Gas, Electrical Stunning Found to be Equally Humane
US - Fast-food giant, McDonald's, has published the update on its research comparing controlled atmospheric stunning (CAS) with the conventional electrical method. It found both methods to be equally humane.

Cherry Valley Awarded Freedom Foods Accreditation
UK - Lincolnshire-based Cherry Valley, the UK’s largest duck manufacturer, has been recognised for its continued commitment to duck welfare with a Freedom Foods Accreditation.

Welfare Accreditation for Cherry Valley
UK - Duck producer, Cherry Valley, has been awarded Freedom Foods accreditation.

Free-range Eggs on Public Sector Menu Urged
UK - Wearside MP Chris Mullin likes his eggs free-range – and he wants to see Sunderland's schools, council offices, hospitals and other public sector organisations forced to serve them up the same.

Ensuring Best Welfare for Most Vulnerable Animals
DENMARK - Scientists are working on developing practical and effective tools that focus on improving welfare for those animals whose risk of poor welfare is greatest.

AFBF Congratulates Ohio and Texas on Victories
US - Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), yesterday issued a public statement regarding the ballot measure victories in Ohio and Texas.

Transport to Slaughterhouse on Welfare Agenda
CANADA - A Liberal MP is seeks to cut lengthy transport times for livestock on way to the slaughterhouse.

Coming Election Could Change Ohio's Welfare Rules
OHIO, US - If passed in next week's election, Ohio state Issue 2 may set up a board that will set standards for livestock and poultry welfare.

EU Moves to Improve Animal Welfare Labelling
EU - A new European Commission report has launched a political debate over animal welfare labelling. The aim is to make it easier for consumers to identify more animal welfare-friendly food products.

Michigan Egg Farmers Concerned over Welfare Bill
MICHIGAN, US - Egg farmers say that the animal welfare bill hit their bottom line.

FAWC Publishes Landmark Report on Welfare
UK - Eating meat and using animal products requires hard moral choices to be made, according to Professor Christopher Wathes, the chairman of the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

Layer Cage Ban Hits German Egg Producers
UK - British egg farmers should learn from the experience of those in Germany and make preparations for the coming ban on layer cages as early as possible, according to Klaus Torborg of Lohmann Animal Health, who was addressing a producers' meeting.

Egg Producers' Plight Highlighted to Minister
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has highlighted the plight of its egg producers to the Agriculture Minister in complying with the EU directive on layer housing.

Animal Welfare Measure Comes into Law in Michigan
MICHIGAN, US - The state has passed a bill that will phase out battery cages for laying hens within 10 years. The move has been welcomed by animal welfare groups.

NI Egg Sector Must Convert to Cage-Free by 2012
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has met with a range of representatives from the local egg producing industry. The poultry sector needs to press ahead and convert egg production equipment by the EU's 2012 deadline for the end...

EFSA Meeting to Discuss Broiler Welfare Implications
EU - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientists held a meeting with stakeholders on 23 September to exchange views on the welfare implications linked to the genetic selection in broilers, and welfare aspects related to the management and housing...

Inauguration of Natura Rearing Aviary for 84,000 Pullets
GERMANY - An internal open day in Eggermühlen, Germany, recently caused great interest among the 300 guests invited by Christiane and Theo Gärke, who built two remarkable new houses for a total number of 84,000 pullets which could be visited.

Consumer Egg Prices Could Rise by 25 Per Cent
US - Consumers could be forced to pay 25 per cent more for eggs soon if animal rights activists succeed in getting only non-cage eggs sold in the US, according to a new study by a respected economic consulting group.

Canadian Govt Invests in Farm Animal Care in BC
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - The Government of Canada is investing more than $500,000 to help British Columbia livestock and poultry producers share information and raise industry awareness of farm animal care best practices.

Warning from MEPs Regarding EU Transport Rules
SCOTLAND, UK - An NFU Scotland delegation visiting Brussels has received warning that damaging EU proposals to introduce new restrictions on animal transport could be put back on the European agenda within a few short weeks.

New Humane Training Program for Animal Handlers
US - American Humane® Certified has officially launched its new humane training program that fully answers the food industry’s call for better trained animal handlers.

Wageningen to Study Behaviour for Better Welfare
NETHERLANDS - Wageningen University, together with other partners, has received funding for three projects that will investigate the effect of social interactions in pigs and hens with the view to improving the welfare of these animals kept in groups....

Call for Data on Antibiotic Use in Animals
US - Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter, Chair of the House Committee on Rules, asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review federal efforts to collect data on antibiotic use in animals.

EU Animal Transport Proposals Withdrawn for Now
SCOTLAND, UK - NFU Scotland (NFUS) has welcomed the news that proposals to introduce controversial new animal transport laws have been withdrawn from internal European Commission consultation.

Poultry Welfare Centre Opens at Guelph
CANADA - The University of Guelph has been chosen to house a new 'virtual centre' for leading Canadian scientists in poultry behaviour and welfare.