To our Valued Customers
In light of the unfortunate circumstances involving inhumane handling practices in a California facility we feel it is important for you and your customers to understand our practices and expectations with regards to the humane handling of animals in our operations.
Washington Beef has always embraced a “Zero Tolerance” attitude towards any
inhumane treatment of animals. We take humane handling very seriously at Washington Beef and our all of our suppliers of livestock. We have incorporated best practices of humane handling in our ISO certification process at the plant and our feed yards, as well as conduct humane handling audits of all our suppliers. Additionally, we subject our operations to independent 3rd party audits on humane handling on a regular basis.
We have worked closely with Temple Grandin, renowned for her work in the industry on humane handling practices and facility design, and have embraced her work in everything we do.
We work in harmony with the USDA and perform rigorous ante-mortem of all cattle at the time of receiving. Animals that are questionable in any regard are isolated for further review by USDA and downer cattle never enter the food chain.
We embrace these practices simply because it is the right thing to do.
Sincerely,
Brad McDowell
President
AB Foods LLC