Phasing Out Mink Farms
AWI spearheaded the introduction in June of the Mink VIRUS Act (HR 3783), sponsored by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY). This bill would establish a one-year phaseout of mink fur farms in the United States and...
Please see the below articles about Farmed Animals from past editions of the AWI Quarterly.
AWI Proposes Slaughter Reforms to Help Protect Poultry and Public Health
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 send an estimated 128,000 Americans...
AWI Seeks Animal Welfare Measures in 2023 Farm Bill
The 118 th 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 and agriculture policy...
Bird Flu Continues to Threaten Domestic and Wild Animals
s 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 birds in the United States...
AWI Petitions for Meaningful Oversight of Custom Slaughter
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 animals being beaten, held...
AVMA Strengthens Pain Relief Recommendations
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 behalf of AWI that encouraged...
Animals on Farms Among Ian’s Victims
Hurricane Ian caused massive destruction in Florida and killed over 120 people—making it the state’s deadliest storm in nearly a century. The storm also claimed the lives of unknown hundreds of farm animals. A preliminary...
Birds Killed Cruelly Amid Avian Flu Resurgence
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 virus are “depopulated”—killed en masse...
Hawaii Strengthens Protections for Animals in Transport
After receiving oral and written testimony from AWI, the Hawaii Board of Agriculture voted to approve regulations to protect cattle, sheep, and goats transported via sea vessel between the state’s islands. In May, AWI—joined by...
Dairy Industry Misses Chance to Improve Animal Care Standards
According to the US Department of Agriculture, in 2021 the average number of US dairy cows involved in milk production at any given time was 9.45 million. The vast majority of them live within “CAFOs”...