Standards
Our verification programs help producers meet market requirements and confidently validate how cattle are raised. Each program documents key production practices—such as origin, diet, and use of hormones or antibiotics—through independent audits that build transparency, create differentiation, and support access to premium buyers.
CARE Certified
CARE Certified is a leading sustainability standard focused on ethical animal care, environmental stewardship, and community support. It provides transparent verification across livestock and poultry supply chains, ensuring responsible production practices.
RaiseWell Certified
RaiseWell Certified is a third-party standard for livestock and poultry that combines rigorous animal welfare requirements with verified natural raising practices, including no antibiotics or added hormones ever and diets free of animal by-products.
Source & Age Verification
Source & Age Verification confirms each animal’s origin and age, meeting export requirements and ensuring supply chain traceability. By documenting every animal’s ranch of origin and birthdate, it bolsters supply chain transparency and consumer confidence in beef origin.
Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC)
NHTC verifies cattle are raised without any added growth hormones, in line with strict international requirements. This program opens access to premium domestic and international markets and assures consumers the beef comes from cattle never given growth-promoting hormones.
Verified Natural Beef (VNB)
Verified Natural Beef (VNB) ensures cattle are raised under strict natural standards — no antibiotics, added hormones, or animal by-products, ever. This program verifies the integrity of “natural” beef claims, mitigating the risk of inaccurate or unverified claims and giving buyers confidence in beef raised under truly natural conditions.
WFCF Grassfed
WFCF Grassfed certifies cattle are raised on an all-grass and forage diet, with no grain ever fed. This standard aligns with consumer demand for forage-fed beef and ensures the authenticity of grassfed claims.
USDA Organic
USDA Organic certifies compliance with organic production standards, ensuring environmentally friendly, synthetic-free practices. Cattle are raised on organic feed and pasture with no GMOs or prohibited chemicals, giving consumers confidence in truly organic beef.
Non-GMO Project Verified
Non-GMO Project Verified is North America’s leading standard confirming beef is produced without any genetically modified inputs. It verifies cattle are raised on a strictly non-GMO diet from birth to harvest, giving consumers a trusted assurance of truly non-GMO beef.
Feed Verified
Feed Verified ensures traceability and compliance of livestock feed ingredients with strict quality standards. This program verifies that what animals eat meets requirements for feed-related production claims, enhancing transparency and trust throughout the supply chain.
Secure Beef Supply Plans (SBS)
Secure Beef Supply (SBS) helps producers maintain operations and animal movement during disease outbreaks through proactive biosecurity planning. This program tailors disease prevention strategies to each operation, protecting animal health and helping ensure continuity of the beef supply chain even in a crisis.
How To Get Started
See what the first steps look like from your initial call to the on-site visit.
Additional Program Options Through Where Food Comes From
High Quality Beef (HQB) Quota for NHTC feeders