Animal Welfare Approved Announces 2010 Good Husbandry Grants

Animal Welfare Approved, the nationally recognized certification program and food label, is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2010 Good Husbandry Grants cycle. This cycle’s funding priorities include genetics, outdoor access, and welfare improvements in the slaughter process. Twenty-eight projects in 14 states were awarded funding.

Selected projects include mobile housing for pigs, sheep and poultry, and stunning equipment for humane slaughter. A number of proposals were funded to incorporate breeding stock that is better suited to pasture-based management. “Choosing from among the many worthy proposals was a difficult task,” remarked Program Director Andrew Gunther. “But we are confident that the projects that have been selected for funding will contribute to positive developments in high-welfare pasture-based farming.”

A major emphasis of the AWA grants program is to assist farmers in reaching compliance with Animal Welfare Approved standards, ranked for two years running by the WSPA as the highest of any third-party certifier. Through these grants, AWA seeks to support the efforts of those who are exemplifying the best high-welfare practices, and also to fund the development of new practices that can be adopted on other farms.  “Farmers are truly the greatest innovators,” says Gunther. “What we do as an organization is set the standards. There is no single right way to achieve them, which is why we end up with a myriad of creative, industrious solutions that can be implemented how and where they work best.”

Selected proposals for 2010 include:

7B Bar Ranch, Roopville, GA, predator prevention
Albert D. Jones Farm, Chinquapin, NC, genetic improvement, pigs
Bedinger Farm, Catlin, IL, genetic improvement, sheep
Border Springs Farm, Patrick Springs, VA, genetic improvement, poultry
Carolina Heritage Farm, Pamplico, SC, outdoor access, pigs
Circle O Livestock, Vale, OR, genetic improvement, goats
Coulee View Farm, Wauzeka, WI, genetic improvement, poultry
D&A Farms, Autryville, NC, genetic improvement, pigs
Davis Creek Farm, Lovingston, VA, improvements in slaughter process
Delmar Farm, Enfield, NC, genetic improvement, beef cattle
Dogwood Nursery Farms, LLC, Maple Hill, NC, genetic improvement, poultry
DreamCatcher Farm, Louisville, KY, mobile housing, cattle, pigs and sheep
East Fork Farm, Marshall, NC, breeding system, rabbits
Eden Earthworks, Mountain View, HI, improvements in slaughter process
Ellis Family Farms, Benton Harbor, MI, pasture improvement, poultry
Generation Farm, Walnut Cove, NC, genetic improvement, sheep
Grassy Way Organics, Arena, WI, mobile housing, cattle
H&H Farm, Pink Hill, NC, pasture rotation, pigs
Hight Farms, Macon, NC, mobile housing, pigs
HomeGrown Poultry LLC, New Plymouth, ID, improvements in slaughter process, poultry
JJR Family Farm, Tebbetts, MO, mobile housing, poultry
Jones Farms, GrassRoots Pork Co., Beaulaville, NC, genetic improvement, pigs
Lil’ Farm, Hillsborough, NC, mobile housing and feeding equipment, poultry
M.R. Goats, Worthington, WV, mobile housing, goats
Organic Pastures Dairy Co, LLC, Fresno, CA, mobile housing, cattle
Patient Wait Farms, Piedmont, SC, genetic improvement, poultry
The Boondockers Farm, Creswell, OR, genetic improvement, poultry
Vargo Farms, Bullock, NC, mobile housing, pigs
Yoder’s Natural Farm, Bloomfield, IA, improved pasture and water access, cattle and poultry

Read about our 2009 Grant Recipients

The 2009 Animal Welfare Approved Good Husbandry Grant recipients are listed below. Click on the farm name to read a profile of the grant award. Profiles will be added throughout the year.

