In Brazil, the first legislation entirely focused on commercial pig farming with a focus on animal welfare is Normative Instruction 113, which indicates good management and animal welfare practices that must be followed and implemented within defined deadlines within production. . In the wake of this Instruction, Ordinance 365 also appears, which brings new updates to pre-slaughter management practices and humane slaughter. Based on these legislations, the industry seeks, in synergy with the producing farms, to serve and guarantee in an objective and sustainable way a final product of higher quality and added value and which also values well-being throughout the entire production chain.
Ensuring and establishing whether the animal is in good health is not an easy task. All animal welfare practices and management used on farms and in industry must be evaluated together with several concepts, taking into account the physiological needs of the animal; mental and physical states, such as pleasure, pain and happiness and the five freedoms (Freedom from hunger and thirst; Free from discomfort; Free from pain, illness and injury; Free to express the natural behaviors of the species and Free from fear and stress) .
One of the biggest challenges in the pig production chain is qualified labor. Even meeting all animal welfare precepts such as facilities, vehicles and equipment, general management and human interaction versus animal is the most challenging. Thus, the meatpacking industry works continuously to train employees involved in the entire production chain, as well as making them understand that they are not just raising and/or handling pigs, but they are producing a product with high added value, which must be respected and continuous care until the end of the chain, so that it becomes a healthy, tasty, safe protein and ethically treated within wellness practices.
Furthermore, another challenge is making producers aware of the deadlines for adapting facilities within their production. These facilities are where animals can more easily express their species needs and freedoms. Understanding the importance of complying with welfare legislation, especially Normative Instruction 113, will allow the entire production chain to be restructured over the next few years, adding even more value to the protein. In relation to animal welfare practices within the meatpacking plant, these are already much more consolidated, as large processing companies have permanent supervision and are also large exporters, they need to maintain auditable procedures that continuously guarantee all animal welfare practices. well-being.
Therefore, given consumer demand for transparency in industrial processes with a view to animal welfare, quality and suitability of products, it is necessary for companies producing animal protein to act together with farms, to seek better alternatives and ways to deliver sustainable, quality and ethical products to consumers.
Article written by veterinarian Jessica Oliveira
