BURNSVILLE, NC (FEBRUARY 17, 2016) — The herd of dairy goats at Fun Frolic Farm is now certified as Animal Welfare Approved. This certification and food label lets consumers know these animals are raised in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S. and Canada, using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent family farm.
Like other AWA farmers across the country, Christina Gordon and Bill Melanson recognize the growing consumer interest in how animals are raised on farms. Managing animals outdoors on pasture or range has known benefits for animals, consumers and the environment. The herd of Certified AWA Nubian dairy goats at Fun Frolic Farm are free to graze and roam, demonstrating their natural behaviors outdoors on pasture. Not only is this a primary component to AWA standards, but pasture-based production is also key to Gordon and Melanson’s farm management.
Gordon and Melanson are both passionate about high-welfare, pasture-based farming. “Pasture-based management is a ‘ground up’ practice,” Gordon explains. “Good soil management leads to quality forage, which means higher nutrition for the goats, less import of expensive off-farm feeds, less issue with poor health and parasite infections, more sustainability in our farm practices and higher quality and volume in the great tasting milk the goats produce. It just makes sense.”
AWA Program Director Andrew Gunther says “The accountability and integrity offered by Animal Welfare Approved farmers like Christina and Bill are unmatched in food production. We’re glad to have Fun Frolic Farm in the AWA family.”
Certified AWA products from Fun Frolic Farm are available directly from the farm (by appointment) and at various retail outlets. Check the AWA directory for details. For more information about Fun Frolic Farm, visit funfrolicfarm.com and the farm’s Facebook page or contact Christina Gordon at cg@animalphat.com or (770) 893-1616.
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