Raising welfare standards for beef cattle

An estimated 3.8 million beef cattle are farmed in New Zealand. The Code of Welfare for sheep and beef cattle sets out minimum standards required for their care.

SPCA Certified has animal welfare standards which exceed the minimum legal requirements laid out in the Code of Welfare.

One of the ways SPCA Certified works to improve farmed animal welfare is to focus on providing beef cattle with opportunities to engage in situations that result in positive animal welfare outcomes. Provision of good animal welfare is about ensuring the many different aspects of the farming system and the animals’ requirements are kept upper-most to provide for their behavioural, physical, and mental needs. For example, providing opportunities for positive experiences leads to improved farmed animal welfare; therefore SPCA Certified standards ensure pasture access, allowing beef cattle to display their natural behaviour, provide objects to scratch and groom on within all pastures, and access to shade and shelter at all times.

SPCA Certified standards also require beef cattle farmers to have an animal health plan in place which is regularly updated with a veterinarian. In addition, all farms are audited, not just annually, but also randomly at least once a year. Under the Code of Welfare, animal welfare audits are not required for beef cattle.

At SPCA Certified we believe in making it easier for consumers to know what they are buying. The infographic below compares welfare requirements for beef cattle under the Code of Welfare and SPCA Certified standards. See how the different standards compare in terms of beef cattle health and behaviour, access to shade and shelter, and consumer assurances for how beef cattle are farmed.