Humane Choice is much more than an accreditation system that promotes your product as true free range. Humane Choice is about supporting the farmers that own and operate these farms and we believe that these farmers deserve a voice in the free range industry, a voice that is presently drowned out by the large intensive producers.
Issues such as a definition for free range, labelling and stocking densities need strong representation if small producers are to be heard and their viability protected. We understand what an intimidating prospect that could be for individual producers and hope to bring enough small farms together to give this industry a much louder voice.
Add your livestock numbers to our tally and we will have a voice loud enough that it cannot be ignored.
Join us and lets get things moving! You do not have to be Humane Choice accredited to be are part of this group. If you farm free range eggs or meat and agree with the Humane Choice philosophy, even if you do yet meet all our accreditation standards, sign on and be a part of the true free range farming group.
HUMANE CHOICE PHILOSOPHY
The purposes for which HUMANE CHOICE was established are:-
- To unite all persons interested in the ethical treatment of farm animals for their common benefit;
- To provide a forum where collective action can be facilitated;
- To lead by example in promoting high animal welfare standards for farmed animals,safe healthy food and environmentally sound practices and procedures.
- To collect and record data and facts relating to the ethical farming of animals and make information available to its clients
Animals should be allowed to satisfy their basic behavioural needs. In particular, livestock are able to forage on the land, move untethered and uncaged and take wing in the case of flight birds.
Fences, yards and housing are constructed in ways which do not lead to injury or bruising as a consequence of poor design.
Each HUMANE CHOICE producer is also a steward of the land and will put in place management practices that promote health and well being for humans, animals and the environment.
Australian consumers have the right to expect the food they buy to meet certain standards; that it be raised according to sound animal husbandry techniques and free from contaminants that could jeopardize the wholesomeness of that food.
The health of animals will not rely on preventative medications. Animals will not be systematically fed antibiotics and their natural growth and body function will not be altered by the use of hormones, growth promotants or other medications.
Livestock farmers are increasingly expected by government and consumers to develop a quality assurance program, based on HACCP which addresses issues such as, but not limited to, food safety, bio-security, animal welfare and product labelling and is audited by an accredited third party auditor.
Among other things, we would like to assist producers to:
• protect the welfare of their animals
• minimize risks to the safety of produce marketed to consumers
• minimize risk that certified products are incorrectly labelled
• protect the environment in which they farm
• provide traceability for animals sold
