Production chain: monitoring, control and management
Our practices are aligned from end to end
We strictly follow the practices that guarantee animal welfare in all BRF production activities. This extends to the integrated producers responsible for breeding the animals.
In addition to its proprietary units, BRF has a vertical integration system, which are partnerships with animal farmers. BRF provides the animals, supplies and technical assistance, and integrated producers provide animal breeding manpower and structure following the guidelines of the global animal welfare program of BRF. Failure to comply with it or failure to comply with the rules lead to contract termination.
BRF operations involve broiler chicken, broiler turkeys, pigs, (produced under the supervision and control of BRF through its own operations and integrated partners) and also beef, dairy cattle (dairy products) and laying hens (use of industrial eggs) from approved suppliers, who sign the Supplier Code of Conduct document that one of the items that the supplier undertakes to comply with are only minimum animal welfare requirements. Each of the species has a distinct participation in BRF's value chain. The Table presents a description of the operations (see tab table 1). It is worth mentioning that fish are not part of the BRF supply chain and 100% of the breeding and slaughtering of pigs is located only in Brazil.
| Subsidiary | Operations |
|---|---|
| Brazil | In Brazil, BRF has thirty-one slaughter units, an innovation center and twenty distribution centers. The company's breeding and slaughter operations involve only chickens, turkeys and pigs. In processing operations, beef cattle, eggs and dairy products purchased from carefully selected suppliers are used as raw material. |
| Turkey (Banvit) | In Turkey, BRF has three slaughtering units, and these slaughter only broiler chickens and broiler turkeys. Inputs from cattle, eggs, as well as dairy products are also purchased for the processing of own brand products (BANVIT). |
| Middle East | The relationship with the Middle East dates back to the 1970s, when we started exporting to the region. Mainly with the Sadia brand, we have served thriving and promising markets, especially in branded and value-added products. We have 5 production units, but none involve a slaughtering operation. Raw materials from chickens and turkeys are sent from Brazil to these factories. |
From 2021, BRF started a process of mapping suppliers of inputs of animal origin. The Animal Welfare Management prepared questionnaires addressing the most relevant aspects of Animal Welfare, requesting information on methods of breeding, slaughter, certification, mutilation and environmental enrichment. These questionnaires were sent to our suppliers of beef and dairy products.
Through this action, BRF wishes to move the chain in the search for best animal welfare practices for all animals participating in its chain. See the proportion of animals raised at BRF and coming from suppliers.
| PERCENTAGE OF ANIMALS IN THE BRF PRODUCT CHAIN | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Percentage | Country | Additional notes | ||
| Broiler Poultry | 54,48% |
|
Chicken production in Turkey and Brazil. 100% of production together with integrated partners. | ||
| Pigs | 21,60% | Brazil: 100% | Production allocated in Brazil by integrated partners. | ||
| Turkeys | 1,62% |
|
Production of turkeys in Turkey and Brazil. 100% of production together with integrated partners. | ||
| Cattle | 0,30% |
|
We don't raise or slaughter these animals. The raw material is purchased from third-party suppliers. | ||
| Eggs | 0,00% |
|
We do not raise or slaughter these animals that produce eggs. The raw material is purchased from third-party suppliers. | ||
| Dairy products | 0,40% | Brazil: 100% | We don't raise or slaughter these dairy animals. Dairy products are purchased from companies that deliver the product ready for use. | ||
Suppliers
Beef Products
Beef products are part of the BRF portfolio. The animals are not raised and slaughtered at BRF, but we closely monitor the production processes of our suppliers. The use of beef represents about 0.304% of BRF's products globally. With 48% of the mapped chain we can affirm that 99% do not undergo a tail cutting procedure and 92,7% undergo a pre-slaughter stunning process.
Dairy Products
Products derived from dairy products are part of BRF's portfolio, used as ingredients in our cheeses, curd cheese, and industrialized products. We purchase the finished products from selected suppliers and permanently audited by our team. Dairy products represent about 0.4% of BRF's turnover globally. With 27,4% of the chain mapped we can state that 100% of the animals do not go through tail docking or are raised tethered.
Eggs
We do not produce eggs for use in foods made at BRF. The production of eggs at BRF aims to produce chicks that supply our own production chain. In 2017, we made a commitment to use only free chicken eggs at BRF and reached 56% adequacy in BRF's processes. We can say that 100% of birds do not undergo wing cutting (with 56% of the mapped chain) and 100% of birds have access to environmental enrichment (56% of the mapped chain).
