WSPA Model Farm Projects & Humane Slaughter Programmes WSPA Proyectos de Granjas Modelo y de Sacrificio Humanitario Hélène O Donnell, Farm Animal Welfare Programme Hélène O Donnell, Departamento del Bienestar de Animales de Granja
Farm Animal Welfare Programme: Rationale Proyecto del Bienestar de Animales de Granja: La lógica Each year 61 billion farm animals are reared for meat, milk or eggs worldwide. ISSUES: - intensive systems - long distances - inhumane slaughter - human health - environment - food security - poverty Inhumane farming systems need to be and can be replaced by humane alternatives that - are kinder to animals - are safer for humans - are better for the environment - guarantee food security - protect rural livelihoods - benefit producers
Asia & Latin America (China & Brazil): Selection criteria Asia y Latino America (China y Brasil): Selección de países By 2020 Asia & Latin America will be the world s biggest producers of meat. Largest production: 12% 42% Brazil China China & Brazil = 54% of world meat production Rest of the world Largest growth: 1995 2005: Brazil: +11%, China: +50% Growth in industrial farming systems Lack of awareness, absence of legislation WSPA added value: - Network of Member Societies & partners - Coalitions (ACFA & LACFAW) - Regional offices (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica) Million metric tonnes 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1995 2005 + 50% + 11% Brazil China Ipsos-Mori polls: farm animal welfare is important - China: 74% - Brazil: 79% Sources: IFPRI and FAO
Farm Animal Welfare Programme: Full cycle Proyecto del Bienestar de Animales de Granja: Cíclo completo Consumer demand Legislation Trade & Consumers Partnership Building for Legislation Change Welfare at slaughter PRODUCTION CYCLE & FARM ANIMAL WELFARE On-farm welfare Humane Slaughter WSPA FARM ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAMME Model Farm Project Welfare during transport Global Long Distance Transport
Model Farm Projects Proyectos de Granjas Modelo PARTNERSHIP: WSPA & Food Animal Initiative (FAI) AIM: Establish an international network of development and demonstration farms to: - Develop humane and sustainable farming systems that are relevant in terms of culture, science, climate, species and topography - Demonstrate to governments, the public and the farming community that humane and sustainable farming is a practical and viable reality LOCATIONS: - Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil - Beijing, China
DEMONSTRATE Model Farm Projects: Methods Proyectos de Granjas Modelo: Metodos High welfare animal management in a commercially viable way = alternatives to industrial farming systems Demonstration & training centres: 1. humane farm animal management techniques and procedures 2. courses on animal welfare and humane farm animal management = sharing knowledge with commercial farmers DEVELOP Research on: - animal welfare - humane farm animal management (incl. environmental, veterinary and food research) = collaborating with industry and academia DISSEMINATE Information on humane and sustainable farming: - research publications - dedicated website (www.modelfarmproject.org) = obtaining support
Model Farm Project operation in China Funcionamiento de la Granja Modelo en China 3 COOPERATIVES - Inner Mongolia: 5 farms (poultry) - Inner Mongolia: 5 farms (beef/sheep/goats) - Beijing: 10 farms (poultry) 3 FARMS - Beijing: Training centre/poultry/sheep - Beijing: Poultry/Dairy/Arable -Beijing: Poultry (LuHua chicken) Restaurants Local Markets (Supermarkets)
Model Farm Project: Progress in China Proyectos de Granjas Modelo: Progreso en China Core network established: 3 farms + 3 cooperatives Model Farm Project Guidelines completed and translated First annual audits completed (Outcome Measures) On-farm training courses Education Memoradum of Understanding signed with Animal Welfare Group at China Agriculture University NEXT STEPS Continue to expand network including slaughter
Model Farm Project operation Brazil Funcionamiento de la Granja Modelo en Brasil Single site, 140 hectares in Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo: Santa Terezinha Farm Head Tenant: FAI-Brazil Managing Director: Murilo Quintiliano Centre Management Model Farm Project (FAI Brazil) & ETCO Partnership Select partners, agree training programmes, attract sponsors Manage relationship with commercial partners/sponsors/universities User Group User Group User Group Model Farm Project Operate farm Engage with industry and local farmers ETCO* Carry out research Run training courses UNESP Wildlife Research Group *Ethology and Animal Ecology Research Group, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal
