- The Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat has met in Madrid more than ninety professionals from all over Spain to delve into the characteristics and processes of this new B+ Animal Welfare Commitment badge, specific for the poultry meat sector
- This training has been given by Dr. Ana E. Blanco, Agricultural Engineer in Animal Production and Antonio Alegre, veterinarian specializing in poultry farming.
Madrid, February 2, 2024. AVIANZA, the Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat, has carried out a complete training day for professionals in the poultry sector where more than ninety attendees from all over Spain have been able to delve deeper and train on a topic as relevant as animal welfare. Specifically, the training has revolved around the new B+ Animal Welfare Commitment certificate, specific for the poultry meat sector, called Avianza Animal Welfare Spain (AAWS).
This animal welfare seal was created with the aim of demonstrating the responsibility and awareness of the poultry sector with forms of production that are respectful of animals, improving good animal management practices and, therefore, contributing to greater efficiency in animal production. and higher product quality.
The day included presentations by Dr. Ana E. Blanco, Agricultural Engineer in animal production, and Antonio Alegre, veterinarian specializing in poultry, who carefully explained each of the key points to understand the certification. From specific characteristics of the AAWS seal, to the technical regulations of the animal welfare reference, as well as the audit processes for farms and processing plants.
“The poultry sector has the moral and deontological obligation to provide the greatest possible animal welfare to birds, not only to guarantee compliance with current regulations, but to provide standards beyond the legislation,” said Arán Zaldívar, technical director of Avianza. and added that “consideration for animal welfare is increasingly present among consumers and, therefore, the Spanish poultry sector has to be committed to increasing their confidence with a certification such as Avianza Animal Welfare Spain (AAWS). )”.
The commitment to animal welfare in the poultry sector
Improving good animal management practices contributes to greater efficiency in animal production and higher product quality. Hence the importance of all poultry farming professionals being aware of the relevance for their companies of having this certification.
Avianza Animal Welfare (AAWS) is an initiative framed in the common seal “B+ Commitment to Animal Welfare”, a project that arises from the Agri-Food Interprofessional Organizations of the Spanish livestock-meat sector and which brings together the interprofessional organizations of each of the sectors represented. Obtaining the AAWS certification, specific to the poultry meat sector, is necessary to authorize the use of the “B+ Animal Welfare Commitment” Mark.
The AVIANZA Animal Welfare Reference for fattening birds aims to lay the foundations for the strictest animal welfare standards in the production of meat birds. The objective pursued with the certification of the AVIANZA Animal Welfare Reference is to evaluate the animal welfare of poultry farms and processing centers in a standardized and objective manner.
In addition to ensuring compliance with community legal regulations on animal welfare, it raises standards above the legal minimum as it expands the fields of action and control relating to the five freedoms of animal welfare.
On farms, aspects that affect feeding, behavior, management and handling by staff and their relationship with birds, facilities and health are evaluated. While in processing centers, aspects related to the effect of handling by personnel, transportation and related operations, stabling and stunning operations (either electrical or controlled atmosphere), slaughter and possible injuries during these practices. The evaluation is carried out through audits in which direct and indirect conditions that may affect poultry are verified.
This certification is carried out by certification bodies, and is part of a constant evaluation, through follow-up audits, which ensure continuous compliance with the requirements established in the AVIANZA Animal Welfare Reference.
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