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

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. After completion, Laughlin Ranch had newly fenced hayfields that could support the cattle throughout the winter months. They are able to graze on leftover hay while also fertilizing the fields for spring with their manure. 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.

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.

Jerry & Soni Fitch, Catalpa Farm: Incubator, $2,850
Jerry and Soni Fitch raise a flock of laying hens and meat birds on Catalpa Farm. Common to most farmers in America, they originally purchased their new chicks through the mail and had them delivered in boxes. 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. Because raising chickens is a livelihood for the two, they devised a more humane approach that would enhance their business and allow them to strengthen their viability as a meat provider.
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.”
Jerry and Soni plan to provide new chicks to locals interested in raising their own flocks, in addition to running their own meat business. They feel strongly that not only is it important for them to continue their high-welfare farming practices but to provide exposure of them to other farmers and consumers in order to teach that these practices exist and work. They strive to accomplish this not only by spreading the word on pasture-raised chickens and Animal Welfare Approved, but more importantly through their demonstration of humane and sustainable farming in action.

Dennis & Angela Adams, Cota Farms: Stunning Knife, $2,700
On Cota Farms, Dennis and Angela Adams raise sheep and poultry. As small family farmers they often face competition from industrial farms that are able to cut costs by de-prioritizing animal welfare and by using economies of scale. In particular, the Adams’ found that to process their poultry the cost of moving birds to an off-site facility was prohibitive. No facility existed nearby that met Animal Welfare Approved’s standards, and the available facilities charged the cost of the retail price of each bird or more just for processing.  Faced with losing money in a system designed for large factory farms, the Adams’ decided to process their own poultry and support an alternative farming method.
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.

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