Thanks for visiting Global Animal Partnership (G.A.P.)! We are one of the largest farm animal welfare standards and labeling organizations in North America. We exist to positively impact the lives of millions of farm animals being raised for food each year. When you see the G.A.P. label on meat and pet products, you know that no antibiotics were ever used, no added growth hormones were administered, and the animal was fed an all-vegetarian diet free of animal by-products.
Being G.A.P. certified means the animals have:
MORE SPACE
A SAFE & ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT
ACCESS TO PASTURE OR OUTDOORS
(STEPS 3 & ABOVE)
A HEALTHY, VEGETARIAN DIET
(NO ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS)
NO ADDED HORMONES OR ANTIBIOTICS
Our tiered labeling program allows for continuous improvement on farm. The higher the number (or “step”) printed on the label, the more the animal’s environment mimics a natural environment. Scroll down to understand more about our labels, and learn more about our program and standards at globalanimalpartnership.org. Thanks for visiting us!
Base Certification
Base certification is our minimum G.A.P. animal welfare certification level. This means that all of the farms and/or ranches raising the animal have met over 100+ animal welfare standards including more space to move around, no cages or crates that confine them, and an environment that lets them express their natural behaviors. When you see our G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified label on meat and pet products, it means that the animals were raised without antibiotics and no added hormones, and were also fed a vegetarian diet with no animal by-products.
ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT
Animals were raised in environments that provide them with even more space and additional enrichments (such as straw bales and perches for chickens, and scratching posts for cattle) to encourage natural behaviors. Again, all G.A.P. certified animals were raised without antibiotics or any added hormones, and were fed a vegetarian diet with no animal by-products.
OUTDOOR ACCESS
At these farms and ranches, the animals have the choice of indoor or outdoor living (weather permitting for poultry), and also have additional enrichments both indoors and out. Animals outdoors must also have access to shade in the summer to keep them cool, and extra environmental enrichments like wallows for pigs. At this level, farms and ranches ensure the animals are managed, watered, and fed in both environments.
PASTURE RAISED
When you see the G.A.P. Pasture Raised label, it means the animals are raised on pasture year-round. In some climates where pastures need to be protected for use the next year, animals must still be given daily access to outdoor areas. Cattle, sheep, goats, and bison are not permitted to be finished in feedlots. Farmers and ranchers raise animals that are well suited for outdoor living, and sustainably manage their environments.
ANIMAL CENTERED
Animals live on pasture year-round, with protection from the environment (shelters, windbreak, etc.). Farmers and ranchers raise animals that are well suited for outdoor living, and sustainably manage their environments. No physical alterations are performed on any of the animals (e.g. castration, tail docking, etc).
