Good Husbandry Grants Available for Farmers

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:02 GMT

Grants up to $5,000 are available to farmers in the Animal Welfare Approved program.

Source: Animal Welfare Approved news release

Animal Welfare Approved’s annual Good Husbandry Grants program has launched and is now accepting project proposals aimed at improving farm animal welfare.

Grants up to $5,000 are available to farmers already in the Animal Welfare Approved program and to farmers that have submitted an application. Grant applications must be submitted by Oct. 1, 2013.

The Good Husbandry Grants program is in its sixth year and has funded over 100 projects in the U.S. and Canada to improve farm animal welfare. Past projects included mobile housing, breeding stock and on-farm processing equipment. Slaughter plants working with or seeking to work with AWA farmers are also eligible for funding. The program is ideal for established farmers interested in implementing new farming practices.

“The grants program is great for that farmer who has a creative idea for improving farm viability, but might just be a few dollars short. We believe that supporting our farmers and the implementation of the latest sustainable practices is crucial to the development of agriculture,” says Program Director Andrew Gunther.

The 2013-2014 funding priorities include welfare improvements in the slaughter process, improved genetics, increased outdoor access and non-lethal predator control. A primary goal of the program is to facilitate the growth and success of high-welfare, pasture-based systems by providing nontraditional funding resources.

Gunther says, “Consumers are increasingly demanding high-welfare, sustainable products. We’re working to help our farmers meet that demand and access new markets as this sector grows.”

True and Essential Meats, a slaughter plant in Harrisonburg, Va. was awarded a Good Husbandry Grant last year. Owner Joe Cloud says, “This grant gave us just the edge we needed to improve our facility, which is dedicated to processing services for independent family farms.”

“These grants are an invaluable tool for small farmers and ranchers in improving the sustainability of their agricultural operations. Without this support it would not be possible for many of us to afford the costs to improve the welfare of our animals. By funding these grants, AWA enables the farmer to improve the conditions of his operation for the benefit of his animals,” says Anthony Koch, a previous grant winner.

For more information on past winners and the application process, click here or contact Grants Coordinator Emily Lancaster at Emily@AnimalWelfareApproved.org or 202-618-4497.

Animal Welfare Approved audits, certifies and supports farmers raising their animals according to the highest welfare standards, outdoors on pasture or range. Called a “badge of honor for farmers” and the “gold standard,” AWA is the most highly regarded food label in North America when it comes to animal welfare, pasture-based farming, and sustainability. All AWA standards, policies and procedures are available on the AWA website, making it the most transparent certification available.

Animal Welfare Approved’s Online Directory of AWA farms, restaurants and products enables the public to search for AWA farms, restaurants and products by zip code, keywords, products and type of establishment. In addition, AWA has published Food Labeling for Dummies, a regularly updated guide to commonly used food claims and terms, available free for download here .

Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Invests in the Future of Calf Nutrition

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:01:56 GMT

Since bringing the industry’s first calf milk replacer to market in 1951, Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Co., has focused on doing what is best for the calf. To further its commitment to the next generation of calves, Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products recently completed construction on a state-of-the art research facility outside St. Louis, Mo.

“This facility will provide us new opportunities to evaluate calf feeding methods such as three times-a-day feeding and 4 quart bottles, in addition to levels of nutrition and milk replacer technologies,” says Kevin Hoepker, general manager with Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products. “By investing in this facility, we can further our knowledge and the industry’s knowledge on calf nutrition. Our goal is to bring solutions to the dairy industry.”

More than 1,500 research trials, with over 60,000 calves have been completed to date – all to determine the best nutrition and feeding method. “Not only do we conduct research on nutrition, we also focus on management – the two go hand-in-hand when it comes to raising dairy calves to their fullest potential,” explains Hoepker. Studies conducted have included vaccine protocols and protein sources, to immune enhancers and probiotics.

In addition to this new facility, Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products continues to collaborate with universities. “It’s important we partner with organizations and universities that share our vision and passion for calves, to strengthen the industry as a whole,” says Hoepker.

University research partnerships include: Cornell University, Iowa State University, The Ohio State University, Texas Tech University, University of Minnesota, University of New Hampshire and Virginia Tech to name a few.

Even though it is hard to see a newborn calf’s future as a milking cow, research has shown that a calf’s nutrient intake impacts her future milk production potential. Because of the importance of this time in a calf’s life, Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products continually strives to understand what is best for the calf. There’s no second chance to feed calves right.

As a result of their dedication to research, Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products has brought the dairy industry several firsts in product development, including:

The first Jersey specific calf milk replacer.
The first milk replacer designed to meet the seasonal needs of calves.
The first product designed specifically for balancing pasteurized milk.
An advanced fatty acid profile to allow calves to better utilize energy in milk replacers.
Set the industry standards for electrolyte feeding.
The first USDA approved colostrum replacement.
The first protein blend milk replacer that was developed specifically for baby calves.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to bring solutions to dairy producers and calf raisers that allow them to do what is best for the next generation of their herds,” says Hoepker.

For more information on Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products or how to feed your calves to their fullest potential, visit www.lolmilkreplacer.com , www.facebook.com/WeCareforCalves , https://www.youtube.com/WeCareforCalves or call 800-618-6455.

Source: Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products

Since 1951, when Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Company developed the first calf milk replacer, the company has been committed to creating the best milk replacers from the best technologies and quality ingredients. Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Company is a division of Land O’Lakes, Inc. a national farmer-owned food and agricultural organization.

Replacements

Good Husbandry Grants Available for Farmers

Grants up to $5,000 are available to farmers in the Animal Welfare Approved program.

Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Invests in the Future of Calf Nutrition