Bidesi, S.

Chi Nguyen

Doyle, R.

Hai Ngo Hoang Tuan

Hung Nguyen-Viet

Jordan, D.

Luong Nguyen Thanh

Phuc Pham-Duc

Purdie, A.

Shonara, L.

Sinh Dang-Xuan

Smith, A.

Toribio, J.-A.

Trang Le Thi Huyen

Unger, Fred

Wijerathna, Y.

CGSpace

Introduction Important points of concern for animal welfare in the pork value chain are production, transportation and slaughter. Improved animal welfare throughout the value chain benefits all actors due to increased ease and safety when handling animals. Furthermore, animal welfare is critically important for food safety, especially during the slaughter process. Improper animal handling before and during slaughter increases susceptibility to infection and disease and affects meat quality (Stajković et al. 2017). In Vietnam, pork is the most widely consumed meat making up over 70% of meat consumed, 80% of which is produced by smallholder and semi-industrial farms (Nguyen Thi Duong et al. 2015), predominantly slaughtered in small to medium-sized slaughterhouses and distributed through traditional wet markets. One major challenge in the pork value chain is food safety, as fresh pork is highly susceptible to contamination with biological hazards (Nastasijevic et al. 2018). By minimizing stress prior to, or during, transport and slaughter the risk of contamination can be reduced (De Busser et al. 2013). While there is increasing attention from authorities on animal welfare (e.g. included in legislation and circular), public knowledge and awareness are still lacking. The Welfare Quality® assessment protocol was developed and tested in Europe to assess pig welfare on farm and during slaughter. This protocol focuses on four principles of animal welfare: good feeding, good housing, good health, and appropriate behaviour under 12 criteria and several indicators (Czycholl et al. 2018). In work conducted to date, the Welfare Quality® protocol, in conjunction with other welfare assessment frameworks, has been considered for its relevance in Vietnamese pig value chains. It is anticipated that a modified protocol will be used to assess the welfare across the pork value July 2021ILRI RESEARCH BRIEF 101Animal welfare along the smallholder pig value chain in Vietnam: Current status, legal perspectives and way forward Ainsley Smith, Shayal Bidesi, Yushara Wijerathna, Rebecca Doyle, Langley Shonara, Dunham Jordan, Jenny-Ann Toribio, Auriol Purdie, Sinh Dang-Xuan, Luong Nguyen Thanh, Trang Le Thi Huyen, Hung Nguyen-Viet, Phuc Pham-Duc, Hai Ngo Hoang Tuan, Chi Nguyen and Fred Unger.2 |     Animal welfare along the smallholder pig value chain in Vietnam: Current status, legal perspectives and way forwardchain including among consumers. This brief provides insight on the current situation of animal welfare in Vietnam with a focus on the smallholder pig value chain to help in adapting the protocol to the Vietnamese context and by this ensuring its feasibility for implementation.Methodology The content of the review combines different sources, which were used in the ongoing ‘Market-based approaches to improving the safety of pork in Vietnam’ (SafePORK) project that is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). This includes (1) review of current project documents for animal welfare: The first document was a literature review that aims to create a checklist for animal welfare indicators, related to welfare quality assessment (Welfare Quality® 2009) in a Vietnamese context, while the second reviewed the guidelines and current state of pork welfare in Vietnam; (2) observational case study in two pig slaughterhouses operating in the study area affiliated to the SafePORK project; (3) a consumer survey including 225 urban and rural respondents across modern and traditional retail to explore consumers’ views on animal welfare. Collected information was synthesized and reviewed to determine the status and perspectives in animal welfare in Vietnam. Results Animal welfare in pig raising  The majority of pig production in Vietnam is small-scale where producers keep one or two sows and fewer than 10 fattening pigs and finish between four and 10 pigs per year (Lemke et al. 2008; Nguyen Thi Thuy et al. 2020). Table 1 shows the comparison between selected Welfare Quality® assessment criteria and indicators on farm with current regulations and context. Vietnam does have animal husbandry and veterinary laws relating to basic provisions of feed, water, housing and reduction of pain and disease. However, the extent of applying and monitoring these requirements needs to be strengthened. Welfare indicators included in the assessment are also relevant and feasible for the smallholder farms in Vietnam to adapt. Notably, very few studies on public awareness of animal welfare at the farm level have been conducted. For example, Sinclair and Phillips (2019) found that in Vietnam, addressing the lack of public awareness through education and training is perceived to be an important solution for animal welfare. Key messages• Animal welfare at slaughter is important for meat quality and food safety. Stressed or poorly handled animals increase their muscle glycogen use, therefore reducing lactic acid levels, causing increased bacterial growth and decreased shelf-life of meat.