Standards and Guidelines

Provides an animal handling and audit guidelines from the American Meat Institute (AMI) as well as links to companies that provide auditing services.

Includes links to the Policy Manual as well as Standards for beef cattle, broiler chickens, laying hens, dairy cows, goats, pigs, sheep, turkeys, and young dairy beef.

Links to standards and checklists for American Humane Association’s Humane HeartlandTM farm animal welfare program.

Provides recommendations for best management practices for cage and cage free egg production.

Published in 2006, these guidelines for sheep producers are intended to minimize animal stress and improve the health and well-being of sheep.

Referred to as the GAP 5-Step program, there are animal welfare rating standards now available for beef cattle, broiler chickens, and pigs.

A 2011 policy memo regarding the regulations for livestock living conditions in organic production, 7 CFR Section 205.239.

Humane husbandry standards are outlined for pigs, cattle, ducks, rabbits, and sheep. Housing, diet, health, and transport of animals are addressed.

The AMI's audit guidelines recommend that companies conduct self-audits and third party audits using specific criteria.

In addition to other documents about the chicken industry in the US, this page provides links to:

• National Chicken Council Animal Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklist
• Physical Well-Being of Chickens