Cargill hires animal welfare expert

A well-known animal welfare expert in Canada is taking on an international role at Cargill.

Dr. Stephanie Cottee (pictured) was hired last week as Cargill’s new animal welfare lead for poultry.

The position is a new one for the company and will see Cottee get involved in seven of Cargill’s operations around the world: chickens in Canada, Thailand, China, Europe and Central America, plus turkey and egg businesses in the U.S.

“People should have the choice to consume meat and egg products and we want to ensure the animals that provide that type of nutrition are raised with care and properly handled and harvested,” she said in a press statement from Cargill.

Cottee will be based in Guelph, Ont., and report to Cargill’s head of animal welfare, Dr. Mike Siemens, who is in Wichita, Kansas.

Cottee spent part of last year as the animal welfare leader at Maple Leaf Foods. She was hired in July to introduce an animal wellness program at Maple Leaf’s pork and poultry businesses.

Previously she also worked with Ontario Pork, Chicken Farmers of Ontario and the National Farm Animal Care Council.

Cottee has a PhD in farm animal behaviour and welfare and has also taught at the University of Guelph.