animal handling - Page 1 | The National Provisioner

Meat Institute webinar details updates to Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit

Meat Institute publishes updated versions of the Animal Welfare Audit and the Meat Industry Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines.

Industry News

February 17, 2026

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Packer/processor members that complete the Animal Welfare Audit actively align with the Meat Institute's Protein PACT goal that by 2030, 100% of Meat Institute members who handle live animals will pass third party animal transport and slaughter audits.

Meat Institute creates new bison welfare audit

Meat Institute updates its Animal Handling Guidelines and Animal Welfare Audit to include scores for each criterion allowing members to set goals.

Industry News

May 13, 2024

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Meat Institute publishes stunning and body condition scoring guidance for meat and poultry companies to help improve animal welfare.

Veal industry ethical standards reach 10-year milestone

Industry News

August 5, 2020

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The American Veal Association is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its Statement of Principles.

Regulations & Legislation

Summer regulatory roundup

John Dillard

August 21, 2019

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been relatively quiet the past few months in terms of new regulatory initiatives. There are, however, a few recent noteworthy developments.

Processing Tech

Driving automation

The need for labor provides the incentive for automation of unpleasant jobs, but worker acceptance remains an issue.

Megan Pellegrini

August 14, 2019

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Last fall, robotic cattle drivers were born out of a partnership with Cargill and Colorado State University's Temple Grandin, professor of animal science.

State of the Industry 2018

State of Animal Handling 2018

Targeting humane solutions: A look at animal welfare in the meat and poultry industry

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

October 25, 2018

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From an animal welfare perspective, 2018 has been a relative continuation of the past few years. Many of the same challenges still exist, but many within the industry have made the choice to take the challenges head-on and find solutions that work for them.

Cargill develops industry-first robotic cattle driver to improve animal welfare and employee safety

Industry News

October 24, 2018

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The robots are designed to move cattle from pens to the harvest area, reducing stress to the animals by minimizing their proximity to human activity.

Farm to Plate

Data pinpoints need for a continued focus on stunning efficacy and management

A stunning issue: Assessing humane-handling enforcement actions and developing teachable moments for processors on stunning and handling of animals.

Faith Baier Lucas Heimmermann Sara Odegard Kaleiah Schiller

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

June 13, 2018

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In 2016 and 2017, 107 and 104 humane handling enforcement actions were posted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Web site, respectively.