Internal and external review routines
All poultry and pork slaughterhouses in Brazil are monthly self-assessed using the Animal Welfare Compliance Framework tool prepared according to the current national and international animal welfare laws and protocols. Welfare Quality, Certified Humane and GlobalGAP.
In addition, second-party audits are carried out by the corporate team and, in some units, third-party audits are carried out by certifiers and clients (e.g.: McDonald’s and KFC/YUM). To remedy the non-conformities, a joint action plan is established to adjust the requirements. Tracking is done by the Animal Welfare Officers of each plant.
In agriculture, the Animal Welfare Matrix is applied in the integration of broiler, turkey and in the pig chain by Animal Welfare Officers. 5% of integrated companies at units that have up to 100 integrated companies, 3% of members at units that have between 100 and 500 integrated companies and 1% of members at units that have more than 500 integrated companies are evaluated monthly. In 2020, more than 2,500 integrated companies were evaluated, representing about 28% of BRF's global integration evaluated in one year.
The assessments are always applied to different integrated producers so that the maximum number of properties possible are assessed in a year. As in the industry, all non-conformities are addressed and the plan is managed by the Animal Welfare Officers.
External organizations
Today, around 55% of the pig slaughter process is certified by external organizations that endorse the work we do in our factories, through the North America Meat Institute protocol exclusively on the AW theme. For chickens, the percentage is 39% of broiler chickens slaughtered by June 2021 are certified in Animal Welfare at slaughter in the protocol of the National Chicken Council.
The Certified Humane, Antibiotic-Free Products, Global G.A.P. and ALO Free protocols also audit our broiler farming chain.
Certified Humane
An international certification that considers the quality of life of animals from birth.
It is also important to note that 56% of the eggs used by BRF globally for the production of industrialized products are certified in the Certified Humane protocol.
Certified Humane
An international certification that considers the quality of life of animals from birth. The requirements are stricter than many world standards and ensure, among other factors, that animals be free to express their natural behavior. In Lucas do Rio Verde (Mato Grosso), 192 houses and 14 poultry farms hold this certification. The year 2020 has tripled the number of birds that are part of the certification. There are about 26 million birds benefited per year.
This certification gave rise to the Sadia Bio brand, of products resulting from raising with a high level of animal welfare.
Learn more about Sadia BIO range
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Antibiotic-free product
Third-party certification by WQS, which attests that no antibiotic is administered to animals in their entire life. Inspection applies to birth, raising, slaughter and feed manufacturing, ensuring that no antibiotic growth promoters or antibiotics for therapeutic use are used in broiler chain. We currently have 192 poultry houses in Lucas do Rio Verde that hold this certification, besides the hatchery, feed mill and slaughtering plant.
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PAACO
The PAACO (Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization) auditors check compliance with standards related to the humane slaughter of poultry, which follows the premises established by the U.S. organization National Chicken Council (NCC), a world reference in the poultry industry. These professionals also audit the swine chain, ensuring that animals are respected until the end of their lives. On pig slaughter, the N.A.M.I. (North America Meat Institute) requirements are followed. Renowned Dr. Temple Grandin is one of its contributors.
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Global G.A.P. IFA
(Integration Farm Assurance)
This private organization establishes voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products worldwide. It works as a practical manual of Good Agricultural Practices. In addition to good practices, the basis of the protocol is animal welfare. Its certification starts from the beginning of the broiler chain to transport, egg-laying parent stock, hatchery, fattening and transport. We currently have 69 certified integrated producers in Marau/RS and Serafina Corrêa/RS.
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Global G.A.P. CFM
(Compound Feed Manufacturing)
The CFM defines the control points and compliance criteria for quality assurance in the production, supply and purchase of raw material and feed ingredients. It covers all stages of production, from purchase, handling and storage to the processing and distribution of feed. The feed mill in Marau/RS is currently certified on this stringent protocol.
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Alo Free
(Agricultural Labeling Ordinance)
This certification is required to serve the Swiss market, based on three pillars: animal welfare, traceability and food safety. The animals are tracked from birth to slaughter. Marau/RS and Serafina Corrêa/RS are currently certified on this protocol.