Model Farm Project: Progress in Brazil Proyectos de Granjas Modelo: Progreso en Brasil First free-range broiler unit Contract with Brazilian poultry producer First herd of beef cattle First training programme (good cattle handling practices) First welfare workshop First theoretical & practical training programme on farm equipment maintenance NEXT STEPS Larger herds Further contracts with producers Further training programmes (e.g. on machinery and implements)
Humane Slaughter Programmes in China & Brazil Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario en China y Brasil AIMS: to achieve change in the behaviour and attitude of people towards animals in slaughterhouses to achieve a status where people in the industry understand - basic concepts in animal welfare - how to effectively use animal behaviour as an indicator of animal welfare in handling & in the design of slaughter premises - that by improving animal welfare they will improve effectiveness of the operations, worker safety and meat quality
Brazil & China: Selection criteria Brasil y China: Selección de países LARGE AND FAST GROWING SLAUGHTER INDUSTRIES: - Brazil: third largest slaughter industry in the world, with approximately 5,000 slaughterhouses - China: largest slaughter and processing industry in the world, with more than 20,000 registered slaughterhouses and more than 1.5 million workers ISSUES: heterogeneous industries - Brazil: 1. large plants operating at good international welfare standards (certification for export) 2. smaller plants working to lower standards = disparities between federal, state and municipal plants - China: 1. pig and poultry slaughterhouses regulated and inspected by the government 2. sheep and cattle plants operated by Muslim communities 3. huge variation in size: 10,000 2,000,000 animals a year ASSET: Large proportion of slaughterhouse owners in Brazil expressed strong interest in improving their practice to include animal welfare
Humane Slaughter Programmes: Methods Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario: Metodos NEEDS ANALYSIS: - lack of understanding of humane slaughter amongst slaughterhouse staff - lack of slaughter legislation - lack of animal welfare element in academic curricula Approach based on internationally accepted standards and recommendations: World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines unanimously agreed by all OIE members, including Brazil and China 3-PRONGED APPROACH: 1. Training programme for slaughterhouse staff 2. Lobbying and advising on development of humane slaughter legislation and codes of practice 3. Incorporation of animal welfare at pre-slaughter and slaughter into the curricula of undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary and animal science students
Humane Slaughter Programmes: Agreements Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario: Acuerdos Consent and support of key in-country authorities and well-established participants: February 2007: Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Chinese Beijing Anhua Animal Product Safety Research Institute. APSRI is closely linked with the Ministry of Commerce, which is the competent inspecting authority of slaughterhouses in China. The Ministry accepted the role of supervisor for the joint project. December 2007: Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Brazilian Federal Ministry of Agriculture (clear multiple references to the importance of the OIE guidelines for the slaughter of animals)
Humane Slaughter Programmes: Training trainers Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario: Formación profesional 6 T1 trainers Slaughterhouse management 1,800 T2 trainers Government inspectors 20,000 Slaughterhouse staff
Humane Slaughter Programmes: Outcomes to date Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario: Resultados hasta hoy IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLING Before After
Humane Slaughter Programmes: Outcomes to date Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario: Resultados hasta hoy IMPROVEMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE - Lairage and raceways - Unloading ramps and surfaces Before After
Humane Slaughter Programmes: Outcomes to date Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario: Resultados hasta hoy Ongoing work with the academic community Agreement with Henan Agriculture University (Zhengzhou) on the inclusion of animal welfare at pre-slaughter and slaughter into the curricula of various relevant courses Ongoing work advising on legislation
Humane Slaughter Programmes: Progress to date Proyectos de Sacrificio Humanitario: Resultados hasta hoy April 2009: WSPA Brazil and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply launched STEPS, a National Humane Slaughter Programme The first group of inspectors (federal, state and municipal) to be trained is from Santa Catarina, one of the biggest producer states in Brazil.
Thank you Muchas gracias heleneodonnell@wspa-international.org