Welfare
It is a biologic fact and an economic reality that the better cattle are treated and the more secure and content they feel, the better they perform. Cattlemen have been aware of this for centuries, and have always done their utmost to promote the well-being of their cattle, often sacrificing their own comfort and at great personal cost. It is more than just an economical strategy; it is a moral imperative for most cattlemen. No one condemns brutal treatment or rough handling of cattle more than America’s cattlemen. They are things that simply can’t be tolerated: for a cattleman they are not just morally repugnant, they affect his bottom line and his/her way of life. The way cattle are treated often makes the difference between profit and loss.
All employees at Foster Feed Yard receive periodic training concerning the humane treatment of cattle. Unnecessary roughness is cause for a reprimand. A repetition or acts of brutality are grounds for immediate dismissal. We are also pro-active in another way: the processing facilities, loading chutes, etc., are designed to cause animals a minimum amount of stress, and require a minimal amount of force to operate.
Specific procedures that are designed to insure that animals are treated humanely are listed in Foster Feed Yard’s Best Management Practices. All employees are required to read these, and sign-off on them.
In addition, third party inspectors periodically come to observe how these procedures are being implemented and file written reports on their efficacy. All of the above serve to emphasize the priority of treating cattle humanely at Foster Feed Yard. Anything less is simply unacceptable.
