We recognize that our customers and consumers trust that our poultry products come from animals that have been raised in a healthy environment, treated with respect and humanely processed. That's why our birds are raised cage-free in temperature-controlled housing with fresh air ventilation, protected from the elements, disease and predators. They have constant access to food and water and room to move about freely.
At Perdue, we hold ourselves accountable for poultry welfare, both because of our commitment to treating animals with respect and because we know that the only way we can consistently deliver a quality product is by raising our poultry in a healthy environment.
Guiding Principles of Poultry Welfare
- Perdue is committed to the following Guiding Principles of Poultry Welfare:
- All poultry must be treated with respect for their safety, health and comfort.
- Individuals growing poultry must be trained in poultry husbandry, welfare and humane treatment.
- All animals are to be raised, transported and processed under humane conditions.
- Perdue veterinarians, scientists and live production departments will work with experts in the field of poultry welfare to continuously improve our Poultry Welfare Program.
The Perdue Poultry Welfare Program
The Perdue Poultry welfare program meets and exceeds the National Chicken Council's "Poultry Care and Well Being Guidelines" and incorporates our own best practices, including training, audits and monitoring, to ensure humane treatment. Our program encompasses scientific research, veterinary advice, practical knowledge gained through decades of experience in the integrated broiler business and the guidance and expertise of the members of the Perdue Poultry Welfare Council. Our flock supervisors work directly with our poultry farm partners to ensure the safety, health and comfort of our poultry and are backed by a highly trained team including board-certified veterinarians specializing in poultry as well as a broad range of scientists and technicians with access to the most-up-to-date laboratory equipment available.
Responsibility and Accountability
It is the responsibility of the Perdue Poultry Welfare Council, Poultry Welfare Officer (PWO's) and all local live production management to:
- Train our independent contract producers in the proper care of poultry.
- Ensure through an auditing process that the poultry houses on our independent contract producers' farms and our company farms provide poultry with a comfortable environment.
- Ensure that through an auditing process that humane Best Practices govern the production, transport and processing of poultry.
- Ensure that all associates involved in handling live birds have received appropriate poultry welfare training.
- Introduce newest poultry husbandry practices that will enhance the comfort of poultry.
