Associations of the pigmeat and beef meet Irta to deal with the challenges of the future

In early June, representatives of national organizations of pigs, cattle, transport of animals and slaughterhouses and meat industries met with various researchers from Irta experts in production, animal welfare and quality of the products in Monells (Girona). The aim was to publicize and share common problems and needs that the pigmeat and beef sectors have or must face in the short term. The meeting attended, by the associations, Jose Antonio del Barrio (Anprogapor), Albert Herranz (Anta), Fernando Pascual (Asocarne), Matilde Moro (Asoprovac) and Miguel Ángel Higuera (PNAS). From Irta, was attended by researchers who explained to the members of the main lines of work partnerships and projects that the Centre currently performs in the field of animal welfare.

These works include those that are carried out in order to establish protocols for animal welfare at the European level and in which Irta has led those affecting the pig sector. Also worth noting that make reference to the subject of castration, alternatives and the production of entire males, the descornado in cattle, the welfare in transport or studies on various methods of stunning before slaughter. There were also those performed on projects of evaluation of genotypes, programmes of support to the sector of the pig selection and the European project Quality Pork Chains.

A time exposed all these lines of research and work, attendees discussed openly on the points of interest and more problematic of animal welfare on farms, transport and slaughter. These issues were faced both from the point of view of production and the image of the sector in society, of the priorities of the livestock and meat, sector of their immediate challenges and the paper which may exercise the Irta as a scientific support for these sectors.

One of the issues addressed was the lack of joint actions between the sectors and Spanish researchers at the level of the European bodies of decision and legislation, often influenced by lobbies of organizations outside the animal production or, when they are, with visions and different needs of the sectors producing South of Europe. That is why this meeting was a first step to continue working jointly on the issue of animal welfare, both at national and European, with the intention of maintaining upcoming meetings.

Once exposed all these lines of research and work, attendees discussed openly on the points of interest and the most problematic of the animal welfare on farms, transport and slaughter. These issues were faced both from the point of view of production and the image of the sector in society, the priorities of the livestock and meat sector, their immediate challenges and the role that can have the IRTA as a scientific support for these sectors.

One of the issues identified by participants was the lack of joint actions between the sectors and Spanish researchers at the level of the European bodies of decision and legislation, often influenced by lobbies of organizations outside the animal production orWhen they are, with visions and different needs of southern Europe-producing sectors. It is for this reason that this meeting was a first step to continue working jointly on the issue of animal welfare, both at national and European level, with the intention of maintaining upcoming meetings.

At this meeting were very clear what are the main challenges and problems, and deciding to continue with upcoming meetings to be able to outline and provide a unitary approach to provide concrete solutions from the point of view of the production of pigs and cattle in Spain, as well as the transport of animals and slaughterhouses and meat industries.