TQA HANDBOOK Version 7

Building a Stronger Industry TQA HANDBOOK Version 7 TRANSPORT QUALITY ASSURANCE® (TQA®) HANDBOOK 1 CONTENTS Introduction . 3 1 Pig Behavior . 5 2 Handling . 13 3 Facilities & Equipment . 23 4 Loading, Unloading & Transportation . 27 5 Fitness of the Pig . 37 6 Biosecurity . 43 7 Emergency Response Plan . 51 8 Laws, Regulations & Audits . 59 Appendix . 64 Transport Quality Assurance (TQA): Building a Stronger Industry In the pork industry, and all businesses involved in the food chain, earning and maintaining the trust of our customers - retail, foodservice and the consuming public - has never been more challenging. This fact, and our desire to adhere to high ethical standards and best practices, led to the development of the Transport Quality Assurance® (TQA®) program. Originally launched in 2002, TQA has undergone six revisions to provide the most current, science-based information on humane handling and transport of pigs to over 31,000 handlers and transporters in the industry. The TQA program helps pig transporters, producers and handlers define best practices and the potential impacts those actions can have on pig well-being and/or pork quality. 2 TRANSPORT QUALITY ASSURANCE® (TQA®) HANDBOOK We Caresm: Making Our Individual handlers and transporters Industry Stronger earn their certification through Pork industry leaders launched the participation in an education program We Care initiative to address public administered by a certified TQA concerns about pork production . Advisor through face-to-face or TQA is a critical component of the online trainings . We Care initiative and is a clear demonstration of the industry’s This handbook is a comprehensive commitment to responsible farming and resource detailing good production, continuous improvement . At the heart of this management, and handling practices and commitment, is a statement of ethical principles guidelines of the Transport Quality Assurance that asks each and every member of the pork program . This is an educational handbook for all industry to make the following commitments: parties involved in the production of pigs . The TQA certification training is geared toward the • FOOD SAFETY: We affirm our obligation handler and transporter, so this handbook should to produce safe food. be utilized to further explore the high-level topics • ANIMAL WELL-BEING: We affirm our covered in that training program . obligation to protect and promote animal well-being. Although everyone involved in the pork operation is responsible for being knowledgeable and • ENVIRONMENT: We affirm our obligation implementing good production, management to safeguard natural resources in all of and handling practices, there are instances our practices. throughout the handbook where specific roles • PUBLIC HEALTH: We affirm our obligation to are defined . These roles include: ensure our practices protect public health. • Pork producer and producer: everyone involved • OUR PEOPLE: We affirm our obligation to in the pork operation on the farm including the provide an environment that is safe and operation management and handlers consistent with our other ethical principles. • Management: the owner or decision-maker • OUR COMMUNITIES: We affirm our for the facility or pork operation obligation to contribute to a better quality of • Handler: individuals responsible for the life in our communities. day-to-day care and handling of the pigs • Transporter: individuals responsible for the Along with the Transport Quality Assurance movement and transport of pigs program, the pork industry offers the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA®) program to support The Role of Handlers and Transporters animal well-being and maintain a safe, high- quality supply of pork . The We Care initiative ties Pig handlers and transporters play a key role everything together to help the public view the in the pork production process . The pork pork industry as a self-regulated business that production system involves not only moving earns the trust of others . animals from the farm to the market or harvest facilities, but it also involves handling and The TQA Program moving an animal several times throughout the production cycle . Animals are often moved and TQA is a clear demonstration of how the pork handled for purposes of: industry promotes and implements responsible practices when handling and transporting pigs . • Routine daily care This is not a result of regulation or mandate but • Treatment of an illness or injury rather an acknowledgment that adhering to good • Reproduction production practices is a good business decision • Relocation to another production phase and and is the right thing to do . location/site • Marketing TRANSPORT QUALITY ASSURANCE® (TQA®) HANDBOOK 3 Market Breeding Bred Breeding Weaned Stock Animals to Farrowing Finishing Arrives Gestation Farrowing Animals Nursery In the figure above, each arrow in the illustration Pork Quality is a point where pig/handler interactions can Improper handling and transport of pigs largely occur through handling and transportation . contributes