The Silver Fern Difference

Since the founding of Silver Fern Farms in 1948, we’ve not only become New Zealand’s leading procurer, processor, marketer and exporter of premium lamb, beef and venison — but also an industry leader in both environmental sustainability and the humane treatment of animals.

Silver Fern Farms is supplied by approximately 16,000 family farmers across New Zealand — and each one of those farmers knows that raising flavorful, high-quality red meat requires more than just expertise and hard work.

It requires care, passion, and respect, and those values play a role in every part of our business.

Our goal is to provide you with exceptional red meat, but we make it a priority to do so responsibly. That’s why we follow the principles of the five freedoms for animal welfare and implement initiatives to minimize our environmental impact.

It’s why we’re a founding member — and the only red meat company — to join New Zealand’s Climate Leaders Coalition. When you buy from Silver Fern Farms, you’re not just buying delicious red meat — you’re buying into the humane treatment of livestock, sustainability, and a community of independent farmers.

Good By Nature

At Silver Fern Farms, we are embedding sustainability into all we do. Our commitment, and follow-through, on our material issues are a key way we are delivering on our purpose and making sure we do the right thing by our customers who increasingly want to know that their red meat is sustainably produced. This demands not merely doing less harm, but doing greater good by ultimately enhancing the ecosystems, communities and places we operate in. Our Sustainability Action Plan - Good by Nature is designed to support and accelerate Silver Fern Farms’ transformation to the world’s most trusted, nature positive producer and deliver on our purpose of creating goodness from the farms the world needs.

More information on sustainability

Our Commitment to Animal Welfare

As a responsible food producer, we have systems and policies in place to ensure the welfare of our animals throughout our chain of care. In 2016, we adopted the New Zealand Farm Assurance Program with a goal of having 100% of our programs meet these standards by 2020.

As of now, 99% of our program livestock is accredited to NZFAP standards.

We have a policy not to process any animals treated with growth hormones. Our processing plants abide by strict, company-wide animal welfare policies and practices and operate a humane slaughter program to ensure animals are free from stress.

We limit the transportation of animals to minimize their stress. We follow the international recognized principles of the five freedoms for animal health and welfare.

A Taste of New Zealand

As home to an abundance of sunshine, clean air and water, rich soil and flora, and a uniquely diverse terrain, New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to raise livestock — our red meat has a taste and texture unlike any other.

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Meet Our Farmers

For our farmers, raising livestock is more than just a livelihood — it’s a way of life. They see themselves as stewards of the animals, the land, and the environment, and they value humane and sustainable practices above all else.

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