Consumers from different parts of the world are increasingly concerned about animal welfare. Care is not just for pets. Everyone is aware of the way in which farm animals such as poultry and pigs are raised. After all, what happens to animals that cannot proceed to slaughter? The answer lies in euthanasia. The measure is applied in cases where it is no longer viable to keep the animal in the production system, or in conditions where it presents imminent suffering, such as fractures, open injuries, conditions that do not respond to treatment, etc.
Brazil currently has different approved euthanasia methodologies that can be used in pig production units. “Whichever method is chosen, it must be simple to perform, safe and in accordance with the rules of international law, in order to meet the principles of animal welfare, the people involved in this work and to ensure a safe production. ethics and sustainability, ”says Juliana Ribas, production coordinator at Agroceres PIC, Master in Animal Production at the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT).
Brazil has tools that regulate the euthanasia of animals. One was developed by the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine (CFMV). However, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) has just edited and published the Guide to Pig Euthanasia in Farms – Good Practice for Pig Farming Welfare.
According to Juliana Ribas, the document brings together, in an organized manner, the methodologies indicated by the Map for the euthanasia of swine according to the premises advocated by the international animal welfare institutions, including the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Given these new methodologies, it is essential to train professionals for the correct application of euthanasia methods, emphasizes Juliana Ribas. Next, it is important to disseminate the concept of euthanasia for the improvement of animal welfare in pig production. “We need to disseminate this knowledge in the field, making clear the importance of euthanasia within the production process as an indispensable condition for sustainable production”, she says.
Juliana Ribas will be the coordinator of the Elimination Methods (“Euthanasia”) Panel for Swine and Poultry at the 19th Poultry, Swine and Fish Scientific Technical Seminar, which takes place within AveSui Latin America. The purpose of the initiative will be to deepen the discussions about euthanasia, focusing on the importance of its adoption and the correct execution of its procedures in the poultry and swine production units.
“We will build a programming with a very complete approach to the subject, emphasizing aspects such as the methods available, their practical applicability in the field, as well as their limitations and challenges,” explains the coordinator. She adds that another objective of the panel is to combine a technical and practical approach to the topic, in order to provide current and quality information to participants.
About the Programming
With the objective of spreading new knowledge, cutting-edge research and discussing advances provided by the use of new technologies, the Oswaldo Gessulli Institute (IOG) will hold, on July 28, 29 and 30, 2020, the 19th Poultry Scientific Technical Seminar, Swine and Pisces and the 5th Precision Livestock Farming Congress – “Artificial Intelligence in Support of Animal Production”. The full schedule should be released shortly.
About AveSui Latin America
With its 19 years of pioneering partnerships, technical seminars, product launches and new business, AveSui was consolidated over the years as the meeting point of the poultry and swine industries of Latin America, always updated and bringing the latest news in this sector.
AveSui will be held on July 28th to 30th in the city of Medianeira, Parana State, in Lar Convention Center, in Brazil. Visitors entry is free for professionals of these sectors.