to profit losses . Most losses typically This figure illustrates all segments of the pork result from the events immediately before, during production system . No matter the segment, the and after transport . Estimates show that bruises actions of a handler or transporter can have alone can cost the U .S . pork industry millions of a significant impact on pig well-being, health, dollars per year . Overall pork quality defects total biosecurity and pork quality several hundred million dollars annually . Handling Animals and Following Evidence of improper handling and/or transport Biosecurity Protocols can be seen through: The conditions under which pigs are handled • Carcass losses resulting from trimming off and transported can have a direct impact on their bruises well-being . Research has shown that using good • Pale, soft and exudative meat (PSE) animal handling practices benefits the pig, the • Dark, firm and dry meat (DFD) handler and the industry . Benefits Benefits Benefits to the to the Pig to the Handler Industry/Public Color •Texture • Exudation Less stress Easier pig movement Meets USDA PSE humane handling Pale pinkish gray, very Soft and regulations Exudative - undesirable appearance Promotes Less frustration TQA certified and shrinks excessively good pig handlers show a health and commitment to RFN well-being pig well-being Able to Fewer losses Shows that the Reddish pink, Firm and Non- express industry strives Reduced loading times exudative - IDEAL - desirable color, their lean to be ethical and firmness and water-holding capacity genetic Better meat quality stop animal abuse potential Demonstrates that Prevents disease DFD movement and handlers and the industry are committed introduction Dark purplish red, very Firm and Dry to protect and promote - firm and sticky surface, high water- animal well-being holding capacity 4 TRANSPORT QUALITY ASSURANCE® (TQA®) HANDBOOK CHAPTER 1 PIG BEHAVIOR TRANSPORT QUALITY ASSURANCE® (TQA®) HANDBOOK 5 Understanding basic pig behavior and body language will help contribute to a safe and positive experience for the pigs and the handler. This chapter will take a close look at the following topics: • Basic Pig Behavior • Herd Behavior and Group Patterns • Best Practices BASIC PIG BEHAVIOR Flight Zone The flight zone is the area around an animal that it Handle pigs with knowledge of pig behavior . considers its individual space . Pigs try to maintain Understanding basic pig behavior and body a safe distance between themselves and their language will help contribute to a safe and handlers . That safe distance varies among pigs, positive experience for both the pigs and the from moment to moment for each pig and with handlers . A significant portion of a pig’s behavior even minor changes in handler behavior and body can be attributed to natural instinct and is further language . A pig’s flight zone may decrease in size impacted by the age, gender, genetics, health with frequent, positive human interaction . The more status, environment and previous experiences threatening the handler, the greater the distance of the pig . Calm pigs are easier to handle pigs want to keep from them . When a handler gets than excited, agitated pigs . Handling will be too close or too threatening, pigs get scared or easier and pigs will be less likely to become defensive and their body language and behavior agitated and bunch together if handlers use change . Handlers need to recognize cues that pigs basic behavioral principles . An important part of are getting scared and release their pressure to let effectively using pig behavior during handling pigs calm down and stay responsive . procedures is learning how the pig perceives and responds to the handler in different situations Point of Balance and environments . There are three basic characteristics of the individual pig to consider: Pigs use this to determine which way to move away from the handler as long as the pig has • Flight zone space to move away and the handler allows it • Point of balance to move away . Typically, the point of balance is • Senses – sight, hearing and smell located at a pig’s shoulder, but this may change 6 TRANSPORT QUALITY ASSURANCE® (TQA®) HANDBOOK depending on the environment . There are many also plays an important role during handling . conditions where the point of balance will not accurately predict how a pig will respond . There Figure 1 1. shows the flight zone, point of balance and are situations where best results are achieved blind spot of an individual pig . This diagram illustrates by working ahead of pigs and letting them circle a very specific set of conditions that are not always past, for example, as they move out a gate . commonly found in barns or transport trailers . When pigs are moving up a loading ramp, the point of A common error handlers may make is attempting balance will be at the shoulder, but the flight zone to move the pig forward while standing in front of should still be observed so the pig is not crowded the pig and tapping it on the rear or pressuring and can get release from handler pressure .

Load more