Although we have withdrawn from the welfare certification program, because we are not allowed to source feeder cattle from within Vermont, we follow the same practices as when we were certified from 2017 thru 2020. [The requirement is that we must source feeder cattle from a welfare-certified farm. There was no such youngstock producer in Vermont, when we needed to buy in cattle.]
Health Hero Farm was one of only seven Vermont farms that produce certified-humane beef. The ASPCA posts an up-to-date list of certified-humane farms. Click here to watch a short ASPCA video about what it means to be certified-humane! Most of the cattle you see are ours 😉
HHF’s certifications were with Animal Welfare Approved, which has the most rigorous standards for farm animal welfare and environmental sustainability in the U.S. Their standards were developed in collaboration with scientists, veterinarians, researchers and farmers across the globe to maximize practicable, high-welfare farm management with the environment in mind. Further, AWA is one of only two labels in the U.S. that require audited, high-welfare slaughter practices (HHF’s butcher is also AWA-certified), and is the only label that additionally requires pasture access for all animals.
We still follow these standards in caring for the cattle on our farm.
