Animal welfare has become a major topic in all our overseas and domestic markets. Supermarkets and their customers want assurance that livestock intended for human consumption are treated humanely on farm, during transportation and at meat processing plants.
In particular they want to know that the procedures used in handling animals, from reception at meat plants through to stunning and slaughter, are painless and cause as little distress as possible, according to Dr Nicola Simmons, general manager of Carne Technologies Ltd.
“Some people may argue that the New Zealand meat industry has already put a huge amount of effort into developing and implementing the most sophisticated and safe electrical stunning and slaughter systems in the world,” says Dr Simmons.
“However, the industry is now required to assure the EU that all staff are trained in key welfare and quality issues appropriate to their positions. New welfare regulations come into force next year and encompass the ‘meat industry’ in its broadest sense – farmers, retailers, teaching institutions, the poultry and pork industries, veterinary and animal welfare agencies, and government departments.”
Inevitably these regulations (EC Reg. 1099/2009) may be regarded as yet another market requirement that raises a barrier and increases costs.
However, Dr Simmons believes they can also be seen as an opportunity to make worthwhile productivity gains.
“When all staff, from senior management to slaughtermen, understand the philosophical and practical aspects of animal welfare procedures there are invariably commercial gains through more efficient operation and better product quality,” she says.
“Ultimately, better knowledge, understanding and skills will lead to a measurable reduction in production costs and improved profitability, as well as providing opportunities for increased job satisfaction and staff development.”
Carne Technologies’ staff have a deep understanding of animal physiology underpinning animal welfare and humane slaughter as a result of decades of R&D in Halal and non-Halal stunning, immobilisation and stimulation systems.
Their research into the biochemical processes that are critical to transforming live muscle into tender meat has also helped the industry achieve the highest standards of product quality.
Providing a training package that focuses on both welfare and quality for the wider industry is a logical extension of their current work, says Dr Simmons.
“Through our connections in the UK we have joined forces with the leading meat industry and supermarket training provider to form Animal Welfare Training NZ. Between us we have over 100 years of pure and applied research into the welfare and quality of farm animals during production and slaughter, as well as decades of experience in the transfer of research findings into practical commercial production and primary processing,” she says.
“We are now developing training programmes for producers and processors in New Zealand. The courses will be both theoretical and practical, and will be consistent with the training courses and certification provided in the UK and the wider EU as well as being tailored to specific NZ requirements.”
On September 4, Carne Technologies’ staff along with Paul Whittington, managing director of Animal Welfare Training UK, will present a customised version of the Animal Welfare Officer Processing course to an invited audience of senior management, at the Federated Farmers of NZ offices in Wellington.
“This will allow them to experience the course at first hand and identify the value it can provide to their companies,” says Dr Simmons.
“The presentation will demonstrate the key course principles and objectives, and provide an understanding of the many courses available to the industry from a portfolio covering several training levels.”
Delegates will be invited to give feedback which can then incorporate into the training material. The first formal two-day Animal Welfare Officer course will be held later this year. Depending upon demand, multiple courses will be offered throughout the country next year along with in-house courses tailored to the needs of specific processors.
For more information:
Carne Technologies Ltd
Tel: 07 827 0731
Visit: www.awtraining.co.nz