B&B Farms, Grinnell, IA
Becker Lane Organic Farm, Dyersville, IA
Bellecreek Farm, Rosharon, TX
Breezy Oaks Farm, Mebane, NC
Cane Creek Farm, Snow Camp, NC
Catalpa Farm, Columbia City, IN
Cedar Meadow Farm, Ledyard, CT
Chaudhry Hallal Meats, Siler City, NC
Cota Farms, Cardington, OH
D&A Williams Farms, Autryville, NC
Dogwood Nursery Farms, Maple Hill, NC
Doolittle Farm, Shoreham, VT
Eastern Plains Natural Food Co-op, Bennett, CO
Fowl Attitude Farm, Cedar Grove, NC
Fruitland American Meat, LLC, Jackson, MO
Hasselmann Family Farms, Milledgeville, IL
High Country Meats, Raton, NM
Howe Farms, Thurman, IA
Independent Small Animal Meat Processors Association, Fairview, NC
Laughlin Ranch, Crawford, NE
Lester J. Huls Farm, Carthage, IL
Midsummer Farm, Warwick, NY
O’Brien Farms, Tilden, NE
Parker Farms, Hurdle Mills, NC
Perry Farms, Troutman, NC
Petersen Farms, Decatur, MI
S&L Farm, Louisburg, NC
Stone and Thistle Farm, East Meredith, NY
Thundering Hooves Ranch, Walla Walla, WA
Upstate Farmers Alliance, Pauline, SC
Valley End Farm, Santa Rosa, CA
Veritas Farms, New Paltz, NY
Wild Turkey Farms, Salisbury, NC

Dr. Patricia and Mark Whisnant, Rain Crow Ranch: Slaughter Facility Improvements, $2,500

Fruitland American Meat is an important link for local farmers trying to find humane slaughtering facilities nearby, and Fruitland American Meat used a Good Husbandry Grant to improve and expand on that relationship. The facility purchased a new knock box and also improved their alleyway so that they can safely and humanely handle smaller animals such as lambs, hogs, and calves. This is a huge benefit to a business that previously had to turn smaller animals away, and also to farmers looking for a local processor. At Fruitland American Meat, the improvements are seen as a way to help multiple farms through a single grant, and they foresee a great benefit to the animals and farmers. “These processing plants are pivotal in the journey from farm to table,” they explain. Reducing stress for the animals and increasing safety is essential. Fruitland American Meat is committed to expanding their services to area farmers, as a business and as an animal welfare asset. Back to top

Russell Laughlin, Laughlin Ranch: Natural Shelter, $2,000

Russell Laughlin of Laughlin Ranch runs a herd of almost a hundred beef cattle. As a rancher committed to his cattle’s welfare he keeps them on pasture and takes care to handle them humanely. However, Nebraska winters are severe and Russell was concerned about winter pasturing for his herd. Exposure to blizzards, extreme cold, and high winds were some of a few challenges he was faced with while trying to give them access to the outdoors. To lessen the risks to his cattle, Russell wanted to fence off a portion of his land that offered natural windbreaks and shelter to the animals. With such a large herd this seemed too costly at first, but after receiving a Good Husbandry Grant he was able to get the materials and labor to begin construction. Russell is thrilled to offer year-round pasture access to his herd and still maintain a high level of animal welfare. It’s a win-win situation for the ranch and for the cattle. Back to top

Eliza MacLean,Cane Creek Farm: Multi-Species Shelter, $4,000

Cane Creek Farm’s owner, Eliza MacLean, recently changed properties. At the new farm there is plenty of pasture, but it became clear that there was a shortage of shade and cover. In order to provide shelter for her livestock and poultry, Eliza used a Good Husbandry Grant to begin building a multi-species pole barn. Prior to building the barn her animals had been unprotected in sun, rain, wind, and inclement weather. Now they have access to dry bedding that is easily cleaned between uses, and safe protection from predators. Eliza also explains that the process of sorting animals has become less stressful for them in the enclosed space. Eliza’s long-term plan is to cement one-third of the barn to use for a poultry brooder facility. Expanding the facility, though, is a long process, so for now Eliza is glad to have eased the transition to her new farm by building a dry shelter for her animals. Back to top

Jerry & Soni Fitch, Catalpa Farm: Incubator, $2,850

Like many farmers in America, Jerry and Soni Fitch of Catalpa Farm originally purchased their new chicks through the mail. This process began to concern Jerry and Soni in the winter months because of the noticeable stress the cold caused the small birds, and particularly after one fatal incident. Using a Good Husbandry Grant Jerry and Soni purchased a large table top incubator to hatch their own birds instead of purchasing them from a hatchery. The incubator is a vital to raising their animals’ welfare—cutting out long travel times to the farm and exposure to harsh weather conditions. It also has allowed them to raise more meat birds on pasture, which means better public exposure of humane farming methods, and more consumer access to their products. They explain, “We received many phone calls and visitors, all requesting more information on the best way to raise pastured poultry. We’ve enjoyed meeting these people and creating a network of local farmers who want to raise their birds the same way we do.” Back to top

