Development of a risk analysis tool and of consulting service to improve animal welfare and to reduce the needs for antibiotic use in Italian heavy pigs
Improving pig welfare has a pivotal role in improving the sustainability of the pork supply chain and the quality of derived meat products. This topic is of great interest at both productive and economic levels since it can improve the efficiency of the pork supply chain and it has a broader impact on the market. Through the application of innovative risk assessment analysis and appropriate consulting service, the farms will be supported to accomplish the goal of improving animal welfare and reducing the need for antibiotic use in heavy pigs intended for PDO productions, which benefits all the actors in the pork supply chain.
Project activities consist of modelling a protocol for animal welfare risk assessment, composed by animal-, resource- and management- based criteria. This instrument will be applicable at both farm and slaughter level. The tool will be applied to the project partners in order to involve all the steps of the supply chain. Moreover, a consulting service will be created to support farmers in the individuation of the critical points for animal welfare, antibiotic use and to identify improvement activities. Lastly, the
divulgation programme is planned to spread the information on risk management to all the stakeholders, to describe the benefits deriving from improved animal welfare in swine production.
Project activities consist of modelling a protocol for animal welfare risk assessment, composed by animal-, resource- and management- based criteria. This instrument will be applicable at both farm and slaughter level. A consulting service will be created to support farmers in the individuation of the critical points for animal welfare, antibiotic use and to identify improvement activities. The protocol will produce the following results:
To improve stakeholders knowledge and skills on the legislation about animal welfare, pig protection and the use of antibiotics;
To improve farm and abattoir workers abilities to identify the critical points affecting productive parameters and slaughterhouse meat waste, then to set-up concrete improvement actions with regard to animal welfare;
To optimize the organization abilities of the supply chain in order to improve the quality of derived products.
The project will have an effect on many phases of the production system. It will support the accomplishment of minimal standards on swine protection, as reported by the Dir 120/20008 EC and the Racc. 336/2006 EC (including rearing pigs with intact tail). It will also promote the improvement of the production parameters. Moreover, the project may have an impact on reducing the number of damaged carcasses and the number of carcasses removed from the dressing line, allowing to improve the efficiency of the speed-line and to reduce the wasted meat. Lastly, meat quality deriving from pigs raised with higher animal welfare standards may enhance the quality of PDO production, with a positive impact on the value of the derived products.
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