Program Term Archive

Farmed Animals

AVMA Strengthens Pain Relief Recommendations

Farmed Animals

Last fall, the American Veterinary Medical Association accepted comments on its policy governing the common cattle industry practices of dehorning and castration. Veterinary consultant Dr. Gwendy Reyes-Illg submitted comments on...

AWI Petitions for Meaningful Oversight of Custom Slaughter

Farmed Animals

In January, AWI submitted a petition for policy change in response to the US Department of Agriculture’s consistent failure to respond to animal welfare violations at custom-exempt slaughter facilities, resulting in...

AWI Proposes Slaughter Reforms to Help Protect Poultry and Public Health

Farmed Animals

Food poisoning. We’ve all experienced it. A few hours after enjoying a meal, you suddenly find yourself vomiting—or worse. Each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control, foodborne illnesses...

AWI Seeks Animal Welfare Measures in 2023 Farm Bill

Farmed Animals

The 118th Congress is gearing up to tackle the Farm Bill, a massive omnibus bill that must be reauthorized every five years or so and is a key driver of food...

Bird Flu Continues to Threaten Domestic and Wild Animals

Farmed Animals

As of February, the 2022-23 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) had affected 770 poultry flocks and led to the “depopulation” (mass killing and disposal) of 59 million farmed...

Closing the Book on 117th Congress

Companion Animals, Equines, Farmed Animals, Marine Wildlife

Two of the 117th Congress’s final pieces of legislation that made it into law included many provisions affecting animals—both positively and negatively. The National Defense Authorization Act included provisions banning the...

New Research: Custom Slaughter Facilities Among Worst for Animal Abuse

Press ReleaseJanuary 19, 2023Farmed Animals

The US Department of Agriculture consistently fails to review and respond to animal welfare violations at custom-exempt slaughter facilities, resulting in animals being beaten, held in deplorable conditions, and deprived...

New Legislation Prioritizes Emergency Preparedness to Help Farm Animals and Taxpayers

Press ReleaseJanuary 10, 2023Farmed Animals

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Humane Farming Association commend today’s introduction of the Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Farm Animals Act (H.R. 243) led by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN)....

New Research: Mass Killing of Farm Animals by Heat Stroke Demands Action by Veterinary Community

Press ReleaseJanuary 5, 2023Farmed Animals

In response to disease outbreaks and supply chain disruptions, US producers are killing an increasing number of farm animals by inducing heat stroke—“an urgent ethical problem for the US veterinary...

Birds Killed Cruelly Amid Avian Flu Resurgence 

Farmed Animals

After a decrease in avian flu outbreaks in July, the virus surged back in August and into the fall. As we reported in the previous issue, flocks exposed to the...