Training on “Animal welfare in pig production”

Within the framework of the initiative “Better Training for Safer Food”, promoted by the DG SANCO of the European Commission, the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM) is organizing the second edition of the training “Animal welfare in pig production”, which will be held in Parma at the Hotel Parma & Congressi. The course is the first of nine training courses in Animal Welfare to be held in 2014.

The course on Animal Welfare in pig production is promoted at a European level and aims to facilitate the harmonization process, the compliance with the community law and the international standards, which are already in force. It furthermore aims to develop and implement better practices in breeding.

The official veterinarians, who were chosen as representatives and participants by the National Competent Authorities of the Third Countries, will be able at the end of the course to: interpret relevant EU legislation; apply scientific basis for proper housing management (including provisions of enrichment material, group housing of sows and gilts, feeding practices for dry pregnant sows and gilts, mutilation procedures such as tail-docking, tooth clipping and castration) and handling of pigs; monitor animal welfare outcomes, through practical experience on the farm; be aware on how a strong cooperation between competent authorities and stakeholders in the production chain can improve the welfare conditions of pigs at farms.

The 57 participants come from Argentina, Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, The-Former-Yugoslav-Republic-of-Macedonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Holland, Poland, Czech Republic, Portugal, the UK, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.

Delegates of the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Competent National Authority of Denmark, Italy and Sweden and teachers from Universities and international Research Institutes, will facilitate the educational activity and present their lectures. Particular attention will be paid to the evaluation of compliance between breeds and the legislation, the principles and the indicators of Animal Welfare.

The training will consist of face-to-face lessons, exercises and discussions in groups or in plenary sessions. The course will also provide practical training using simulations and fieldwork in breeds.