Associated Press / Philip Brasher, AP Farm Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wisconsin egg farmer John Brunnquell says he treats his hens more humanely than most other producers. He doesn't put them in cages or withhold food and water to get them to lay more eggs.
Now he has a way to prove to grocery shoppers that he's good to his birds.
The government is allowing farmers to display a new seal on meat and dairy products to attest that they meet new voluntary standards for the treatment of cattle and chickens.
To qualify for the "Free Farmed" seal, farms would have to eliminate cages for laying hens and stop using forced molting, a common practice that involves the withdrawal of food and water to increase egg production. Dairy cattle would have to have access to pastures.
Standards designed to improve farm conditions for broiler chickens and beef cattle also are in the package. Rules for hog farms are being written.
The American Humane Association developed the standards and set up a new organization, Farm Animal Services, to inspect farms that want to use the label. The Agriculture Department is to monitor the inspection process.
"A large portion of the American people are very concerned about the social concerns of animal husbandry," said John Brunnquell, president of Egg Innovations of Port Washington, Wis., the only egg producer now approved for the program.
The new program was being announced at a news conference Wednesday.
"If you want to improve the lives of farm animals, look for this label," said Adele Douglas, executive director of Farm Animal Services, said.
Products with the label initially will be available primarily in natural food stores and upscale supermarkets. A handful of farms have been approved for the program so far: Brunnquell's, a group of dairy farms in northern California, and cattle producers that supply a Montana processor.
The new program comes after McDonald's Corp. began last month forcing suppliers to improve the handling of animals in slaughterhouses and implement humane standards on egg farms. Although McDonald's continued to allow hens to be caged, its standards require the birds be given more room, and the rules also will ban forced molting.
"There are many production situations nowadays where animals are kept in close confinement and are not able to present many of their normal behaviors," said Joy Mench, director of the Center for Animal Welfare at the University of California, Davis. "In many cases they may not be able to turn around or lie down."
"Free Farmed" doesn't mean the animals are necessarily free-ranging. Chickens still could be kept indoors. However, the standards include minimum space requirements for both cattle and chickens.
Farms that raise broiler chickens will not be allowed to feed them antibiotics to stimulate growth. Meters will have to be installed on water lines. Cattle ranches would have to provide adequate windbreaks and shade, and the use of antibiotics as a growth stimulant also would be barred.
The seal will bear the words "Free Farmed" and "American Humane Association Monitored."
The program is based on a British system developed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Farm groups say that growers already treat animals well, because it's in their interest to ensure the animals stay in good health. Industry groups also have voluntary animal-welfare standards for producers to follow.
"A cow that's well cared for is going to be a much better part of your dairy farm," said Chris Galen, a spokesman for the National Milk Producers Federation.
On the Net: AHA: http://www.americanhumane.org USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service: http://www.ams.usda.gov:
