Veterinary Association For Farm Animal Welfare (VAFAW)

VAFAW is a veterinarian-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit uniquely positioned to promote science-driven policies and practices to improve farm animal welfare. Through education, policy development, advocacy, and collaborative animal care, VAFAW seeks to:

(1) Improve the welfare of animals used in food and fiber production through the promotion and utilization of contemporary science-driven frameworks and research;

(2) Support veterinarians, the profession, and animal producers and suppliers in their adoption of welfare-centered practices and policies for farm animals; and

(3) Build awareness about food and fiber production systems to help mitigate or eliminate negative impacts of those systems on animals and society.

Billions of farm animals are raised and slaughtered for food production in the United States. As global populations and demand for animal products increase, industrial agriculture expands, leading to more animals experiencing pain, suffering, and a negative state of welfare. The practices and policies that shape the lives of farm animals often fail to be informed by the rapid advancements being made in the field of animal welfare science. By working together, veterinarians can change this.

Your support is critical to our success.

VAFAW is seeking funding to further our work in three key areas, as well as bolster the continued growth and impact of the organization.

1. Reduce the use of painful procedures and increase effective pain management ($84,250). Reduce the percentage of animals subjected to painful management procedures and, when procedures are performed, increase the percentage of animals who receive appropriate pain mitigation drugs. 
2. Accelerate the transition from gestation crates to group housing systems for pregnant sows ($92,720). Accelerate widespread adoption of higher-welfare group housing systems for pregnant sows through education and by protecting or advancing state efforts to ban or restrict the use of gestation crates.
3. Advance the use of higher-welfare depopulation methods and adoption of a federal HPAI vaccination strategy ($92,140). Advance the use of higher-welfare depopulation methods (e.g., nitrogen-based anoxia) and reduce animals’ vulnerability to being killed via depopulation.

Additional programmatic goals, tactics, and metrics can be provided upon request. Email info@VAFAW.org for more information.