Animal Welfare
Charoen Pokphand Group recognizes the challenges of ensuring food security, particularly in the livestock sector, where it is essential to balance productivity, environmental stewardship, and animal well-being. The Group is committed to advancing business practices that prioritize animal welfare, a key factor in product quality and global trust in the food system. To this end, C.P. Group has adopted the “Five Freedoms” framework as the foundation for managing both terrestrial and aquatic farms across all operations and countries. This approach ensures that animal farming is carried out with high standards of care, safety, and long-term sustainability in accordance with international best practices.
Animal Welfare Practices
Our commitment to animal welfare is reflected through a range of policies and initiatives, as outlined below:
Ethical Livestock Practices:
We place great importance on the humane treatment of animals, ensuring their well-being and comfort through ethical animal welfare management. This includes strict compliance with national laws, regulations, and requirements of countries where we operate or trade. We also adhere to customer expectations and international animal welfare standards as a baseline, while continuously seeking to improve our practices.
Promotion of Good Animal Welfare Practices:
We follow humane and responsible practices throughout all stages—from rearing, feeding, and healthcare, to disease prevention and animal transportation. These standards apply across our operations and extend throughout our supply chain, including our suppliers.
Audits for Transparency and Credibility:
We conduct both internal assessments and external third-party audits to ensure that animals are treated appropriately in accordance with defined standards.
Transparent Disclosure:
We report on our animal welfare practices and progress toward our goals through sustainability reports and other communication channels, enabling stakeholders to access and track our ongoing efforts.
Collaboration to Elevate Standards:
We work in partnership with government agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, communities, and other stakeholders to raise awareness and promote best practices in animal welfare.
Responsible and Judicious Use of Antibiotics
Charoen Pokphand Group places strong emphasis on the responsible and judicious use of antibiotics in livestock farming to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and prevent antibiotic residues in food products. This approach aligns with the "One Health" principle, which promotes a holistic balance between human, animal, and environmental health to ensure sustainable well-being.
This standard is uniformly applied across all CP livestock operations worldwide, including both company-owned farms and those of contract farmers participating in our livestock development programs. Antibiotic use is minimized, especially for preventive purposes, and strictly administered for therapeutic use only, under close supervision by licensed veterinarians to uphold animal welfare.
Key commitments include:
- No use of antibiotics designated for human use only
- No use of medically important shared-class antibiotics (approved for both humans and animals) as growth promoters
- No use of hormones for growth promotion purposes
Promoting Best Practices in Animal Welfare
Charoen Pokphand Group is dedicated to advancing sustainable livestock farming by leveraging innovation and smart technologies as key enablers.
The Group has transitioned from traditional farming methods to Smart Farming, integrating modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and automated sensor systems to monitor animal health in real-time. This approach helps reduce animal stress, prevent disease outbreaks, and ensure animal welfare in accordance with international standards. We apply the ethical animal husbandry framework based on the Five Freedoms to all animals in our care, both terrestrial and aquatic. Our practices emphasize comprehensive animal health management, minimize the use of antibiotics and growth hormones, and enforce strict biosecurity systems to prevent disease. Additionally, we utilize advanced data technologies
such as Big Data and cloud systems to analyze health trends and plan animal husbandry operations with greater precision. This not only boosts production efficiency and reduces long-term costs but also enhances food safety across the supply chain. The Group also adopts Probiotic Farming methods to maintain animal health naturally, reducing dependence on antibiotics. We are committed to developing environmentally friendly smart farm technologies that efficiently manage water quality and environmental conditions, while digital data systems support precision breeding and logistics planning aligned with market demand. Furthermore, the Group actively encourages farmers and suppliers to adopt these technologies to raise animal welfare standards across both livestock and aquaculture sectors. These efforts contribute to food security and help improve the quality of life for farmers, communities, and consumers in a sustainable manner.
