FIRST FARM IN CONNECTICUT AWARDED TOP ANIMAL WELFARE AND GRASSFED CERTIFICATIONS FOR SHEEP AND GOATS
—BOTL Farm in Ashford, CT, uses sustainable agriculture methods to raise Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW sheep and goats—
Photo Credit: BOTL Farm
ASHFORD, CT (JANUARY 27, 2021) — The sheep and goats at BOTL Farm are now Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW)—North America’s most trusted and transparent farm certifier.
One of a portfolio of leading farm certifications offered by A Greener World, the Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW label lets consumers know animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S. and Canada, using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent farm. Consumer Reports has rated Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW as the only “highly meaningful” label for farm animal welfare, outdoor access and sustainability—and the only animal welfare certification in which they have confidence.
BOTL Farm’s sheep and goats are also the first in Connecticut to achieve Certified Grassfed by AGW certification . Certified Grassfed by AGW is an optional, additional accreditation for Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW farmers and ranchers raising cattle, sheep, goats or bison according to the Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW high-welfare standards and a 100 percent grassfed feeding protocol.
Danielle Larese and Nick Weinstock of BOTL Farm are both first generation farmers who decided to start raising their own animals after meeting a farmer who changed their lives. After a few years gaining experience and learning invaluable lessons, the couple decided to take the leap and pursue building their own farm and business.
The couple raises Icelandic sheep and Kiko goats, both traditional livestock breeds well suited to pasture-based management and known for their high-quality meat. They chose to pursue Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW and Certified Grassfed by AGW certifications because they felt the programs best mirrored their exemplary animal husbandry practices and commitment to sustainability.
Danielle Larese of BOTL Farm says,
“We have designed and developed our farm so that our animals can express their natural behaviors. The herds live on pasture all year long and are never confined; they graze and forage as long as each season permits then eat hay during snowy months, but are never fed grain which disrupts their rumens; they breed according to their natural cycles and birth unassisted on pasture; and they have the room to explore and interact with their surroundings. Raising animals in this way makes our farm sustainable compared to conventional farming practices — the animals are improving the quality and fertility of the land.”
AGW Director of Communications and Outreach Emily Moose says,
“In a marketplace crowded with misinformation and greenwashing, trusted third-party certifications like Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW and Certified Grassfed by AGW deliver real transparency for farmers and consumers. We’re proud to work with farmers and ranchers like BOTL Farm to promote their high-quality products and sustainable farming practices.”
Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW lamb and goat from BOTL Farm is available directly from the farm by appointment only. To learn more about BOTL Farm, visit
Contact Nick at nick@BOTLFarm.com and 908-268-3192 . You can also follow the farm on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram
ABOUT A GREENER WORLD
A Greener World (AGW) identifies, audits, certifies and promotes practical, sustainable farming systems by supporting farmers and ranchers and informing consumers. AGW’s growing family of trusted certifications includes Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW , Salmon Welfare Certified by AGW , Certified Grassfed by AGW , Certified Regenerative by AGW, and Certified Non-GMO by AGW . Each program is designed to have positive and measurable impacts on the environment, society and animals, and to encourage truly sustainable farming practices. AGW’s standards and procedures are robust, transparent and achievable.
A nonprofit funded by public donations, AGW offers a range of resources to help people make informed food choices, including an Online Directory of certified farms and products and Food Labels Exposed –a definitive guide to food label claims (available in print and online). For more information visit
ABOUT CERTIFIED GRASSFED BY AGW
AGW’s respected Certified Grassfed label is the only grassfed animal welfare label in North America. Unique among food labels it guarantees:
Ruminant animals raised outdoors on pasture for their entire lives, with a 100% grass and forage diet
Animals raised according to the highest animal welfare and environmental standards in the U.S. and Canada
High-welfare handling, transport, and slaughter of animals—including an annual review of slaughter facilities
According to market-research firm Nielsen, recent sales of grassfed beef rose nearly 40% , over six times the rate of conventional beef. But while demand for grassfed meat is sky-rocketing, not all grassfed certifications are meeting consumer expectations—and some continue to permit highly questionable practices. Some meat currently marketed as grassfed could come from animals confined on dirt feedlots for long periods outside the growing season, or where growth hormones and subtherapeutic antibiotics are used—just as long as they were fed cut grass or forage. For more information visit