Avianza, the Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat, hosted a comprehensive training day for professionals in the poultry sector, where over ninety attendees from across Spain deepened their knowledge on the important topic of animal welfare. The focal point of the training was the new B+ Animal Welfare Commitment certificate, specific to the poultry meat sector, known as Avianza Animal Welfare Spain (AAWS).
The purpose of this animal welfare seal is to showcase the responsibility and conscientiousness of the poultry sector in utilizing production practices that are respectful to animals, ultimately leading to improved animal management practices and higher product quality.
Leading the presentations at the training day were Dr. Ana E. Blanco, Agricultural Engineer in animal production, and Antonio Alegre, a veterinarian specializing in poultry. They provided in-depth explanations of the AAWS seal, technical regulations, and audit processes for farms and processing plants.
Arn Zaldvar, technical director of Avianza, emphasized the moral and deontological obligation of the poultry sector to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare, going beyond legal requirements. He stressed that consumer sentiment increasingly favors companies that demonstrate commitment to animal welfare, making a certification such as Avianza Animal Welfare Spain (AAWS) essential for the Spanish poultry sector.
The AAWS certification is part of the broader B+ Commitment to Animal Welfare initiative, which aims to elevate the standards of animal welfare across the Spanish livestock-meat sector. For poultry meat producers, obtaining the AAWS certification is necessary to use the B+ Animal Welfare Commitment Mark.
The Avianza Animal Welfare Reference for broiler birds sets out to establish the most rigorous animal welfare standards in meat bird production. The certification evaluates aspects such as feeding, behavior, management practices, handling by staff, and facilities on farms, while also considering transportation, housing, and stunning operations in processing centers. Audits are conducted to ensure compliance with the requirements established in the Avianza Animal Welfare Reference.
This certification is carried out by independent certification bodies and involves continuous evaluation through follow-up audits to ensure ongoing compliance with the established standards. This training day highlights the commitment of the Spanish poultry sector to prioritize animal welfare and enhance the quality of animal production.