G.A.P. Species: Bison

Bison production varies widely depending on the life stage of the animal. Breeding animals, calves, and growing bison all require different care. That’s why our program has tiers and is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model. We allow room to grow and change how animals are raised within the program depending on the G.A.P. animal welfare certification rating. We also use independent certifiers to audit farms every 15-months, through different seasons.

Access a detailed version of our comprehensive standards in the documents below or reference this quick, at-a-glance overview of the key standards being met at each certification level to understand which level could be achievable for your farm or ranch.
Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Certified Step 1
Calves, yearlings, backgrounders must be kept on pasture
Market animals can be kept in feeder pens for finishing only
Feeder pens must have lots of space, provide bison with a clean and dry place to lie, and have scratching posts
No physical alterations permitted
Specific weaning requirements
Transport duration must not exceed 20 hours
Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Certified Step 2

NO LEVEL 2 STANDARD FOR BISON

Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Certified Step 3

NO LEVEL 3 STANDARD FOR BISON

Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Certified Step 4
Breeding herds, calves, and finishers must live continuously on pasture
Yearlings must live continuously on pasture
No feedlots or feeder pens permitted
Specific weaning requirements
No physical alterations permitted
Transport duration must not exceed 20 hours
Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Certified Step 5

NO LEVEL 5 STANDARD FOR BISON

Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Certified Step 5+
Breeding herds, calves, finishers, and yearlings must live continuously on pasture
No feedlots permitted
Specific weaning requirements
No physical alterations permitted
No transport time; entire life on same operation
Field harvested or slaughtered at a mobile or on-farm slaughter facility

All levels of certification: No antibiotics ever | No added growth hormones | No animal by-products | Every farm 3rd party audited every 15 months

Standards in green indicate a new or changed requirement from the previous certification level.

Standards

G.A.P. Bison Standards
Transport Personnel Responsibilities, Training and Procedures Form
G.A.P. Policy Manual
Amendment to Audit Window Timeframe
Policy Manual Amendment
Clarification on Step Rating Assignment for Operations Sourcing Outside Market Animals
Deviation Request Form

Producer Resources

RECORDS TEMPLATES
Audit Prep Tool

Application

G.A.P. Bison Application