Poultry integrators and their farmers want to let the world know they care deeply about their birds, according to an executive with one of the largest chicken companies in the U.S.
Jim Shepard, senior director of live operations for Wayne Farms LLC, said the most frustrating thing when talking about poultry welfare is the perception of integrators putting profits ahead of everything else. Shepard said his company, himself and his family, value the well-being of their animals and don’t tolerate cruelty.
Shepard spoke as part of WATT Global Media’s panel discussion on measuring and improving on-farm broiler welfare on February 1 as part of the 2018 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta. Appearing on the panel along with Shepard were: Dr. Stephanie Torrey, senior research scientist for animal biosciences, at the University of Guelph; Dr. Joy Mench, professor emeritus for animal science department, University of California at Davis and Dr. Suzanne Dougherty, executive vice president of the American Association of Avian Pathologists and a consulting veterinarian with Pecking Around Consulting.
Wayne Farm’s animal welfare policy
Shepard said Wayne Farms, as a company, is committed to animal welfare and wants to lead the way on animal welfare. In fact, the company’s top leadership, led by Dr. Bryan Miller, vice president for quality assurance and food safety, set up an animal welfare board staffed by Wayne Farms executives and outside advisers looking at welfare through three lenses: the natural state of the chicken; proper function and the emotional well-being of the animal.
Shepard said the company is also audited by Farm Animal Care Training & Auditing (FACTA) four times a year and conducts internal audits to ensure continuous improvement in animal welfare. The commitment goes all the way to the top, too. Shepard said he gets text messages from Wayne’s President and CEO Clint Rivers, personally, when he’s on the farm and sees something he doesn’t like. The company even hired a vice president of legal affairs who will add another layer of accountability, Shepard said.
“It takes a whole team, and accountability comes from all of us.” Shepard said. “We all have to buy into it, from the top leadership down.”
Wayne Farms and the Global Animal Partnership
In September 2017, Wayne Farms launched its first product affiliated with the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) animal welfare rating system. Its Naked Truth line of products are Step 2 rated – the second of 6 steps aimed toward eventually establishing an animal-centered production system where animals spend their whole lives on the farm. In 2018, the GAP-rated line will utilize controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS), too. Wayne also produces conventionally raised, no-antibiotics-ever and vegetable-fed chicken products.
Wayne Farms is the 6th largest U.S. broiler company, according to WATT Global Media’s annual top company rankings.
