Dr. Larry Sadler joined the UEP team as Vice President of Animal Welfare in 2017 and works with egg farmers, customers and supply chain managers, and industry thought leaders to focus on continuous improvement and to find innovative solutions that advance the health and well-being of hens.

“Farmers want to do the right thing when it comes to raising their flocks, and I am committed to collaborating with them to find even better ways to assure the care of hens and to meet the diverse needs of their customers,” said Dr. Sadler. “Working together, we can find effective solutions that meet those objectives, with an equal commitment to preserving our environment and providing a reliable supply of safe, high-quality eggs U.S. families can trust.”

UEP’s leadership in humane farm animal care began with the 2002 introduction of the UEP Certified program. One of the longest-tenured third-party certification programs in animal agriculture, the UEP Certified logo signifies hens that laid the eggs were raised under science-based animal well-being guidelines with compliance audited annually by third-party inspectors. UEP Certified guidelines include standards for hen housing, health and diets, plus employee training, strict biosecurity measures to protect food safety and hen health and an annual compliance audit conducted by independent third-party inspectors. The UEP Certified Cage-Free program was introduced in 2006.

“UEP is thrilled to have someone with the animal welfare expertise of Dr. Sadler on our team and provide guidance to America’s egg farmers,” said Chad Gregory, president and CEO, UEP. “This is a critical time for the egg industry, and his counsel is invaluable to our farmer-members and to our vast customer base as we work together to address a myriad of proposed transition deadlines for hen housing, while assuring the continued well-being of hens and a steady supply of safe, high-quality eggs.”

Dr. Sadler has dual Bachelor of Science degrees in agriculture business and animal science from Iowa State University (ISU). While at ISU, he also received a master’s degree in animal physiology, with an emphasis in ethology and a doctorate in biomedical sciences. He held various positions in meat production and processing, before returning to ISU to secure his master’s and doctorate degrees in animal behavior and welfare.  Raised on a cattle farm in northeast Iowa, where he still participates in the family business, Dr. Sadler also holds beef quality, pork quality and food safety certifications.