In 2014, McDonald’s conducted a global benchmarking survey to assess the health and welfare of beef and dairy cows at time of slaughter. 4,211 lots of market cows, representing 76,886 animals from 8 states and 13 countries, were included in this study. Individual animals were assessed for 10 pre-determined health and/or welfare conditions by trained evaluators located at each facility. The objectives of this survey were to: 1) describe the distribution of the 10 conditions and 2) describe the distribution of conditions within and among different areas of the world. (See A Survey of Commercial Slaughterhouses: Data on the Prevalence of Pre-Slaughter Defects in Market Cows).
As a result of this global benchmark, McDonald’s Global Animal Health and Welfare Team commissioned The Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University and Farm Animal Initiative at Oxford University to develop producer-focused web-based educational platforms. They provide specific information relative to the 10 pre-determined market cow conditions in an effort to raise awareness, and drive improvement over time. (See BCI and FAI).
McDonald’s USA is a member of the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply (CSES), which supported research to understand the impacts of various types of housing for egg laying hens for welfare (animal and caretaker), food safety, environmental and economics. The coalition's work, through evidence-based research, will inform future decision-making for McDonald’s.
McDonald’s Europe has also contributed to advancing an