Global Animal Partnership
The Mission of GAP
A non-profit organization of farmers, scientists, retailers, manufacturers, and animal advocates with a common purpose of improving farm animal welfare.
5-Step Animal Welfare Program
Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Program was developed with the animal’s welfare as the primary focus.
They define animal welfare as three overlapping components that work together with good management and genetics, contribute to good farm animal welfare:
- Health & Productivity – raising animals so that they’re healthy and productive with good quality feed and water, shelter, and free from disease, illness, and injury (but treating any animals that get sick).
- Natural Living – raising animals in environments that allow them to express their natural behaviors effectively – both indoors and outdoors
- Emotional Well Being – raising animals in environments that provide them with the ability to be inquisitive, happy and playful and minimize boredom, frustration, fear, stress, and pain, as much as possible.
Once a third-party audit has been conducted and a GAP Step® rating has been assigned, the appropriate GAP label is displayed on certified meat and other products. When you see the GAP label, you can feel confident that the animals have been raised following comprehensive standards focused on their care and welfare.