• Key aspects of animal welfare are included in the Animal Husbandry Law and Veterinary Law (compared to Welfare Quality® criteria), but there are challenges in its application because it needs to be adapted to the Vietnamese pig value chain context.• Interviewed slaughterhouse managers are aware of the animal welfare concept and that using electric stunning equipment before slaughter is good animal welfare practice, but there is little use of it as concerns exist against it due to making pork appearance less attractive to consumers and affecting mince pork processing. • Slaughterhouse workers are mostly unfamiliar with the animal welfare concept. While no one teaches them about animal welfare, they expressed their interest in learning more about it, especially from skilled trainers and free of charge.• Only a few consumers had heard about the term ‘animal welfare’, referring to keeping pigs in good hygienic conditions or giving them enough space to move in the farm, or slaughtering them with the least possible suffering.3Animal welfare along the smallholder pig value chain in Vietnam: Current status, legal perspectives and way forward           |Table 1. Pig welfare indicators on-farm between Welfare Quality® assessment and Vietnamese regulationsWelfare Quality®, 2009Current Vietnamese regulationWelfare criteria Measures/indicators Good feedingAbsence of prolonged hunger Body condition score Animal Husbandry Law, Article 69-2: Provide adequate animal feeds and water meeting hygiene conditionsAbsence of prolonged thirst Water supply Not specifiedGood housingComfort around resting Bursitis, shoulder sores, absence of manure on bodyAnimal Husbandry Law, Article 69-1: Own breeding housing and breeding space suitable for the livestockThermal comfort Shivering, panting and huddlingNot specified Ease of movement Space allowance Animal Husbandry Law, Article 69-1: Own breeding housing and breeding space suitable for the livestockAnimal Husbandry Law, Article 70-1: Use appropriate vehicles and equipment for transportation, clear space and prevent fear and injury of livestockGood healthAbsence of injuries Lameness, wounds on the body, tail biting, swollen legsVeterinary Law, Article 21-1, b: Reduce the pain, fright and treat the animals humanely during the raising, transporting, slaughtering, destruction of animals and, the prevention and treatment for animals diseases and scientific researchAbsence of disease Mortality, coughing, sneezing, pumping, rectal prolapse, scouringAnimal Husbandry Law, Article 69-3: Prevent and treat livestock diseases as per law provisions on veterinary medicineAbsence of pain induced by management proceduresNose ringing and tail docking, castration, and teeth clippingAnimal Husbandry Law, Article 69-4: Do not beat or maltreat livestockAppropriate behavioursExpression of social behaviours Social behaviour is performed Not specified Expression of other behaviours Stereotypies, exploratory behaviour Not specifiedGood human-animal relationship Fear of humans Not specifiedPositive emotional state Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) Not specifiedAnimal welfare in pig transportation During transportation to the slaughterhouse, the pigs can be exposed to stresses relating to poor husbandry, thermal discomfort and being in a new environment. Indicators for quality of welfare during transport include the duration of transport, the mortality rate, number of lesions, signs of disease, lameness and reluctance to move. Currently, in Vietnam, pigs are often transported by truck or motorbike, however, there is a lack of information about other pig transport practices. Pig transportation is an issue that some producers are concerned about. In an interview with a slaughterhouse operator, they emphasized that good transportation was an important welfare concern and explained that they only transport pigs during suitable time of the day to avoid heat stress on the animals. These aspects are also stated in the Veterinary Law (Article 21-1, b): reduce the pain, fright, and treat the animals humanely during the transport (to the slaughterhouse); and Animal Husbandry Law (Article 70-1): use appropriate vehicles and equipment, feed, water. Animal welfare at pig slaughterhouse Under Vietnamese legislation, several animal welfare aspects (condition and handling of pigs) at the slaughterhouse are stated. However, again they need to be adjusted to the country’s context where only a small number of pigs are slaughtered per day. Table 2 shows the animal