American Humane Names Marty Frankhouser as National Director of Country's First and Largest Independent Farm Animal Welfare Certification Program

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Humane, the country's first national humane organization and the world's largest certifier of animal welfare, today announced the appointment of Marty Frankhouser to the position of national director of the American Humane Farm Program. The program was founded in 2000 and is the first and largest independent, third-party farm welfare certification effort in the United States, awarding the American Humane Certified™ seal to producers that meet some 200 science-based humane standards covering everything from adequate space to proper air quality, heating, and lighting, and the freedom to express natural behaviors. With the guidance of the world's leading animal scientists and ethicists and completely independent third-party audits to verify adherence to rigorous standards, the American Humane Farm Program has helped ensure a better quality of life for billions of animals on farms and ranches.

Frankhouser has more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural world, starting out his career by working on a swine breeding stock farm where he was responsible for animal care, welfare and safe transportation practices. He then moved on to positions with major agriculture companies, working closely with cattle and swine veterinarians to enhance animal health protocols, develop bio-security protocols, conduct health educational seminars, and market livestock vaccines and pharmaceuticals across the United States. As senior marketing manager of swine biologicals for Zoetis, Frankhouser led the launch team for the high-profile vaccine against PEDV, a deadly coronavirus that prior to the vaccine killed up to eight percent of the entire U.S. pig population. While at Zoetis, he also helped refine and market two nationally-recognized livestock husbandry programs, the Husbandry Education® program and the Individual Pig Care – It's the Right Thing to Do® program, which were designed to directly and intensively train farm caregivers to improve the health, well-being and welfare of animals across the United States. Frankhouser held other senior positions at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Merck Animal Health (where he directed all cattle, swine, and poultry learning and organizational development activities), and Wyeth (now part of Pfizer). He has also worked as an independent contractor to improve production practices and standards of animal care with a diverse set of clients.  Frankhouser studied Agricultural Economics at Pennsylvania State University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

"The American Humane Farm Program has a long and distinguished history," said Mr. Frankhouser. "My goal is to further broaden its reach and deepen its impact by working with more and more farmers who strive every day to put food on our tables and do right by the animals in their care."     

"Some 90 percent of U.S. farm animals are raised without the benefit of independently verified, science-based standards, making the growth of certification programs for agriculture one of the greatest frontiers in the humane field," said American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. "The American Humane Farm Program has been first to serve the needs of animals on our nation's farms and ranches, and we are extremely pleased to have Marty Frankhouser bring his impressive agricultural background, skills, and drive to advance our efforts in building a better, more humane world for billions of farm animals."   

About American Humane
Founded in 1877, American Humane is the country's first national humane organization. For more information about American Humane, please visit www.AmericanHumane.org.

SOURCE American Humane

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