Chapter 25 - How to work with large meat buyers to improve animal welfare

Abstract

Large meat buyers need simple easy-to-use audit tools to assess both animal welfare and sustainability. Since the first edition, these two areas of corporate responsibility have been combined by many companies. Assessments suitable for commercial use often have to be simpler than data collection methods used in research. The use of animal-based outcome standards is recommended over input standards. The most effective audit tools emphasize directly observable things instead of a reliance on paperwork. There are certain critical noncompliances, which should result in failure of either a welfare or sustainability audit. There is a tendency to have audit forms with too many items and items of minor importance are mixed in with the most important items. There are three parts to a robust auditing program: internal audits, third party audits, and audits done by the corporate buyers.