What Is Prop 12 and Why Should You Care?

California's landmark animal welfare law, explained in plain English.

In 2018, California voters passed Proposition 12, one of the strongest farm animal welfare laws in the country. The law established minimum space requirements for breeding pigs, egg-laying hens, and veal calves. It also prohibits the sale in California of covered products from animals that do not meet those standards, regardless of where they were raised.

In simple terms, if pork is sold in California, the breeding sows that produced it must have enough space to lie down, stand up, stretch out, and turn around freely. The law effectively eliminated the use of gestation crates for pork sold in California and applies to products such as pork chops, roasts, ribs, bacon, and ham.

Why It Matters

For decades, much of the pork produced in the United States came from large-scale operations where breeding sows spent much of their lives confined in gestation crates.

These enclosures restricted natural movement and prevented animals from turning around comfortably or expressing normal behaviors.

Proposition 12 changed that by requiring breeding pigs to have a minimum of 24 square feet of usable floor space per animal.

While it's not the same as raising pigs outdoors, it represents an important step toward more humane animal care and improved welfare standards.

Where Santa Barbara Meat Company Stands

Our pigs had room to move long before Proposition 12 became law.

Our heritage Berkshire pigs are raised in spacious outdoor pens, not because regulations require it, but because we believe it's the right way to raise animals. They have room to root, explore, move freely, and behave naturally.

We never use crates. We never use added hormones. We never use routine or growth-promoting antibiotics. If an animal becomes sick, we provide appropriate treatment because responsible animal care comes first.

Our Berkshire pigs are finished on barley and spent brewers grain and raised with care by a ranching family that has been stewarding this land since 1975.

Proposition 12 established a minimum standard. We aim well beyond that standard every day.

What to Look For When Buying Pork

If you're purchasing pork in California, it should meet Proposition 12 requirements.

But compliance is only the starting point.

When choosing pork for your family, consider asking:

• Where were the pigs raised?
• What were they fed?
• Were they given access to outdoor space?
• How were they cared for?
• Can I visit the ranch or farm?

The answers matter.

When producers can clearly explain how their animals are raised and welcome your questions, that's a sign of transparency and accountability.

We're always happy to answer those questions and share how we raise our animals.

To learn more or schedule a ranch visit, call (805) 364-2346.

Our Heritage Berkshire Pork Standards

✓ Prop 12 Compliant
✓ Raised in Spacious Outdoor Pens
✓ No Gestation Crates
✓ No Added Hormones
✓ No Routine or Growth-Promoting Antibiotics
✓ Finished on Barley & Spent Brewers Grain
✓ Hand-Cut in Our On-Ranch Butcher Shop
✓ Raised by Families Who Care