Toward sustainable development of livestock production with high-quality products for export, Bac Giang is one of the leading localities to implement animal welfare.

The farming area of Hai Thinh Nutrition Joint Stock Company is equipped with perches for chickens.

To meet actual requirements and realize the provisions of the LoAH, recently, Hai Thinh Nutrition Joint Stock Company (Hai Thinh) in Hiep Hoa district has implemented animal welfare on the pig and chicken herds.

The company registered to implement animal welfare for some egg-laying hen and pig farms according to the procedures of the Organization for the Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC). The experts of HFAC consulted about the profile, surveyed the farm and guided the implementation steps.

Hai Thinh company initially applied for 5,000 hens. According to the new process, the hens are not kept in tight cages but a spacious and airy space with perches, nests and other facilities according to the HFAC standards which help them show the natural behavior.

In addition, the company restricts to inject antibiotics and prioritizes to use biological products in disease prevention and control.

Similarly, for pigs, Hai Thinh Company is rearranging the barns and supplies to ensure suitable facilities and space for nearly 1,000 sows according to the animal welfare standards. Previously, each pig was kept in only 0.5 – 1 square meter on average but now the area is doubled.

Regarding the husbandry regime and disease prevention and control, the company ensures that pigs are not hungry and raised in suitable and comfortable environment.

The process of transporting and slaughtering pigs is closely monitored so as to ensures that the animals are fully fed, rested, anesthetized before being slaughtered as well as and don't let them witness their own kind being slaughtered.

Le Van Hung, Deputy Director of Hai Thinh Company said: "Kido Group Joint Stock Company - a company specialized in food production has requested to perform animal welfare before signing in the contract to consume the company's products. The implementation of animal welfare is a premise for enterprises to realize the goal of exporting products to major markets.

In addition to Hai Thinh Company, Son Dong Livestock Joint Stock Company in Bac Giang province has initially applied the welfare process on pigs to export products.

According to competent agencies, the whole province has a total herd of more than 30.6 thousand buffaloes, nearly 110 thousand cows, nearly 900 thousand pigs and nearly 20 million poultries.

Pig and poultry are mainly raised in line with semi-industry and industry way. Meanwhile, almost 100 percent of pigs are kept in captivity. In sow farms, cages are very common. Thus, it does not meet the animal welfare criteria.

Implementing welfare in animal husbandry is not only meaningful to animals but also useful to people and society.

The specify the export strategy of livestock products (pigs, chickens) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as ensure biosecurity criteria according to international standards, recently, the provincial authorities have invited experts to provide training on animal welfare knowledge. It is expected to be replicated in the near future.

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