Good livestock practices

Content:

• Introduction: This module provides an overview of the importance of animal health and management practices in animal production, establishing the relationship between animal health, food safety, and the overall well-being of consumers. The theoretical and practical foundations related to animal health, its impact on productivity, the quality of derived products, and the international regulations governing animal health in the food chain will be addressed.
• Animal Health: This section will examine strategies and protocols for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of both infectious and non-infectious animal diseases. Methods for controlling zoonoses (diseases transmitted from animals to humans) will be included, as well as the management of prevalent diseases in livestock, such as bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, foot-and-mouth disease, and respiratory infections in poultry and pigs. In addition, veterinary policies for vaccination, parasite control, and animal public health programs will be discussed.
• Milking Hygiene: This module addresses hygiene practices and regulations in animal milking, especially in milk production, with the goal of preventing microbiological contamination of dairy products. Best practices for cleaning and disinfecting milking equipment, proper animal handling, control of mastitis and other mammary disorders, and the importance of maintaining high sanitary standards in the milking parlor to ensure the quality and safety of the final product will be discussed.
• Water and Feed: This section focuses on the management of water and feed resources in animal production. The nutritional requirements of animals according to their species, life stage, and production conditions will be examined, as well as best practices for formulating balanced diets. The importance of water quality for animal health will also be addressed, including the prevention of waterborne diseases, the control of contaminants in water sources, and management practices to ensure an adequate supply of safe drinking water and quality feed.
• Animal Welfare: Scientific principles and regulations related to animal welfare in agricultural production will be analyzed. The importance of providing adequate housing, space, ventilation, and social management to prevent stress and promote natural animal behavior will be discussed. Animal welfare indicators such as body condition, mental health, and the absence of unnecessary pain or suffering will also be addressed. Animal welfare certification systems, such as Welfare Quality® and international regulations of the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health), will also be studied.
• Training and Recordkeeping: This module emphasizes the need for adequate training for personnel involved in animal production, both at the technical and operational levels, in areas including health, management, food safety, and animal welfare. Training and professional development methods, the importance of keeping detailed records on animal health, treatments administered, and management practices, as well as the auditing and internal control systems necessary to ensure compliance with health and welfare regulations, will be addressed.
• Environment: The environmental impacts of livestock farming activities will be studied, including air, soil, and water pollution due to greenhouse gas emissions, animal waste, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Sustainable environmental management practices in livestock farming will be analyzed, such as proper slurry and manure management, erosion control, and the implementation of agroecological systems that promote biodiversity and natural resource conservation. In addition, strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of animal production will be discussed.
• Animal Transport: This module examines the health and ethical aspects related to animal transport, addressing current regulations on transport conditions, journey duration, welfare during transport, and the measures necessary to prevent animal suffering. Regulations from the EU and other international organizations, such as the FAO, on the transport of live animals will be analyzed, and emerging technologies to improve the safety and comfort of animal transport will be discussed, such as state-of-the-art transport vehicles and real-time monitoring of travel conditions.
• Animal Slaughter: Animal slaughter methods will be addressed, with a focus on compliance with regulations that guarantee an ethical, humane, and sanitary process. Legislation related to animal welfare during slaughter will be discussed, including stunning techniques and rapid death to minimize suffering, as well as inspection and control processes in slaughterhouses. In addition, regulations on the handling of slaughter byproducts and protocols to prevent cross-contamination and ensure the traceability of slaughter products will be examined.
• Traceability: This module will discuss the importance of traceability in the food chain, specifically in animal production, to ensure food safety and the efficient management of health risks. The technological systems used to follow the journey of animal products from the farm to the consumer's table will be detailed, ensuring the control of zoonotic diseases, product authenticity, and response to potential disease outbreaks. The legal frameworks and international regulations requiring traceability in livestock farming will also be addressed, such as the animal identification and registration system and traceability system requirements in the European Union and other countries.

Goals

• Understand the influence of Good Livestock Practices in obtaining healthy and safe food.