Since 1991, the AMI Foundation has encouraged its members to subscribe to voluntary animal welfare guidelines and to embrace auditing programs and they have done so. The meat industry was the first sector in animal agriculture to develop such guidelines and to begin self-audit programs.

Data collected by Colorado State Universitys Dr. Temple Grandin for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and major restaurant chains show that animal handling in the meat industry has improved dramatically. The data can be viewed at http://www.grandin.com/

The AMI Foundation released its updated 2007 Animal Handling and Audit Guidelines in May 2007. These replace the 2005 previous version.
The 2007 edition includes sample audit forms.

• To download the guidelines + all audit forms, click here.
  
  
• To download the guidelines only, click here.
  
  
• To download the cattle/calf, hog and sheep audits forms only, click here.
  


• To download the cattle audits forms only, click here.
  


• To download the hog audits forms only, click here.
  


• To download the sheep audits forms only, click here.

Many companies also retain third party expert auditors. American Meat Institute members who perform third party animal welfare audits include:

• Food Safety Net Services Ltd.
• NSF - Cook & Thurber
• Process Management Consulting
• Silliker

The AMI Foundation supports the efforts of the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, Inc. (PAACO) to train and certify animal welfare auditors. More information about PAACO training and certification may be found at:

• Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, Inc. (PAACO)

To download a customer-friendly brochure about AMIs audit program, click here.