What is the difference between free-range, outdoor bred, organic, sow-stall free, and RSPCA Certified?

The RSPCA’s view is that each of these housing systems can be humane, but only if they are well managed and adapted to meet the behavioural and physical needs of the animals. That’s why you need to read the label carefully and find out whether the product has been accredited or approved by a reputable organisation with minimum welfare standards.

Free range

Free-range animals are animals that have some access to the outdoors. How much access, how often, and how big the outdoor area is can vary greatly.

Free-range eggs

Free-range eggs come from hens that have access to an outdoor area during the day. At night, hens are housed in sheds or barns for protection from predators. On some farms, smaller flocks may be kept in movable sheds to allow rotational use of the range. Conditions on free-range farms can vary considerably, including the size, quality, and accessibility of the outdoor area.

The RSPCA Certified logo means the egg comes from farms that have been independently assessed and certified against the RSPCA Australia Standards for Layer Hens.

Chickens farmed to RSPCA Australia Standard are raised in environments that encourage natural behaviors. To allow this, they have access to nests, perches, and litter for dustbathing, scratching, and foraging.

RSPCA Certified free-range eggs come from hens with ready access during the day to a well-managed outdoor area that includes shade, shelter, and protection from predators.

RSPCA Certified farms undergo regular assessments, which may be scheduled or unscheduled, as part of a robust and independent certification process to verify that the standards are being met.

Free-range pork comes from pigs that have access to the outdoors, including paddocks, along with huts or other forms of shelter. In these systems, sows are growing piglets that are not confined in sow stalls or traditional farrowing crates.

The RSPCA Certified logo means the pork was produced from farms that have been independently assessed and certified against the RSPCA Standard for Pigs.

Pigs farmed to the RSPCA Australia Standard have space to move, forage, socialize, and explore. Whether housed indoors or with outdoor access, the focus is on meeting pigs' behavioral and physical needs. Sow stalls and traditional farrowing crates are not permitted under the RSPCA standards.

RSPCA Certified farms undergo regular assessments, which may be scheduled or unscheduled, as part of a robust and independent certification process to verify that the standards are being met.

‘Outdoor bred’ is a term used to describe pig products (such as pork and bacon) from pigs that are born in free-range environments and then raised indoors. After weaning, these pigs may be housed in large sheds with straw bedding (often referred to as ecoshelters) or in indoor systems used in conventional pig production.

Under the RSPCA Australia Standard, pork marketed as RSPCA Certified outdoor bred must come from farms where breeding sows and boars range freely outdoors, piglets are born outside on the range, and, once weaned, are raised indoors in well-managed ecoshelters with bedding. These farms are independently assessed and certified to verify they are meeting the minimum standards.

The Australian pig industry has committed to phasing out sow stalls and moving all female breeding pigs (sows) to indoor group housing, an initiative strongly supported by the RSPCA. The term ‘sow-stall free’ is used to differentiate pork product from pigs that have been born to sows in group housing. The pig industry defines ‘sow-stall free’ as a system where a sow may have been kept in a stall for up to 5 days following last mating up to one week before farrowing; however, other definitions allow only one day in a stall. These stalls are called ‘mating stalls’, are very similar to a sow stall, and are used at mating to prevent aggression between sows and hence potential injury or abortion. Following this period of confinement, the sow is housed in groups with other pregnant sows.

The move from sow stalls to group housing is a very important first step. The next priority is transitioning away from farrowing crates which may be used to confine the sow for up to five weeks (from about a week before giving birth to her piglets up until they are weaned). Farrowing pens which allow the sow freedom of movement while protecting the piglets from crushing are under development. Piglets from sow-stall free sows may be raised in large open sheds with straw bedding (known as ecoshelters) or in small pens on concrete floors as in conventional pig farming systems.

Free-range chicken and turkey come from birds that have access to an outdoor area during the day. At night, free-range chickens are housed in sheds or barns for protection, while turkeys may have continuous access to the outdoors depending on the system. Conditions on free-range farms can vary, including the size, quality, and accessibility of the outdoor range. On some farms, the range provides grass for foraging, along with shade and shelter, and birds can move freely between indoor and outdoor areas during the day; on others, the range may be less attractive or limited.

The RSPCA Certified logo means the chicken or turkey comes from farms that have been independently assessed and certified against the RSPCA Australia Standards for Meat Chickens and Turkeys.

RSPCA Certified farms are regularly assessed by RSPCA assessors to ensure good animal welfare. Find out more about what RSPCA Certified means for Meat Chickens and Turkeys.

Most sheep and beef products in Australia come from animals that were born and raised in extensive (outdoor) environments, so they can also be termed free-range. However, some cattle and sheep may have been held in feedlots in the last stage of their production to increase their growth rate prior to slaughter and to help ensure consistency in meat quality. A feedlot is a confined area where animals are fed daily rations of (mainly) grain to reach a certain target weight. By some definitions, ‘free range’ would exclude products from animals that had been held in feedlots.

Organic agriculture has a focus on avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals, including synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, hormones and antibiotics. In animal production, organic farming also aims to provide a natural environment for animals and foster natural behaviours. Organic meat production usually includes access to the outdoors (free-range), but the exact standards of this can vary.

Organic foods for export must meet certain standards set by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. A number of organisations are accredited to certify organic produce for export and domestic use against these standards, and foods that are labelled as ‘certified organic’ have been certified in this way and meet the standards.