Animal Welfare Update

Sherrie NiekampDirector, Swine Welfare

Pork Quality Assurance Plus

PQA Plus Participation• Certified Trainers = 69• Certified Advisors = 1,107• Certified Individuals = 49,978

• Sites Assessed= 11,391• Total = 43,317,141• 66.7% of U.S. Inventory

Assessments by State

1

10

100

1000

10000

AL AR CO GA IA ID IL IN KS KY MD MI MNMO MS MT NC ND NE NY OH OK PA SC SD TN TX UT VA WI WY

States with no completed assessments: AK, AZ, CA, CT, DE, FL, HI, LA, ME, MA, NH, NV, NJ, NM, OR, RI, VT, WA, WV

PQA Plus V1.2• Content Revision

– Enhanced GPP #3– Enhanced GPP #9– Enhanced GPP #10

• Recordkeeping– Medication and treatment records– Emergency action plans– Written euthanasia plan

• Animals & facilities– Timely euthanasia– Facilities

Third-Party Verification: Objectives• Measure the effectiveness of the PQA Plus program,

not to find farms that are not in compliance• Provide credibility to packers and customers

• Provide an alternative to every farm audited every year– Statistically valid random sample

• Enable Pork Checkoff to pay for third-party verification element

• Create one set of industry-developed criteria to avoid confusion and extra cost

How will verification process work?• All sites with Site Status will be in a pool from which sites

will be selected• Producer will be given official notice and information on

how to schedule an appointment with third-party verifier• Completed by third-party, PAACO-certified verifier during

agreed upon date/time• Verifier submit report to third-party database, and send

producer information• Producers work with their advisors to address any issues

identified during the verification process– Minor– Major– Egregious

How will verification process work? (cont.)

• Database reports verification data in aggregate form to the National Pork Board

• National Pork Board uses aggregate verification data to identify areas for additional education and training to promote continuous improvement of the pork industry

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Verification Timeline - 2010• August – Posted request for proposals for verifiers• September – complete Verifier training materials – interview potential 3rd party verifiers

• October – announce 3rd party verifiers• – establish protocols

• November – verifiers complete PAACO certification

• December – draw sites and begin verification process

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PQA Plus Task Force Report• Reconvene the Chicago group• PAACO to certify verifiers and verification checklist• Develop protocols for follow-up on action plans and

egregious acts in assessment and verification• PQA Plus V2.0 in 2013 (3yr revision cycle)– Add worker safety and environment– Revise pork safety and animal care components– Exam for individual certification

• PQA Plus and TQA to remain separate programs

Transport Quality Assurance

Mission:

To continuously build a culture of protecting and promoting animal well-being through training and certification of animal handlers and transport personnel, using current industry proven techniques which will lead to quality pork products and provide consumer confidence in the US pork industry.

Continuous Improvement

■ Three year certification– Enhance material with available research

results– USDA approval of content

■ 2002 – Program Introduced■ 2005 – Revision■ 2008 – Revision (From ‘Trucker’ to ‘Transport’)■ 2011 – Scheduled revision– Work already begun

Metrics• Advisors– 571

• Handlers– 26,000– 40 States

• 90% of all market hogs transported by TQA certified individuals

Euthanasia

Euthanasia Research Update• 4 gas– Pre-fill vs. gradual fill (completed)– Gas mixtures (in progress)– Flow rates (in progress)– Aversion testing (pending revision)

• 2 mechanical– Cash captive bolt (in progress)– Zephyr non-penetrating captive bolt (in progress)

• 2 novel methods– High altitude hypobaric chamber (in progress)– Microwave irradiation (pending revision)

• 1 electricity– For piglets < 10 lbs (completed)

Euthanasia Research Update

• Euthanasia training module

• Euthanasia information delivery

• AASV/NPB Euthanasia Working Group

2011 Efforts

AWC 2011 Program/Research Priorities

• Animal Welfare Research (5 yr plan)• Euthanasia Methods Education (2 yr plan)• Gestation Sow Housing Education (5 yr plan)• Transport Loss Reduction (5 yr plan)• Swine Care Handbook Revision (3 yr plan)

Animal Welfare Research (5 yr plan)• Research Priorities– Euthanasia– Gestation housing – research needs identified from

literature review – Finish pig transport – includes space, bedding, boarding,

transport length and transport losses– Weaned pig transport – includes space, bedding,

boarding, and transport length– Pain management - includes piglet processing practices – Farrowing housing – start with a systematic literature

review

This message funded by America’s Pork Checkoff Program.

Thank You!