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About free range products in butcher shops

Free range means that for no period of time in the animal’s life, the animal has been confined to a cage, pen, stall, crate or feedlot. They are free to roam in a natural, uncrowded environment.

The majority of Australian beef is either completely or partially grain fed, which means a lot of time spent in a feedlot. A feedlot is a farm that is divided into many sections where cattle and sheep are fed grain and water, until they reach slaughtering weight. They do not have much space to move around, meaning less space needed and less costs. As feedlots get overcrowded, it becomes easy for animals to become sick, making it more likely that antibiotics and growth hormones are used.

Most chickens end up in cages, which mirrors the problems of feedlots. In addition, because they are kept so close together and in such vast numbers, they can’t form a proper social structure and begin attacking each other. To combat this, their beaks and claws are trimmed.

This is where free range plays its role. Organic butchers and meat shops near you source their meat from certified producers who ensure a minimum standard of animal welfare. Many local butchers near you will certainly advertise their free range produce. You can find such meat stores in our online directory.