Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) announced today that Redwood Hill Farm, an award-winning producer of goat milk products in Sonoma County, Calif., is the first dairy goat producer in the U.S. qualified to use HFAC’s “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” label.
“We use a natural approach to animal husbandry, which we think translates into delicious goat milk cheese and goat milk yogurt,” said Jennifer Bice, who operates Redwood Hill Farm, which has been in her family for more than 30 years.
Unveiled in May 2003, the “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” label is now being used by 31 companies. The label assures consumers that a meat, poultry, egg or dairy product has been produced according to HFAC’s precise standards for humane farm animal treatment. Animals must receive a nutritious diet free of antibiotics or hormones and must be raised with shelter, resting areas and space that are sufficient to support natural behavior.
Goats, unlike sheep or cattle, do not tolerate rain or wind, therefore adequate shelter must be provided at all times to protect from inclement weather. Being social, gregarious animals, goats must not be kept in isolation, but housed within sight or sound of goats or other animals. Milking and shearing/clipping procedures must also meet HFAC standards. According to recent USDA statistics, around 2.5 million goats are farmed each year for meat, milk or fiber in the United States.
Redwood Hill Farm has over 400 dairy goats, including Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian and Saanen. They are milked for production of goat milk cheese, goat milk yogurt and goat milk soap. Bice is also well known as a goat breeder and judge of dairy goats at shows. Redwood Hill’s yogurt is widely available nationally through natural foods grocery stores, co-ops and independent retail outlets. Its cheeses are available in grocery stores throughout California, Oregon, Washington and New York. Redwood Hill also ships cheese directly to restaurants throughout the country. For more information about Redwood Hill, visit
www.redwoodhill.com
All producers authorized to use the “Certified Humane” label must meet HFAC’s Animal Care Standards, which were developed by a veritable “Who’s Who” of national and international animal scientists and farm-animal welfare experts. Producer compliance with the HFAC standards is verified through annual on-site inspections conducted by HFAC’s third-party inspectors.
HFAC is a national nonprofit organization supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), regional and local animal protection organizations, foundations and individuals. More information can be found at HFAC’s website,
www.certifiedhumane.org
News from Humane Farm Animal Care
P.O. Box 727, Herndon, Virginia 20172 – (703) 435-3883
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michele Wells, Humane Farm Animal Care – (303) 417-0696
Humane Farm Animal Care Introduces Standards for Goats and Certifies California’s Redwood Hill Farm
Posted: July 11, 2005 by Certified Humane
Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) announced today that Redwood Hill Farm, an award-winning producer of goat milk products in Sonoma County, Calif., is the first dairy goat producer in the U.S. qualified to use HFAC’s “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” label.
“We use a natural approach to animal husbandry, which we think translates into delicious goat milk cheese and goat milk yogurt,” said Jennifer Bice, who operates Redwood Hill Farm, which has been in her family for more than 30 years.
Unveiled in May 2003, the “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” label is now being used by 31 companies. The label assures consumers that a meat, poultry, egg or dairy product has been produced according to HFAC’s precise standards for humane farm animal treatment. Animals must receive a nutritious diet free of antibiotics or hormones and must be raised with shelter, resting areas and space that are sufficient to support natural behavior.
Goats, unlike sheep or cattle, do not tolerate rain or wind, therefore adequate shelter must be provided at all times to protect from inclement weather. Being social, gregarious animals, goats must not be kept in isolation, but housed within sight or sound of goats or other animals. Milking and shearing/clipping procedures must also meet HFAC standards. According to recent USDA statistics, around 2.5 million goats are farmed each year for meat, milk or fiber in the United States.
Redwood Hill Farm has over 400 dairy goats, including Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian and Saanen. They are milked for production of goat milk cheese, goat milk yogurt and goat milk soap. Bice is also well known as a goat breeder and judge of dairy goats at shows. Redwood Hill’s yogurt is widely available nationally through natural foods grocery stores, co-ops and independent retail outlets. Its cheeses are available in grocery stores throughout California, Oregon, Washington and New York. Redwood Hill also ships cheese directly to restaurants throughout the country. For more information about Redwood Hill, visit
www.redwoodhill.com
All producers authorized to use the “Certified Humane” label must meet HFAC’s Animal Care Standards, which were developed by a veritable “Who’s Who” of national and international animal scientists and farm-animal welfare experts. Producer compliance with the HFAC standards is verified through annual on-site inspections conducted by HFAC’s third-party inspectors.
HFAC is a national nonprofit organization supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), regional and local animal protection organizations, foundations and individuals. More information can be found at HFAC’s website,
www.certifiedhumane.org
News from Humane Farm Animal Care
P.O. Box 727, Herndon, Virginia 20172 – (703) 435-3883
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michele Wells, Humane Farm Animal Care – (303) 417-0696
Category: press