National Pork Board officials are “generally pleased” with a joint animal welfare program report just released by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR).
The report represents almost two years of effort by the retail community working with a panel of scientific advisors to improve the care and handling of animals used for food.
“We share, as FMI and NCCR stated, their wish to evaluate the science behind animal welfare and to apply practical welfare practices on the farm,” observes Pork Board Veterinary Issues Vice President Paul Sundberg, DVM.
“The pork checkoff staff has worked very hard to provide FMI and NCCR with the scientific basis for our animal welfare program,” says Sundberg. He commended the groups for recommending space allocations for sows based on the National Pork Board Swine Care Handbook. For the full report on animal welfare, click on FMI's Web site at www.fmi.org.