American Humane® Certified Conducts Inaugural Training

More than 30 animal handlers and state animal welfare agents in Winthrop, Maine, made industry history today when they successfully completed the first on-site Humane Farm Training course created and conducted by American Humane® Certified. American Humane Certified, the farm animal program originated by the American Humane Association, is the nation's pre-eminent and fastest-growing monitoring, auditing and labeling program that attests to the humane care and handling of animals raised for food.

"The stockmen - or animal handlers - are a crucial link in the chain of ensuring improved animal care and welfare," said Tim Amlaw, director of American Humane Certified. "Increased knowledge, coupled with healthy, humane attitudes and behaviors, creates a significantly more positive dynamic for those workers and the animals themselves, as well as for the public perception of the food industry overall."

The graduates of the training program included humane animal welfare agents and workers from the state of Maine and Radlo Foods, one of the largest egg suppliers in New England.

Humane Farm Training includes early recognition of behavior or health problems that could be detrimental to the individual animal or the entire flock or herd. It addresses animal-welfare issues and poor animal husbandry that are created by a lack of worker/handler knowledge. The program instructors are animal science professionals who provide on-site demonstrations and guidance in appropriate handling and treatment, whether in the barn or in the field.