RESUMO
Food animal production practices are often cited as having negative animal welfare consequences. The U.S. swine industry has not been exempt from such criticisms. Little is known, however, about how lay citizens who are not actively engaged in agricultural discussions, think about swine production. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the views of people not affiliated with the swine industry on what they perceived to be the ideal pig/pork farm, and their associated reasons. Through an online survey, participants were invited to respond to the following open-ended question: "What do you consider to be an ideal pig/pork farm and why are these characteristics important to you?". Generally respondents considered animal welfare (e.g., space, freedom to move, and humane treatment), respondents considered the business operation role important for pork production (e.g., profitability, compliance with sanitary, environmental rules and regulations, and workers' rights), and naturalness (e.g., natural feeding, behaviours and life) important for pork production. Concerns relating to pigs' quality of life included space to move, feeding, contact with outdoors or nature, absence of pain, suffering and mistreatment. Perspectives were also raised regarding the ideal farm as a profitable business operation, clean, and with optimal sanitary conditions. Respondents also emphasized naturalness, frequently stating that pigs should have access to the outdoors, and rejected the use of hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals for the purposes of increasing production. In summary, the findings of this study suggest that the U.S. swine industry should strive to adopt animal management practices that resonate with societal values, such as ensuring humane treatment, and the failure to do so could risk the sustainability of the swine industry.
RESUMO
Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um estudo comparativo em 15 estabelecimentos de abate de aves com serviço de inspeção federal, nos estados de Santa Catarina e Paraná, antes e após receberem o curso de capacitação do Programa Nacional de Abate Humanitário - Steps da Sociedade Mundial de Proteção Animal (WSPA) em parceria com o Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). Foram avaliados os pontos críticos de bem-estar das aves na etapa de pendura, além de seus efeitos na qualidade da carne. Para análise dos dados colhidos, foi aplicado o teste de Wilcoxon, a fim de verificar diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) entre as avaliações. Foram verificados diversos pontos em não conformidade, como condições das aves na área de pendura e índice de lesões de carcaça. Após ser administrado o curso de capacitação, melhorias foram observadas, principalmente no manejo e no índice de hematomas. Desse modo, pode-se inferir que o curso permitiu grandes avanços nas plantas avaliadas, contudo, há necessidade de se fiscalizar e dar continuidade aos treinamentos por meio da atuação dos multiplicadores formados em cada estabelecimento, em conjunto com um programa de bem-estar animal implantado com metas para alcançar os parâmetros ideais.
This work aimed to conduct a comparative study in 15 slaughterhouses with federal inspection service in Santa Catarina and Paraná states, before and after receiving the training course of the National Humane Slaughter Program - Steps from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA). The critical points of poultry welfare were evaluated at the shackling stage and their effects on meat quality. For data analysis, Wilcoxon test was applied in order to identify significant differences (p < 0.05) between assessments. Several points in noncompliance were verified, such as conditions of birds during shackling and carcass downgrading rate. After being given the training course, improvements were observed mainly in handling and bruises rates. This way, one can infer that the course has enabled great advances in evaluated plants, however, there is need to inspect and to get on with the training by means of the action of multipliers trained in each plant along with an animal welfare program implemented to achieve the ideal standards.
