Help Rescued Farmed Animals Thrive in Sanctuaries This #GivingTuesday

Press ReleaseNovember 20, 2023Farmed Animals

November 28 is Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving to inspire positive change in our communities and beyond. This year, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is partnering with six...

USDA Poised to Change Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards to Improve Animal Welfare

Press ReleaseOctober 26, 2023Farmed Animals

Yesterday, the US Department of Agriculture announced plans to publish the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards final rule. The new rule will at long last establish federal animal welfare standards and have...

AWI Petitions for Bird Flu Response Plans that Shun Horrific Mass-Killing Method

Farmed Animals

Since early 2022, countries around the world have felt the impacts of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak that has threatened wild bird populations and decimated domestic poultry flocks...