Temple Grandin, a designer of “humane livestock handling facilities,” is now working with Niman Ranch to clarify existing guidelines to achieve clearer standards and results that are easier to audit. 21 Core principles have been released to provide a clearer version of the basic guidelines for the Niman Ranch pork and beef programs that have been in existence for many years.

The 21 core principles for this program include (excerpted from article):

• Animals must be given the opportunity to care for, interact with, and nurture their young. In the case of swine, farrowing crates are not allowed.
• Practices must be implemented that prevent soil loss or degradation in production areas, minimizes unacceptable or unintended poor air quality for family, workers, and neighbors, and prevents water quality degradation of surface and groundwater resources.
• Animals must be fed a 100 percent vegetarian diet and have a feeding plan that will guarantee a sufficient, well-balanced diet to appropriately meet their nutritional needs at their stage in life and maintain required Body Condition Scores. Animals shall have access to their feed as long as is necessary for them to satisfy their nutrient requirements.
• Pasture and/or bedding are the preferred environments. To qualify as pasture, 75 percent or more of the land occupied by livestock in this program must have vegetation with a root system.