Dennis & Angela Adams, Cota Farms: Stunning Knife, $2,700

Dennis and Angela purchased an electric stun knife using a Good Husbandry Grant. Rendering the birds unconscious before dressing them was, in the Adams’ minds, crucial: it saves the birds from suffering unnecessarily. “The stun knife allows us to do the job of processing our poultry more efficiently, while improving the care and treatment of the birds during the process. We can now do more birds, more easily, in less time,” they explain. In addition, they save money and give consumers access to humane, sustainable meat products. Reducing stress on their poultry has made Dennis and Angela more confident in the products they offer. They note, “Although similar in appearance to factory farmed meat, humanely-raised poultry products are actually very different. And a part of that is how they are processed. Before we can offer the turkeys, ducks, and chickens to our customers, we must dress the birds as best we can. One thing that means is taking measures to ensure that our birds do not suffer during the process.” This has been one of the biggest challenges for them on the farm thus far, making the purchase of their stun knife a great leap forward for their business and the strength of their family-run operation. Back to top

Jim O’Brien, O’Brien Farm: Low-Stress Loading Facility, $8,549

Before receiving his Good Husbandry Grant, Jim O’Brien was using an outdated loading facility for his hogs. The loading chute was made of old wooden planks and the gates were hardly suited for enclosing a group of grown hogs. In order to provide a safer, more efficient system for his animals Jim made plans to build a new facility. This would lower stress on the animals when they were put on a semi-trailer to be moved to market. In addition, other local farmers needing to both unload and then reload their hogs onto the semi-trailer would avoid escaped animals and stress.

Jim constructed a cement loading ramp with shallow steps, with a steel bar at the bottom to prevent slipping, and a see-through gate. In addition new gates were installed for holding pens for different groups of hogs, and he feels someday they could even be used for cattle if the opportunity arose. The pens have rounded corners, drain easily, and are positioned between natural windbreaks on the property. Jim foresees this set-up cutting down loading times significantly, while reducing the discomfort of the hogs. He notes, “I know there is a group of young hog farmers looking forward to loading hogs out in this project.” Back to top

Sharon Grossi, Valley End Farm: Mobile Poultry Housing, $3,300

Sharon and Clint of Valley End Farm had an unmet need for better chicken housing. Using a Good Husbandry Grant, they were able to build portable housing that met both their welfare and safety requirements. Both are thrilled with the structure, explaining,“It has windows, ventilation, plenty of room, and many exciting features. This is a beautiful chicken house that meets our highest standards.” They are looking for innovative ways to use the new house, including showcasing it to their CSA members to demonstrate the importance of animal welfare and to provide education on chickens. They feel the benefits of the happy chickens will extend to their customers through high-quality eggs, and look forward to sharing this improvement with others.Back to top

Dallas Gilbert, Eastern Plains Natural Food Co-op: Mobile Poultry Housing, $4,000

Dallas Gilbert applied for a Good Husbandry Grant in order to provide safe housing for his large pasture-raised flock of chickens. Animal Welfare Approved’s grant enabled him to build secure and comfortable nighttime housing for the chickens as well as a perimeter fence around daytime pasture, with room to grow in the future.

Dallas believes that receiving this grant could show other farmers that humane, high-welfare farming is both possible and advantageous for them. The improvements made, he explains, “Demonstrate to my customers my commitment to humane animal care and differentiates me from confinement operations.” With the profits from a growing chicken flock Dallas plans to continue farm improvements and growth.

“I wanted to expand my chicken operation to be able to take advantage of increased interest in free range heritage poultry food products. The grant provided funding that allowed me to implement a plan that ensured the improvements to my operation provided humane and safe living conditions for my poultry,” he says. He is excited by the opportunity to both expand his poultry operation and also protect the flock. The stress-free growth of his farm is a boon to business, and a great example of high-welfare planning.Back to top

Renee and Randall Parker, Parker Farm: Pastured Poultry Projects, $4,472

Renee and Randall Parker worked on a number of projects to increase the welfare of their chickens using their Good Husbandry Grant. Not only did they assemble a Chick Inn for brooding hens and general housing, but they also installed larger water troughs, a range feeder, incubator, and egg mobile. The water and feed troughs improve access to food and water, while the shelters provide nighttime safety for the chickens and greater mobility. The versatility of the equipment allows Renee and Randall to also focus on decreasing stress for hens that are brooding as well as newborn chicks.

