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BRF Leads Poultry and Swine Segment in BBFAW, Global Ranking that Evaluates Farm Animal Welfare Practices

BRF has made progress in the pillars of “Governance and Management” and “Performance of Supply Chain” and maintained its Tier 4 position

BRF, the company behind brands such as Sadia, Perdigão, and Qualy, is the highest-ranked poultry and swine producer in the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) — the world’s leading ranking for farm animal welfare management. The company retained its Tier 4 position while advancing in two key pillars: Governance and Management — which includes animal welfare strategy, established internal processes, adoption of standards, and publication of results; and Performance of Supply Chain — which evaluates animal welfare practices across the entire supply chain for all species.

“This result reflects BRF’s ongoing commitment to implementing exemplary animal farming practices, in line with the themes covered by the ranking, such as setting global commitments and targets,” says Paulo Pianez, BRF’s Sustainability Director.

Global Certification

In December 2024, BRF achieved 100% animal welfare certification for all its poultry and swine slaughter facilities worldwide, one year ahead of its target to align with international protocols. This milestone was completed with the certification of its operations in Turkey, adding to the Brazilian units that had already been certified since 2023. The audits were conducted by professionals trained by theProfessional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO), following strict criteria set by the North American Meat Instituteand the National Chicken Council, both based in the United States.

In addition to certifying all slaughter facilities for animal welfare, BRF has already fulfilled other key commitments in this area, such as eliminating the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal farming and committing to cage-free rearing for 100% of integrated poultry in Brazil and Turkey. The company has also switched to using only cage-free eggs in its industrial processes in Brazil, reinforcing its position as a reference in ethical and sustainable practices within the industry.

Animal Welfare Across the Supply Chain

BRF’s commitment to animal welfare is reflected in how it manages the life cycle of poultry and swine. All procedures follow the guidelines of BRF’s own Animal Welfare Program, aligned with zootechnical standards, animal comfort and welfare requirements, and international benchmarks such as Global S.L.P. and Certified Humane. Key monitored indicators include housing density, number of feeders and drinkers, heating/cooling systems, water quality and availability, nutrition levels, moisture control, ventilation, thermal comfort, lighting, and bedding quality, among others.

BRF operates a vertically integrated production model, partnering with 9,500 livestock producers in Brazil and Turkey. The company supplies animals (many of which, in the case of swine, come from BRF’s proprietary genetics), feed, and technical support. Meanwhile, integrated producers provide the facilities, equipment, water, electricity, and labor necessary to raise and develop the livestock.