Tyson Foods Names New Animal Treatment VP

Tyson Foods named Dr. Christine Daugherty as vice president for Animal Well-Being Programs and Technology on Monday. She replaces Dr. Dean Danilson, who is retiring after 26 years with the company.

Daugherty will oversee the animal well-being efforts at Tyson Foods, company officials said, including leading the company’s commitment to proper farm animal treatment.

Springdale-based Tyson Foods, one of world’s largest food processors of poultry, beef and pork, is a frequent target of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal welfare groups.

Tyson said Daugherty will oversee the Tyson FarmCheck program, which includes third-party, on-farm animal well-being audits, working with an external Animal Well-Being Advisory Panel and a commitment to additional research. She will also be responsible for managing Tyson Foods’ animal well-being staff as well as animal handling training and audits at the company’s processing plants.

“Chris has been involved in Tyson Foods’ animal well-being efforts over the past 11 years through the science, research and legal roles she’s had with the company,” said Mike Roetzel, group vice president-Operation Services for Tyson Foods. “I believe her education, experience, and leadership skills make her an excellent choice for this important job. In addition, her knowledge of cutting-edge technologies will help us further explore new and unique animal well-being innovations.”

A native of Iowa, Daugherty joined Tyson Foods in 2003 serving as an attorney and providing counsel in such areas as animal welfare, research and development, intellectual property and food safety. She was promoted to director of intellectual property and technology development for Tyson Foods in 2011 and two years later was appointed chief technology officer for Cobb-Vantress, a poultry breeding company owned by Tyson Foods.

Daugherty has a Ph.D. in life sciences from Louisiana State University and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas. She also has a master’s degree from Iowa State University and a bachelor’s degree from Central College of Iowa.

Talk Business & Politics will update this story later today.