Animals on all Silver Fern Farms are inspected by an MPI veterinarian to ensure the health and wellbeing of animals, prevent the spread of diseases, and maintain the overall integrity of our agricultural sector. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is a government agency in New Zealand that plays a key role in managing and regulating industries such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food safety.
NZFAP
Silver Fern Farms is a voluntary participating member of the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programmes (NZFAP) which provide confidence and certainty to consumers world-wide that the natural products produced from New Zealand's sheep, beef and deer farms are authentic, genuine, and safe.
NZFAP ensures the welfare of animals by following the Five Freedoms:
1. Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease
4. Freedom from distress
5. Freedom to express normal behaviour.
The animal handlers must possess the necessary training or supervision to ensure the animal's well-being. All farm infrastructure must be designed and maintained in a manner that minimizes distress or harm to animals or humans. An annual preventative animal health plan for all livestock must be prepared and reviewed.