The improvements in animal welfare have also made Parker Farm more efficient. Waterers and feed bins need to be refilled less, and there is more freedom to move the chickens to green pasture. Randall calls the grants a “blessing” for many farmers. “Raising animals is a costly business,” he explains, “but with the help of the grant we are able to be more aware of our animal’s needs and to raise their welfare on the farm.”Back to top

Barbara and Mark Laino, Midsummer Farm: Livestock Guardian Dogs, $1,500

Barbara and Mark Laino at Midsummer Farm used their Good Husbandry Grant to create a predator-friendly defense system for their flock of chickens. The farm was being frequented by both foxes and hawks, causing deaths from predation as well as chronic stress on the chickens. By using the grant money to purchase two livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), Barbara and Mark were able to provide better security for the flock without harming natural predators in the area. Their two new puppies watch over the 3 acres of pasture on the farm where the chickens roam, with access to an outdoor hut that overlooks the fields.

Barbara and Mark purchased two trained 6-month old Maremma puppies after research into LGD breeds. In explaining the uniqueness of the breed they note, “Maremmas are very adept at preventing hawk predation. One dog gathers the birds to the side and guards them and the other stays out in the open and jumps and snaps at the hawk. We cannot wait to see this happen!” The dogs’ breeder, Jackie Church, put a lot of effort into giving these dogs early exposure to chickens and teaching them to remain calm. Barbara and Mark found that after the puppies spent some initial time with their flock, the chickens trusted them despite fox attacks and unruly dogs in the neighborhood.

With their Maremmas watching over the farm, the two feel much better leaving the farm and are also looking forward to expanding their breeding operation. Already chicks are able to leave housing at a younger age. After reinforcing chicken houses and paddocks for chick safety they plan to continue work on their Ameraucana breed and other breeds for local farms and backyard hobbyists. In the future, they foresee constantly improving safety for their flock and a humane defense system for the farm.Back to top

Jude Becker, Becker Lane Organic Farm: Pellet Die, $3,785

A common challenge in feeding sows is making sure everyone gets their fair share while not wasting food. Jude Becker wanted to use pelleted feed to address this challenge, as it can be distributed over a wide area. However, though pelleted feed is widely available, the pellets are usually too small for outdoor use. In working with his local feed mill, Jude found the machine part required to produce a larger pellet (called a “pellet die”) and applied for a grant to purchase one. The die he purchased allows him to make a bigger pellet than what is commercially available, and one that works better for feeding hogs outdoors.

Jude describes the die as a “press with holes the shape and size of the pellet. Steam and ground grain are pressed through these holes and when they cool, they are hardened pellets.” Jude consulted with a feed expert to formulate the pellets from ingredients that not only formed a good pellet, but met the nutritional needs of the animals. These pellets can now be distributed to pigs on pasture, and are easily found and eaten. Jude says, “the pellets spread over the pasture uniformly, which forces sows to spread out to forage for food as in nature.” It offers a way to feed gestating sows that minimizes competition over food among social rankings in a given group, while also minimizing food waste.

Using this new method Jude has seen “less food waste, less labor required to feed the sows, less fighting between sows, higher sow welfare, and fewer sows falling out of body condition.” Jude estimates that if he had purchased the pellet die himself it would pay for itself in as little as one year, due to the improvement in sow body condition and increase in the number of piglets per sow. Back to top

Donny and Alease Williams, D&A Williams Farm: Portable Outdoor Farrowing Huts, $1,000

This project was part of D&A Williams Farm’s transition from raising hogs in confinement to raising them outdoors on pasture. Before purchasing the huts, Donny & Alease’s sows had always farrowed in crates or stationary pens. The new huts allow sows the freedom to leave the litter and move around, root, wallow and forage – all behaviors that would not be possible indoors, and that have a positive effect on the sow and her piglets. On the difference between outdoor farrowing and farrowing crates, Alease says, “The piglets aren’t bothered with scours [a diarrhea common to piglets raised in confinement], they are nursing better, and the mother has more freedom. Also, when they get old enough, the piglets are able to nibble at the feed and get minerals from the dirt.”

