Better for Animals
The very highest animal welfare standards
As well as requiring that animals are genuinely free range, Soil Association organic standards cover living conditions, food quality, the use of antibiotics and hormones, as well as transport and slaughter. These standards mean that animals raised organically enjoy the very highest welfare standards of farmed animals.
Organic means happier, healthier animals which...
- Must have access to pasture (when weather and ground conditions permit) and are truly free range.
- Must have plenty of space – which helps to reduce stress and disease.
- Are fed a diet that is as natural as possible and free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Over a million tonnes of GM crops are imported each year to feed the majority of non-organic livestock which produce chicken, eggs, pork, bacon, milk, cheese etc. This practice is banned under organic standards.
- Graze and forage naturally on organic pasture (grasses and other crops) where only natural fertilisers are used and pesticides are severely restricted.
- Cannot be given hormones which make them grow more quickly.
- Must not be produced from cloned animals.
- Must not routinely be given antibiotics. Farm animals now account for almost two-thirds of all antibiotics used in the EU. These are passed to us through the food chain
Organic vs Free Range – what’s the difference?
There so many food labelling systems it can be confusing to know what to look for. Farms not Factories have created a comprehensive guide to labelling on meat products to help you get a better understanding of what each label means.
Want to know more?
Find out more about the specific standards for cows, pigs, poultry and sheep as well as our standards for fish farming.
