Livestock farmers in Iowa and across the nation are being pro-active about animal care. They are voluntarily working through training sessions and on-site farm evaluations to make sure they are on track as they care for livestock.
Pork producers, for example, go through a program called PQA Plus program, which helps continuously improve animal well-being. Really, it’s not that much different than the training and job evaluations that people go through in every business.
It’s all about taking steps to get better.
That idea struck me recently when I attended an animal care seminar in Denver. Topics at the seminars were pretty detailed, ranging from building a strong relationship with your veterinarian to implementing a biosecurity plan for the farm.
But the overall message was the same as it was when I took an animal care course in 4-H eight years ago: A livestock farmer’s first job is taking good care his animals.
If I attend the conference eight years from now, I’m sure the technology and techniques of animal care will be further improved. But I’m certain the focus of the will still be the well-being of the animal, just as it was during my days in 4-H. Techniques and technology may change on livestock farmers, but caring for animals really doesn’t.
The bottom line: Farmers are serious about animal care and keep trying to get better. That means consumers can be assured farmers are doing what’s right for their animals and for food security.
Written by Bethany Pint
Bethany is an Ag Commodities Writer for Iowa Farm Bureau.
A livestock farmer, like any other businessman, strives to improve their product. The consumer dictates product improvement, and the farmer is well equipped with training, technology and life experience to accommodate the changing demands of the marketplace. It is vitally important, however, that the training start early. It begins with that young person following careful instruction while helping the parent care for livestock on the farm, with the raising of 4-H animals, and with the continuation of their education through various vocational agriculture programs. Hopefully our young people won’t lose access to these early experiences through governmental regulation. Like so many other things in life, a lesson learned early on can be built upon with a much more favorable outcome for the livestock, the farmer and the consumer.