Stop the mistreatment of farm animals

	Your Opinion Counts!
	Nat'l Organic Standards Board Seeks Comments
	Dear Animal Advocates, When perusing labels and making choices at the grocery store, it’s common for consumers to equate “organic” with “humane”—but unfortunately, the two are not always synonymous. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a government advisory committee appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, will be meeting at the end of May 2012 to discuss proposed standards to increase animal welfare requirements for organic poultry operations. The ASPCA will attend the meeting to ask for humane standards of care for chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese—but we need NOSB to hear your voice, too! NOSB’s proposed standards do not provide for adequate space or healthy air quality, do not prohibit break trimming, and fail to ban the force-feeding of ducks and geese associated with foie gras production. Tell NOSB that these birds deserve better!
	What You Can Do Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center online to learn more and to see how you can quickly and easily submit your comments to the NOSB. Thank you for using your voice for these underserved animals. www.aspca.org/organic

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Just wanted to repost this email I got from the Humane Society recently.
I signed up and sent my comments (which I shared below) so that I can stand up for the animals that cannot stand up for themselves.  I urge you to do the same.
All animals should be treated humanely whether they are bred for food or not.


To whom it may concern
(which should be all humans)
I am writing to comment on the NOSB Livestock Committee’s proposed “Guidance for Assessing Animal Welfare on Organic Poultry Operations.” Thank you for taking steps to ensure the welfare of chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks raised for organic food production. Please improve the guidelines so that organic poultry production is more humane.
1. All animals should have enough space to allow them to engage in natural movements and behaviors. Please increase minimum indoor and outdoor space allowances for chickens and turkeys.  All animals should be allowed space to live and be comfortable instead of confined their entire lives in a tiny cage.
2. The proposed guidance should prohibit the force-feeding of birds for the production of foie gras.  This is a completely cruel thing to do to animals for the sole purpose of feeding people.  I wouldn't want to be force fed, would anyone?
3. Beak trimming should be prohibited unless proper husbandry techniques have first been used to eliminate feather pecking and cannibalism. When performed, it should inflict the least amount of pain possible.
4. Poor air quality can affect the health and welfare of birds. NOSB’s proposed maximum ammonia level is equivalent to the conventional industry standard and does not provide adequately for welfare. Ammonia levels at organic poultry facilities should be less than 10 ppm, and corrective action must be taken if the level exceeds 15 ppm.
5. Producers should raise slow-growing poultry breeds to avoid the debilitating health problems associated with rapid weight gain.
Consumers expect animals raised for organic food to be treated humanely. PLEASE strengthen the care standards outlined in this document so that chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks raised for organic food do not suffer.
All animals deserve kind treatment and I wish I didn't have to write a letter to ask for basic human kindness for animals!!!
Please help the helpless!