Pure Life Welfare Assured
We go to extraordinary measures to deliver extraordinary beef. We are always striving for the very best in animal welfare practice. With this in mind, we have created a unique seal of approval that is independently audited and verified. This quality seal - Pure Life Welfare Assured - is awarded only to brands where animal welfare best practice has been observed to the highest level.
Pure Life - Welfare Assured The Pure Life seal also means that our beef is sourced only from Quality Assured Farms. In addition, Pure Life means that our lairages meet welfare standards in terms of design, logistics, lighting and provisions made for the animals - and that our personnel are fully trained and compliant with the standards needed to humanely handle these animals. Every one of our Pure Life farmers is a member of the internationally respected Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIFQA) or the 'Q' Scheme. Regulated respectively by the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMCNI) and the Irish Food Board (Bord Bia), Farm Quality Assurance is a prerequisite for our business and for Pure Life approval. No other jurisdiction in the world employs so many people to rigorously check compliance in every last detail, 365 days a year. In short, our farmers are obligated to maintain high quality and safety standards and follow best agricultural practice to safeguard the welfare of their livestock, the confidence of our customers and above all to provide the Foyle Food Group with the best quality beef on the Island of Ireland. We firmly subscribe to the five basic needs of an animal, or five freedoms outlined by the FQAS. And take extraordinary measures to safeguard that all our livestock is: _ Free from thirst, hunger and malnutrition _ Free from discomfort and lack of shelter _ Free from injury, disease and infestation _ Free from fear _ Free to display most normal patterns of behaviour These freedoms are upheld by the Farm Animal Welfare Council and the RSPCSA. Under this code of practice, a number of key criteria are taken into consideration. For Pure Life approval, each of the following areas is independently assessed and audited. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: STOCKMANSHIP AND WELFARE All animals are cared for on the farm and during transport by competent stockmen. These experienced professionals ensure that livestock is grouped in appropriate social groups according to size, sex and age. For example, fractious or horned cattle must not be mixed with other cattle in loose housing if there is a danger of injury or bullying. ANIMAL HEALTH Only healthy, naturally produced animals are eligible for FQAS certification; therefore all our animals are reared in excellent health and are routinely checked by a vet. ANIMAL NUTRITION All our animals are fed to the highest standards to ensure good health and well-being and always have access to fresh, clean water - something that we are blessed with on the Island of Ireland. Our animals feed on fresh, green grass, just as Mother Nature intended. ANIMAL TRACEABILITY - IDENTIFICATION, SOURCING AND RECORDS Our farmers have systems in place to keep accurate and detailed records. This way we can identify an animal, its medical and breeding records and its movements throughout its lifetime.
Pure Life - Welfare Assured HOUSING AND HANDLING Grazing outside also has its advantages in producing happy and contented animals who are free to roam, wander and do everything that comes naturally in a stress free environment. Even though our animals spend most of their lives outside in open spaces, we also provide comfortable and clean housing designed for optimum animal comfort. Our livestock has access to optimum space, lying areas, floor surfaces, ventilation and feed and water facilities. The accommodation and fittings are carefully constructed and maintained to remove risk from injury or pain. We have recently carried out extensive work on maximizing the comfort of animals through a rubber slats initiative. TRANSPORT We ensure our animals are transported safely and compassionately in farm quality approved transportation. We take necessary precautions to ensure they do not suffer undue stress and arrive safely. We also ensure that the vehicles transporting the animals are of the highest standards possible in terms of comfort and cleanliness. ENVIRONMENTAL CARE We support our farmers, helping them to embrace new innovations that promote sound environmental land management. We help them to adopt a positive attitude towards their role as guardians of the countryside by complying with all current environmental legislation and good agricultural practice. BEST FARMING PRACTICE Producing extraordinary beef requires precision and experience. At the Foyle Food Group, we are continually reviewing and investing in ways to improve at every level of our operations. But we're also lucky. The North West of Ireland has its own climate, its own nitrate-free terroir and a celebrated farming heritage that reaches over centuries. The result is a magical combination that delivers consistently exceptional beef. In the Ireland's North West, our temperate climate and lush, green pasture mean our farming heritage is rooted in traditional, extensive-based methods - where animals are free to roam and behave exactly how nature intended. Our farmers learned from their fathers that looking after the environment is the only way to secure a future for the highest standards of animal husbandry and pasture land management. Many of our family run farms have been pivotal in protecting and preserving the rich, natural resources of the Foyle and Sperrin Valleys and this stunning environment. The secret behind good beef isn't really a secret at all - but a complete focus on the welfare and wellbeing of every animal and a unique convergence of geography, climate and traditional farming methods that can only be found in this region. In truth, the best farming practices haven't changed all that much over many hundreds of years. Working in harmony with the land and the seasons, our farmers prove that sustainable farming is not only practical and achievable, but also rewarding and profitable.
To make a general enquiry or to reach someone at the Foyle Food Group, you can contact us by telephone or send an email. +44 (0) 2871 860691 info@foylefoodgroup.com