Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 9/29/15



The Animal Agriculture Alliance is alerting the food animal industry to the upcoming World Day for Farmed Animals (WDFA) held each year on Oct. 2.

While the event has been occurring yearly since 1983, sponsored by the Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), the Animal Agriculture Alliance wants industry professionals to be prepared for a potential increase in activist activity on Oct. 2, both online and in person.

For example, planned activities include, among others:
• A protest outside of Oscar Mayer facility in Madison, Wis.
• A protest targeting Mayflower Poultry Company in Wilmington, Mass.
• A candlelight vigil at Catelli Brothers veal slaughterhouse in Shrewsbury, N.J., and
• A protest near the Patrick Cudahy slaughterhouse in Cudahy, Wis.

“We do not recommend direct engagement on the event's social media hashtags or with activists participating in protests or demonstrations. Instead, we advise you to focus on promoting positive information about your industry via your own social media and other outreach channels,” the alliance wrote in an email to members.

Specifically, the alliance suggests its members visit the Event Directory and search for any planned vigils or demonstrations near them. If an event is planned in their community or or targeting their business, the alliance has a list of resources on its members-only website. For additional advice from the alliance on security or managing activist protests, members can call the group's office at 703-562-5160.

The group also suggests taking the opportunity of the possible increased attention to share positive, factual information about the company's and industry's commitment to animal care on social media.

The industry also is advised to prepare employees in key roles (such as reception or front desk staff, call center employees and customer service staff) for possible contacts from activists affiliated with the event including reviewing security procedures and instructions on how to handle contacts from suspicious individuals.

Finally, the alliance suggests alerting social media managers about the potential for negative comments on your organization or company's pages related to WDFA and reviewing your policy for handling negative or inflammatory online comments.

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