PAACO & Animal Welfare Audits. Angela K Baysinger, DVM, MS Farmland Foods

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1 PAACO & Animal Welfare Audits Angela K Baysinger, DVM, MS Farmland Foods

2 Who is PAACO? Professional Animal Auditing Certification Organization Certification body Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) Non-for-Profit organization

3 Mission to promote the humane treatment of animals through education and certification of animal auditors and to promote the profession of animal auditors.

4 What Does PAACO Do? Certification of Auditors Certification of Audits Training of Auditors

5 Why is Certification Needed? Audits: Minimum standards for animal handling & welfare Auditors need the following characteristics: Trained in their discipline (species specific) Qualified by education & experience for each species Trained by professionals in the field of animal welfare/husbandry Certified education, experience and training (audit process & minimum standards) Recourse for inappropriate behavior by an auditor (ax to grind)

6 Minimum Standard for Welfare Audits Physical Inspection of animals Documentation of injury & morbidity Housing conditions Protection from environmental insult Caregiver & SOPs Day-to-Day care Treatment & Euthanasia Catastrophic event protocols

7 How Audits Are Reviewed Expert ad hoc committee Judge the breadth and validity of proposed audit One PAACO Board member specialty One PAACO Board member other PAACO member organization specialty Will accept recommendation from Audit origin

8 Auditor Applicant Qualifications Specialty specific credentials required with application for training Must involve direct observation of specialty of concern Direct interaction with animal caretakers Education requirements High School w/ 10yrs experience Assoc. Degree w/ 5 yrs experience Bachelors Degree or greater w/ 3 yrs experience

9 Meat Plant Animal Welfare Training Two training and certification programs Feb Sept 2006 Planning June 2007 Pork and Beef AMI Guidelines Industry-base instructors Examination Shadow auditing required Three Meat Plant shadowings

10 Poultry Welfare Auditor Training Three day Poultry training Sept in AR Utilized Industry standards (i.e. UEP, NCC, NTF, etc.) Covered all areas (Turkey, Broiler, Layer, etc.) Classroom & on-site training Examination Two shadow audits required Several areas need greater clarification

11 Meat Plant Auditor Training & Certification Trained 46 Certified 21 to date Poultry Auditor Training & Certification Trained 62 Certified 20 to date

12 Why On-farm Audits Matter to the Packer/Processor

13 U.S. Farm Bill Huge potential to affect Animal Welfare Poultry Slaughter Poultry, Swine, Dairy Calves Housing Transportation of all species Government Procurement rules

14 Welfare Certification Programs Free Farmed Fee service for profit Created Standards that they audit Approve own Auditors Certified Humane Raised & Handled Fee service for profit Created Standards Guide 65 Certified Approve own Auditors

15 Pigs No antibiotics ever No animal byproducts in feed No gestation crates Sows provided freedom of movement in farrowing (birthing) pens Bedding required to satisfy natural rooting instincts Lamb No antibiotics ever No supplemental growth hormones No animal byproducts in feed Pasture raised Poultry No antibiotics ever No animal byproducts in feed No beak trimming for broiler chickens and game hens * Appropriate beak trimming for turkeys allowed when necessary Appropriate litter provided for comfort and to satisfy natural foraging instincts

16 PQA Plus Why is PQA Plus being developed? To put the pork industry in a position to demonstrate to its customers the commitment of the industry to providing the best possible care for its animals.

17 PQA Plus How does PQA Plus work? PQA Plus merges the concepts of the current PQA program, food safety and animal well-being, in three easy to complete steps: Individual certification through education Farm site assessment Opportunity for audit gives customer credibility Stratified sample of individual farms To be released June 2007

18 Thank You! Angela Baysinger, DVM, MS Farmland Foods, Inc.