Another benefit to the huts is that they can be moved from pasture to pasture, allowing Donny and Alease to rotate the group to different areas as needed. Their farm is divided into various paddocks, or sections of pasture or range. Each paddock has a permanent water source, and hay and feed are provided while the pigs are there. Donny is currently fencing in a new wooded area that they can move the huts to for summer farrowing. Alease said, “We are enjoying this project, sharing ideals about the welfare of our pigs.” The couple is expanding their operation and plans to purchase more huts as their herd grows. Back to top

Chris Hyland, Thundering Hooves Ranch: Visual Barriers, $500

Thundering Hooves Ranch has an on-farm USDA-inspected slaughtering facility that processes cattle, sheep, and other livestock produced on the ranch. Part of ensuring a successful slaughter is creating a low-stress environment that keeps animals calm at all stages. Chris noticed that “animals could sometimes be stressed by looking ahead and seeing other animals or activity.” He proposed a project that would eliminate this potential stressor by putting up visual barriers to keep animals calm.

Using simple plywood and paint, the farmers at Thundering Hooves were able to significantly reduce visibility and improve the overall efficiency of their slaughter process. Chris said of the project, “It has improved our handling facilities right before and during kill at our processing facility. It allows [us] to keep our animals calmer as they move to the knocking box, and reduce[s] their stress.” Thundering Hooves has already received compliments from their USDA inspector on the improvements. Back to top

Scott Hasselmann, Hasselmann Family Farms: Portable Farrowing Huts, $2,500

Prior to receiving the grant, Scott’s sows were raised in concrete pens. Though sows were living outdoors, Scott said, “they were not able to root in the soil or graze green grass… It had always been a challenge for us to keep our sows content raising them in this fashion due to the fact they were confined to a small unnatural setting. For example, they were constantly fighting with each other at feeding time and smashing gates and destroying fences in an effort to escape. Overall chores and pen maintenance were a constant challenge for us.” Scott applied for funding to build nine portable A-frame huts that would enable his sows to farrow on pasture.

Since moving the sows onto pasture, Scott has seen numerous benefits: “The sows are much more content rooting, grazing and wallowing in the mud. They do not seem to challenge the fences like they did when they were confined in a dry lot. Finally, it was always a challenge for us to keep the pens and barn clean and free of manure. But now that the sows are on pasture their manure is being evenly dispersed over the pasture and they are living in a healthier environment. In addition, because the housing is mobile we can move each hut between births. This helps contribute to more sanitary conditions and healthier pigs.” He went on to say, “Another advantage is that with the mobile housing and fencing we can move our pigs around the farm and incorporate them in our crop rotation practices. This is a great advantage as they can plow up old hay fields and fertilize them as well. Most importantly they are healthier and happier and in better body condition from all the exercise.”

The transition onto pasture has also helped to increase farm viability. Hasselmann Family Farms is now able to market their pork as “pasture-raised,” which gives them a premium at the farmers” market. Scott says, “This grant has been a huge blessing for our family farm. Not only has it helped us raise healthier, happier pigs it has had an added economic benefit of increasing our pork sales.” Back to top

Lester J. Huls, Lester J. Huls Farm: Mobile Housing, $5,000

Using the grant from Animal Welfare Approved and funding the remainder out-of-pocket, Lester Huls purchased twelve 6” x 8” two-door hog huts. Speaking in March, Lester said, “Since we have had 5 inches of rain in the last 3 days, my old sheds would have been wet and flooded out. The new sheds have floors and doors to keep the pigs dry and warm.”

Lester’s new huts facilitate year-round outdoor production, as they can be adapted for cold and hot weather. Lester says, “These sheds keep the pigs warmer and dry in wet weather. The pigs don’t get chilled as easy. In the summer when it is hot, I can open the lids slightly and cool down the sows and pigs better.”

A more comfortable environment for the pigs also translates into a steadier operation in terms of production. “I can now raise pigs in cold weather with the use of heat lamps. It will give me a more steady supply of pigs throughout the year.” Back to top