Steve Larsen National Pork Board

Publish Date: April 17, 2012

Improper injection techniques cost the pork industry thousands of dollars each year. Injection-site reactions, broken needles and lack of product efficacy are consequences of improper injection technique. Everyone involved in treating pigs must understand and use proper injection techniques. Each pork producer should develop an education plan to assure that all animal caretakers understand the responsibilities that go with giving injections to food producing animals.

Publish Date: April 17, 2012

A primary food safety responsibility of pork producers is to market pigs without violative chemical residues to the market(s) they serve. This involves knowing where animal health product withdrawal time information can be found, and how to apply this knowledge every time a drug is used. All animal caretakers must be committed to preventing the marketing of animals with violative residues. The commitment includes reading and following label directions, identifying treated animals and keeping records and protocols that assure the withdrawal time has elapsed before marketing a treated animal. Proper drug usage is everyone’s responsibility.

Publish Date: April 17, 2012

Even before there is a need to treat an animal, pork producers should have a plan for the identification of treated animals. This plan should include the type of animal identification that is most appropriate for treated animals in their operation.

Publish Date: April 17, 2012

The PQA Plus program achieves its goals through: -Individual training by a certified PQA Plus advisor that results in the individual receiving PQA Plus certification. -An objective assessment of on-farm animal well-being which, when combined with the education of the producer through PQA Plus certification, results in the farm receiving PQA Plus site status. -A PQA Plus survey designed to evaluate the implementation of PQA Plus in the industry. Survey results are used to identify opportunities for improvement of the programs information and delivery.

Publish Date: April 17, 2012

Transport Quality Assurance (TQAsm) is a program that helps swine transporters, producers handlers understand how to handle, move and transport pigs and the potential impacts of those actions on pig well-being and/or pork quality. Anyone who handles or transports pigs, or sets protocols for handling pigs, is a potential influencer of animal well-being and pork quality.

Publish Date: April 23, 2012

Needle-free injection techniques can be used to administer vaccines and medications in the pork industry. Needle-free injection offers a fast, effective route of administration. There are hazards that must be addressed to safeguard employees who utilize needle-free injection systems; therefore, an enforced education program is crucial to the success of using needle-free injection in any pork operation.