welfare measures for pigs at the slaughterhouses in Welfare Quality® compared to the current Vietnamese legislation and field observations at the two pig slaughterhouses under the SafePORK project. While some synergies between the animal welfare criteria and the current regulations exist, others are not specified. Some observations at a typical small- and medium-scale slaughterhouses found a lack of continuous access to water, instead large buckets of water mixed with food would be placed in the pens at certain times throughout the day. This might be critical during hot seasons and if waiting time in the lairage is prolonged. The flooring was also not satisfactory (e.g. open-waste drainage allowed for pigs to get in contact with faecal matter). However, 4 |     Animal welfare along the smallholder pig value chain in Vietnam: Current status, legal perspectives and way forwardthere was adequate space provided in lairage, and pigs were able to lie down. There was also a high prevalence of lesions on the tails of surveyed pigs from biting and signs of lameness. Pigs were moved around the slaughterhouse area using a hook attached under the mandible, a serious violation of animal welfare, and all pigs demonstrated strong discomfort and vocalization while this was happening. Table 2. Welfare Quality® assessment criteria, Vietnamese legislation and pig welfare at slaughterhousesWelfare criteria Measures Current Vietnamese legislationField observations at slaughterhouses under SafePORK projectGood feedingAbsence of prolonged hungerFood provision Not specified Buckets/tray of water mixed with food would be placed in the pens at certain times throughout the dayAbsence of prolonged thirstWater supply Animal Husbandry Law, Article 71-1: Provide sufficient water suitable for the livestock pending slaughter No continuous access to water, instead large buckets/tray of water mixed with food would be placed in the pens at certain times throughout the dayGood housingComfort around restingFlooring, bedding Animal Husbandry Law, Article 71-1: Have places for storage of livestock for hygiene assuranceConcrete floors, open drainage trough so pigs could lie in excrementThermal comfort Shivering, panting, huddling Not specified Majority of pigs lying in the drainage though, potentially to remain coolEase of movement Slipping, falling, stocking density of lorries, stocking density of lairage pensNot specified 3–4m2 each in lairage pens, all pigs had space to lie downGood healthAbsence of injuries Lameness, wounds on bodyVeterinary Law, Article 21-1, b: Reduce the pain, fright and treat the animals humanely during the raising, transporting, slaughtering, destruction of animals and, the prevention and treatment for animals’ diseases and scientific researchLameness was observed in all pigs who were standing (4). 2 pigs had lesions on tail from tail-biting, 3 had scratches (old wounds) Absence of disease Sick animals, dead animalsVeterinary Law Article 25-1, b: Prevention of disease transmission from slaughterhouseSick or dead animals were not observedAbsence of pain induced by management proceduresStunning effectivenessAnimal Husbandry Law, Article 71-2: Reduce fear and pain of livestock; do not beat or maltreat such livestock. Article 71-3: Take measures to make the livestock pass out before slaughter All pigs had tail dockedPigs moved using iron hook attached under the mandibleDespite presence of electrical stunning equipment, it was not used.Appropriate behavioursGood human-animal relationshipHigh pitched vocalizationsNot specified All pigs showed discomfort and vocalized while being restrained by hookAbsence of general fearReluctance to move, turning backNot specified Several pigs could move and turn around lairage/slaughterhouse area Animal welfare in retailing pork and consumption Consumer views on animal welfare are important, as strong consumer demand for positive animal welfare could persuade changes in policy and practice. Three-fourths of consumers mentioned that they had not heard of the term ‘animal welfare’. However, 71% of them were aware that pigs should be kept in good hygienic conditions and 27% of consumers thought that pigs should have enough space to move around and lie down in pens. Only 34% of respondents thought they should be slaughtered with the least possible suffering (Figure 1). Interestingly, animal welfare aspects tend to be more considered by rural consumers than urban ones. For example, rural consumers were more concerned with pigs being able to run around the farm and were more likely to care about how pigs were kept on the farm. Furthermore, rural respondents were more likely to believe that less suffering during slaughter results in improved meat quality. Figure 1. Consumers’ concerns on how pigs are kept at farm and handled at slaughterhouses in northern Vietnam (n=225).Recommendations• As there is a limited perception of animal welfare among pig value chain actors there is a need to increase their overall knowledge and awareness through specific training or wider campaigns.