Despite not directly managing animal husbandry and slaughter, the Consortium has guided and continues to guide farmers towards compliance with animal welfare standards. As a fundamental principle and in cooperation with all production chain actors, it engages in dialogue with farmers to improve animal husbandry practices; already in the production specifications it establishes notions of attention to farmed pigs, for example specifying a quality diet in greater detail.
Since 2015 the Consortium has been involved in the development of a pilot project to raise farmer awareness and encourage the adoption of good practices to improve animal welfare and reduce the use of antimicrobials. It has organised meetings with farmers and teamed up with IZSLER (Institute for National Health of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna), facilitating farmers’ participation in Classyfarm, an integrated digital system funded by the Health Ministry and developed by IZSLER, which monitors on-site farm interventions regarding animal welfare, biosafety, nutrition and the responsible use of medicines.
The work pursued nationally through Classyfarm has given rise to new reference Italian standards, SQNBA – the Italian National Quality System for Livestock Welfare. The SQNBA system consists of a set of animal welfare and health requirements, with the aim of improving animal husbandry conditions and ensuring a rise in food quality levels. Approval of specific pork farming guidelines is currently pending.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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