NEWS RELEASE
9 June 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Stan Curtis
securtis@animalassessment.com
217.344.4811
Unique Models of Animal Welfare Under Development
A group of recognized authorities on animal husbandry, genetics, welfare science, and veterinary medicine have organized to form Farm Animal Assessment Associates. The FAAA vision is to advance the welfare of farm animals by applying the best available science.
Charter principals in the working group include animal scientists Stan Curtis, John McGlone, and Todd See and veterinarian Wayne Johnson. Their collective expertise results from over 100 years of direct involvement in the science and practice of animal agriculture.
“The FAAA credo is using science to bring value to the food chain by enhancing quality of life for livestock and poultry,” said Stan Curtis. “The group is prompted by ethical concerns and public issues, but we are guided by objective evidence.”
“After all, in terms of animal welfare, science will be the basis of lasting resolution of these important issues,” added John McGlone.
One of the group’s strengths is the broad scientific front represented by its members. Others are that its process is inclusive, transparent, and solution-oriented. The open-source approach used permits any interested party to become involved in developing models for use in genetic-selection programs as well as welfare-assessment initiatives.
Core assessment models include objective estimates of both benefits and costs of husbandry practices as applied to optimizing the welfare and utility of agricultural animals. Users can customize FAAA’s value-neutral core models to account for various values of interest. “That flexibility makes the FAAA approach distinct. These models can accommodate each stakeholder client’s special needs,” said Todd See.
“The FAAA models are flexible also in that they can evolve over time along with our understanding of animal welfare,” said Wayne Johnson. “And they can be applied either to improve animal welfare at one farm or across a commodity industry.”
For more information, visit the website at www.animalassessment.com or contact Curtis at securtis@animalassessment.com.
FAAA
Box 41 Urbana IL 61803
217-344-4811 |