Suizhou Smart Pig Farm: Advancing Pig Farming with Animal Welfare and Intelligent Technology
Charoen Pokphand Group’s Suizhou Industrial Estate in China is setting new standards in sustainable pig farming by integrating smart technologies across every stage of the production process—from animal rearing and environmental management to clean energy generation. The project is designed to promote animal welfare by maintaining optimal environmental conditions, reducing reliance on manual labor, and enhancing precision in animal care. Key technologies implemented include:
- Automated feeding systems and climate control to regulate temperature and humidity year-round within pig housing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that support pig care, enabling just 5 workers to manage up to 30,000 pigs annually
- Electronic ear tags for individual identification and health monitoring, including breeding cycles, feed intake, and overall health
- AI-powered cough sound analysis to detect and screen for respiratory diseases with high accuracy
Currently, C.P. Group in China operates 80 smart-enabled production facilities that meet international standards and collectively produce over 1 million pigs annually.
Smart Chicken Farm Model: Advancing Animal Welfare Standards
Groksomboon Farm, operated by Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), serves as a model Smart Farm that applies digital technologies and automation to enhance animal husbandry efficiency, health monitoring, and animal welfare to the highest standards.
- The farm is equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) systems that enable 24/7 real-time monitoring of the farming environment and chicken health. Temperature, feed, and water supply are automatically adjusted to suit the chickens’ life stages, ensuring natural, stress-free growth. This reduces the need for antibiotics and supports overall animal well-being.
- Groksomboon Farm is the origin of "Benja Chicken", a premium chicken product raised on high-quality superfoods. The chickens grow naturally, without the use of antibiotics or growth promoters throughout the farming process, and are particularly rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Benja Chicken has been awarded the "Superior Taste Award 2024" by the International Taste Institute, a prestigious recognition of its exceptional taste and world-class quality.
Smart Diagnosis Application
Developed as a digital technology to support farm personnel and stakeholders in managing basic swine health issues. The application consists of three main components:
- Academic articles on swine farming and updates on disease outbreaks, providing timely information.
- A knowledge base of major swine diseases, offering detailed information and preliminary management guidance.
- A swine disease diagnosis feature, allowing initial diagnosis when sick pigs are detected and suggesting appropriate management actions.
Animal Welfare Promotion in the Supply Chain
Charoen Pokphand Group places strong emphasis on animal welfare at every stage of the food production process to ensure safety, quality, and sustainability. We are committed to advancing animal farming practices that prioritize animal well-being in a systematic way, applying internationally recognized standards in practice.
One of the key approaches adopted by the Group is the use of Welfare Outcome Measures (WOMs) to assess and improve animal welfare standards across both domestic and international operations. These assessments consider core factors such as survival rates, growth, loss, animal quality, and natural behaviors, ensuring animals are healthy in both body and mind.
Data on Animal Welfare Promotion
Welfare Outcome Measures (WOMs) across Charoen Pokphand Group’s Global Supply Chain in 2024
WOM
Transport Livability (%)
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 99.85%i |
| 2023 | 99.80% |
| 2022 | 99.82% |
Assessment of Animal Welfare Performance in the Group’s Core Products in the Global Value Chain in 2024
Animal Welfare Promotion
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i Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India
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ii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan
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iii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos, with cage-free layer farming implemented in Thailand, Taiwan, and Laos
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iv Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos
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v Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Vietnam
Welfare Outcome Measures (WOMs) across Charoen Pokphand Group’s Global Supply Chain in 2024
WOM
Transport Livability (%)
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 99.98%iii |
| 2023 | 98.21% |
| 2022 | 99.98% |
Assessment of Animal Welfare Performance in the Group’s Core Products in the Global Value Chain in 2024
Animal Welfare Promotion
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i Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India
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ii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan
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iii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos, with cage-free layer farming implemented in Thailand, Taiwan, and Laos
-
iv Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos
-
v Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Vietnam
Welfare Outcome Measures (WOMs) across Charoen Pokphand Group’s Global Supply Chain in 2024
WOM
Transport Livability (%)