• Pig value chain actors need to be made better aware of the negative aspects of animal welfare violations such as poor meat quality and food safety outcomes. • Observed misperceptions (e.g. poorer meat quality due to electric stunning) need to be corrected. Additional case study may address this point in more detail. • Design of farm and slaughterhouse facilities should be more integrated so that animal welfare is considered early in their planning stage. 35.6%8.9%33.8%10.7%16.9%2.2%5.3%7.6%19.1%27.6%71.1%0 25 50 75 100Don't know/otherDo not careOnly need space to lay downPig can run around in yardPig can have natural behaviour/lesssuffering as possibleEnough space to move aroundPigs/slaughter process are kept in goodhygienic conditionsFarmSlaughterhouse• Consumers can play a key role in promoting animal welfare. They need to be made better aware of the negative aspects of animal welfare violations through wide communication campaigns.References 1. Czycholl, I., Kniese, C., Schrader, L. and Krieter, J. 2018. How reliable is the multi-criteria evaluation system of the Welfare Quality® protocol for growing pigs? Animal Welfare 27 (2): 147–1562. De Busser, E. V., De Zutter, L., Dewulf, J., Houf, K. and Maes, D. 2013. Salmonella control in live pigs and at slaughter. The Veterinary Journal 196: 20–27.3. Lemke, U., Mergenthaler, M., Rössle, R., Huyen, L. T. T., Herold, et al. 2008. Pig production in Vietnam – A review. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 3.4. Nastasijevic, I., Lakicevic, B., Raseta, M., Djordjevic, V. et al. 2018. Evaluation of pig welfare in lairage and process hygiene in a single abattoir. Meat Technology 59(1): 8–22.5. National Assembly. 2015.Veterinary Law, No.79/2015/QH13. Hanoi, Vietnam.6. National Assembly. 2018. Animal Husbandry Law, No.32/2018/QH14. Hanoi, Vietnam.7. Nguyen Thi Duong, N., Lapar, L., Unger, F., Pham Van, H. et al. 2015. Household pork consumption behavior in Vietnam: Implications for pro-smallholder pig value chain upgrading. Conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development. Berlin, Germany.8. Nguyen Thi Thuy, M., Dorny, P., Lebailly, P. et al. 2020. Mapping the pork value chain in Vietnam: a systematic review. Tropical Animal Health and Production 52.9. Sinclair, M. and Phillips, C. J. C. 2019 Asian livestock industry leaders’ perceptions of the importance of, and solutions for, animal welfare issues. Animals 9(6): 31910. Stajković, S., Teodorović, V., Baltić, M. and Karabasil, N. 2017. Pre-slaughter stress and pork quality. IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 85.11. Welfare Quality® 2009. Welfare Quality® Assessment protocol for pigs. Welfare Quality® consortium. Lelystad, The Netherlands. (Available from: http://www.welfarequalitynetwork.net/media/1018/pig_protocol.pdf).Ainsley Smith, Sinh Dang Xuan, Trang Le Thi Huyen, Hung Nguyen Viet, Chi Nguyen and Fred Unger work for the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Shayal Bidesi and Yushara Wijerathna work for the University of Melbourne, Rebecca Doyle works for the University of Melbourne, Australia and ILRI, Langley Shonara, Dunham Jordan, Jenny-Ann Toribio and Auriol Purdie work for the University of Sydney, Luong Nguyen Thanh, Phuc Pham-Duc and Hai Ngo Hoang Tuan work for the Hanoi University of Public Health.Photo credit Page 1: ILRI/Andrew Nguyen Page 2: ILRI/Trong ChinhContact Fred Unger ILRI F.Unger@cgiar.orgILRI thanks all donors and organizations which globally support its work through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund.The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is a non-profit institution helping people in low- and middle-income countries to improve their lives, livelihoods and lands through the animals that remain the backbone of small-scale agricul-ture and enterprise across the developing world. ILRI belongs to CGIAR, a global research-for-development partnership working for a food-secure future. ILRI’s funders, through the CGIAR Trust Fund, and its many partners make ILRI’s work possible and its mission a reality. Australian animal scientist and Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty serves as ILRI’s patron.You are free to use and share this material under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence .better lives through livestockilri.org

Animal welfare along the smallholder pig value chain in Vietnam: Current status, legal perspectives and way forward

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/10568/114795/1/ResearchBrief_101.pdf

Animal welfare along the smallholder pig value chain in Vietnam: Current status, legal perspectives and way forward

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

CGSpace