Several organizations in the United States provide guidelines on how animals should be raised to maximize animal welfare and protect the environment. Some of them also offer certification -- and the use of their logo -- to farmers who can prove they follow those guidelines.
The three primary farm animal welfare programs are Certified Raised and Handled, American Humane, and Animal Welfare Approved.
Guidelines can range from how the animals are fed and sheltered to how they are transported or slaughtered. Some (e.g., Food Alliance) also include guidelines on how animals are grazed or how streams and ponds are buffered from runoff.
Some farmers choose to certify with these organizations in order to more easily explain how their animals are raised and to give their customers confidence that they are raising animals humanely or in ways that protect the environment. Some organizations provide certification for free, but others charge a fee. Organizations will require a visit to your farm on a regular basis to verify your practices.
All programs listed above have Web sites easily found via an Internet search.
