The Best Welfare Practices in Sustainable Pig Production roundtable was led by World Animal Protection – formerly World Society for the Protection of Animals – in partnership with the Brazilian Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), and the University of São Paulo.
The talks were focused on the group-housing of sows, but also how improved welfare can improve competitiveness and the sustainability of the industry.
The main item on the agenda was the question of how to move away from the use of sow crates and transition to group housing.
According to World Animal Protection, sows kept in cramped, confined stalls suffer a range of welfare problems, including a higher risk of infection, weakened muscles and psychological distress.
Ruud Tombrock, European director for World Animal Protection, said: "Brazil is at the tipping point of pioneering sustainable animal production.
"When animal welfare advocates, governments and the meat industry engage in areas of mutual interest, we show that humane farming can be both sustainable and profitable."
The event also saw the announcement of a partnership between multinational agro-food company BRF and World Animal Protection. BRF is committing to phasing out individual sow stalls over a 12-year period and adopt group housing, in line with European Union legislative standards.
Brazil is the fourth-biggest pig producer in the world, and is currently engaged with the EU on significant bilateral cooperation activity around animal welfare, according to World Animal Protection.
It has been working with the country’s Ministry of Agriculture since 2008, providing training in 340 slaughterhouses.
"While we realise that Brazilian producers face local constraints, which are very different from those of EU producers, we welcome the fact that EU standards are increasingly being considered the global standard for welfare in animal production," added Tombrock.