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 99.88%ii |
| 2023 | 99.02% |
| 2022 | 99.86% |
Assessment of Animal Welfare Performance in the Group’s Core Products in the Global Value Chain in 2024
Animal Welfare Promotion
-
i Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India
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ii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan
-
iii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos, with cage-free layer farming implemented in Thailand, Taiwan, and Laos
-
iv Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos
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v Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Vietnam
Welfare Outcome Measures (WOMs) across Charoen Pokphand Group’s Global Supply Chain in 2024
WOM
Sow Survival Rate (%)
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 96.27%iv |
| 2023 | 96.86% |
| 2022 | 98.02% |
Assessment of Animal Welfare Performance in the Group’s Core Products in the Global Value Chain in 2024
Animal Welfare Promotion
-
i Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India
-
ii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan
-
iii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos, with cage-free layer farming implemented in Thailand, Taiwan, and Laos
-
iv Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos
-
v Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Vietnam
Welfare Outcome Measures (WOMs) across Charoen Pokphand Group’s Global Supply Chain in 2024
WOM
Transport Livability (%)
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 98.88%v |
| 2023 | 99.07% |
| 2022 | 99.90% |
Assessment of Animal Welfare Performance in the Group’s Core Products in the Global Value Chain in 2024
Animal Welfare Promotion
-
i Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India
-
ii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan
-
iii Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos, with cage-free layer farming implemented in Thailand, Taiwan, and Laos
-
iv Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos
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v Covers businesses in the following countries and economic zones Vietnam
Assessment and Certification
All livestock farms operated by the company and by farmers under the livestock promotion program, both in Thailand and internationally, undergo assessments at least once every three years. These farms are certified by the respective national Departments of Livestock for meeting livestock product standards,
which include animal welfare management in alignment with Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) systems. Through our strong commitment to animal welfare management, we ensure that all our fresh and processed meat products, whether under our own brands, customer brands, or sold domestically and internationally, originate from farms that are high-quality, hygienic, and safe for consumers.
Broiler
Thailand: Global GAP by Control Union International, Farm F1rst Poultry Welfare Standard by Lloyd's Register UK, Compartmentalization System, Raised without Antibiotics (RWS) by NSF, National Sanitation Foundation Global Animal Wellness Standards (NSF GAWS)
Meat Duck
Thailand: Farm F1rst Poultry Welfare Standard by Lloyd’ s Register UK, Compartmentalization System
Layer
Thailand and Republic of China (Taiwan): (Cage-free Eggs Standard)
Swine
Thailand: Raised Without Antibiotics (RWA) by NSF
Shrimp
Thailand, Vietnam and India: Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)
Thailand and India: Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
Fish
Vietnam: Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
Remark: i The certification does not yet cover all farms.
Collaboration and Partner Network Building
Charoen Pokphand Group recognizes that advancing animal welfare standards requires strong collaboration and partnerships with government agencies and private sector stakeholders. These partnerships help raise animal care standards in alignment with international benchmarks
while enhancing animal care capabilities through training and innovation. Knowledge-sharing among partners encourages the adoption of new approaches to animal care, improving both animal quality of life and production efficiency. Additionally, transparency in operations strengthens consumer trust and confidence in our practices.
CPF Collaborates with SeaBOS to Drive Sustainability in the Seafood Supply Chain
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) is committed to advancing sustainable aquaculture through its partnership with the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS)ม a global alliance of leading seafood companies. This collaboration aims to protect marine resources, preserve ecological and environmental balance, and ensure long-term food security. SeaBOS operates through sub-working groups composed of member companies and academic experts from leading European universities, with a focus on transparency, traceability, and science-based best practices. CPF leads the working group on Responsible Use of Antimicrobials (AMR Keystone Project). Although CPF does not use antimicrobials in its aquaculture operations, it remains committed to enhancing seafood safety standards across member companies. CPF has shared its knowledge and experience on best practices for sustainable shrimp farming as a foundation for joint implementation. The initiative is currently moving from initial research to scaling up, with the aim of developing AMR monitoring methods in shrimp and improving processes to minimize antibiotic use—with a long-term goal of applying these practices to other aquaculture species.
