USDA Secretary orders update of animal welfare research strategy

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed agency staff to create and send him an updated Animal Welfare Strategy plan within 60 days, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters. The memo from Chavonda Jacobs-Young, head of the agency's Agricultural Research Service, was sent out to all ARS employees on Friday afternoon in response to recent media reports over controversial animal welfare conditions at its U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska. As part of the update, the memo stated that an independent panel would be convened to review ARS's animal handling protocols, policies and research practices. Reuters