COLUMBUS — The Ohio Pork Producers Council board of directors are proving they are committed to providing a safe and wholesome product for consumers.
The board passed motions during its April meeting recommending all Ohio pork producers become Pork Quality Assurance Plus certified and complete their site assessment and Transport Quality Assurance by December 2010.
Doing their part
All board members are doing their part and will complete the Pork Quality Assurance Plus certification by September 2009.
The board is also encouraging all markets and packers to require Pork Quality Assurance Plus.
“Pork producers must take action now and show their responsibility by taking part in this initiative,” said Jim Albaugh, Ohio Pork Producers Council president.
“By participating in Pork Quality Assurance Plus and becoming Pork Quality Assurance Plus-certified and by having an assessment of animal well-being practices conducted on their farm, pork producers can demonstrate to the industry’s consumers that they do the right thing every day,” Albaugh said.
More than 27,000 pork producers in the U.S. have received Pork Quality Assurance Plus Certification and the number of producers who have received Pork Quality Assurance Plus site status continues to grow.
In Ohio, nearly 1,200 producers have participated in the Pork Quality Assurance Plus program to date.
Flagship program
Pork Quality Assurance Plus is the industry’s flagship pork safety, antimicrobial use and animal well-being program. The program demonstrates to customers, consumers and the public that the pork industry is committed to the responsible production of safe and wholesome pork product.
More information on Pork Quality Assurance Plus can be found pork.org.
Swine transportation
Transport Quality Assurance is a program that helps swine transporters, producers and 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.
More information
For more information on the Pork Quality Assurance Plus certification or Transport Quality Assurance program contact the Ohio Pork Producers Council office at 614-882-5887 or e-mail disler@ohiopork.org.
