Our animals

image of stock on green pastures infront of lake

New Zealand’s sheep and beef farms are primarily pasture-based. Our animals graze outside all year round with minimal intervention, as nature intended. Our farming systems differ in important ways from the more intensive systems used internationally. 

That’s better for the animals and makes our meat better. 

Animal welfare

Icon showing grass

In New Zealand, sheep and beef cattle are overwhelmingly free range and pasture fed, unlike the grain-fed/feedlot livestock many people are concerned about. Our animals can roam outside all year round, thanks to our temperate climate. Management practices focus on maintaining animal health, including access to pasture, water and shelter, while farmers monitor condition, nutrition and welfare throughout the year. 
Icon showing antibiotics

New Zealand is among the lowest global users of antibiotics in cattle and sheep production – due to our extensive outdoor farming that reduces the chance of infections spreading, and strict regulations that only permit antibiotic use for animal health reasons (under veterinary control). New Zealand farmers do not use antibiotics to enhance production or yields. All antibiotic use is reported, and treated animals are withheld from market for specified periods. 

(Source: Ministry of Health and Ministry for Primary Industries) 
image of injection

New Zealand has very strict controls around the use of hormonal growth promotants, which can only be used under veterinary supervision with all relevant animals tagged on a government database. Since January 2016 there has been no recorded use of hormonal growth promotants in red meat production. 

(Source: Ministry for Primary Industries) 
image of animated cow and sheep

Our animals live very naturally – animal welfare is a high priority for the sector and New Zealand has an excellent reputation for this globally. New Zealand has some of the strictest animal welfare standards in the world.