Program Term Archive
Farmed Animals
UN Report: Agricultural Practices a Prime Factor in Pandemics
Farmed AnimalsAcross the globe, animal advocates and public health officials are working to prevent the next pandemic by making policy recommendations and implementing laws to identify and curb the transmission of...
USDA Sued to Compel Humane Handling of Birds at Slaughter
Press ReleaseAugust 13, 2020Farmed AnimalsToday, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and Farm Sanctuary sued the US Department of Agriculture in federal court for failing to require humane handling of poultry at slaughter, resulting in adulterated (i.e.,...
New Jersey Barn Fire Kills 280,000 Hens; Poultry Industry Must Act
Press ReleaseJuly 21, 2020Farmed AnimalsA massive fire at Red Bird Egg Farm in Pilesgrove, NJ, Monday night killed an estimated 280,000 egg-laying hens, marking one of the most devastating barn fires in the United States this...
Ventilation Shutdown Used to “Depopulate” Farm Animals During Pandemic Causes Severe Suffering
Press ReleaseJuly 1, 2020Farmed AnimalsCOVID-19 has shut down, at least temporarily, dozens of pig, chicken, and turkey slaughter plants in the United States, leaving millions of farm animals with nowhere to go. Some producers...
AWI Releases Latest Update on Humane Slaughter Enforcement
Farmed AnimalsIn early 2008, a slaughterhouse investigation revealed multiple incidents of egregious cruelty to cattle at the Westland-Hallmark Meat Packing Co. in Chino, California, resulting in widespread public outrage and the...
Kentucky to Allow Vets to Report Animal Abuse
Farmed AnimalsIn April, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed into law SB 21, now allowing veterinarians to report incidents of animal abuse and mistreatment, including those involving farm animals covered under the...
Pandemic Presents Extra Challenges for Farm Animal Welfare
Farmed AnimalsMajor natural disasters and public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have the potential to impact farm animal welfare in many ways. For example, illness among farm workers can...
Research Foundation Aims to Improve the Lives of Farm Animals
Farmed AnimalsAWI is pleased to learn the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) was recently awarded a $150,000 grant through the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) to...
Report: JBS, Smithfield Worst Slaughter Plants in US
Press ReleaseApril 29, 2020Farmed AnimalsAmid reports of COVID-19 outbreaks at the largest meat processors in the United States, a new analysis of government documents by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has found that, over a three-year span, JBS...
AWI, 10,000+ Consumers Urge Poultry Association to Save Birds from Barn Fires
Press ReleaseMarch 31, 2020Farmed AnimalsToday, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) sent a letter to the US Poultry & Egg Association urging the world’s largest poultry organization to immediately implement fire prevention strategies to stop devastating barn...