Held successfully the course on animal welfare in the Irta Monells (Girona)

Those responsible for the Subprogama of Animal welfare of Irta organized last days 16, 17 and 18 June a training course for the assessment of animal welfare the pig fattening farm according to the standardized protocols of the European project welfare quality. This project, which ended in 2009, with the participation of more than 250 researchers from Europe and Latin America of 44 different institutions and a total of 17 countries and culminated with the publication of three documents for the assessment of animal welfare at farm and slaughter of chickens, among others,, cows and pigs

Upon completion of the project the researchers of the Irta, Antoni Dalmau and Antonio Velarde, organized in the Irta Monells (Girona) the first course of training in the implementation of these protocols, in quality of responsible for the preparation of the document to the pig. The course had a total length of 25 hours, with classes both theoretical (in classroom, analyzing videos and photographic material on the behavior of animals) and practical (on farm). Twelve participants organized course were veterinarians and agronomists from all Spain, with prior knowledge in the field of pig production.

During the course, students received training in order to assess more than 20 different variables in order to determine the level of well-being of the pigs for fattening farm, including those related to adequate food, a good accommodationa proper health and behaviour appropriate to the animal. After passing various assessments, the students received the certificate of adequacy.