By Jamie Martin
The Meat Institute released updated Animal Welfare Audit tools and Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines to further strengthen humane livestock care across the meat industry. These updates support safer working conditions, ethical food production, and continuous improvement for meat processors.
“Humane animal handling is a core responsibility of meat packers and a foundational element of a safe and ethical food system,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. “These updated Guidelines and Audit reflect the latest science and best practices, giving companies the tools they need to protect animal welfare, support their workforce, and deliver wholesome food to consumers around the world.”
Animal welfare plays a key role in building public trust and maintaining food system integrity. Industry leaders emphasized that responsible handling practices protect animals while also supporting employee wellbeing and operational success. The updated guidelines provide clear and practical tools that reflect current science and proven industry practices.
The revisions were developed by the Meat Institute’s Animal Welfare Committee, working closely with animal behavior experts from Colorado State University. The Animal Welfare Audit remains certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, which helps ensure audits are conducted consistently and professionally.
Several important changes were introduced in this update. Each audit criterion now includes point values, allowing facilities to track progress and set improvement goals over time. The audit scope has expanded to include transportation and slaughter practices for bison. In addition, cattle vocalization scoring during slaughter has been adjusted to match swine standards, improving consistency across species.
Facilities that complete the Animal Welfare Audit support the Meat Institute’s Protein PACT commitment. This industry-wide goal aims for all member companies handling live animals to pass third-party transport and slaughter audits by 2030.
To help stakeholders understand the updates, the Meat Institute will host a public webinar on February 19 at noon Eastern Time. The changes will also be discussed at the Animal Care and Handling Conference scheduled for May 12–13 in Kansas City, Missouri. First introduced in 1997, the Animal Welfare Audit has played a major role in improving how livestock are handled and processed, and these updates continue that progress across the supply chain.
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Categories: National