“The pork industry is working on programs that will demonstrate to our customers our accountability, trust and social responsibility in pork production,“ said Wayne Peugh, a pork producer from Edelstein, Ill. and National Pork Board president.

He told visitors to the event that the Pork Checkoff was working to provide producers with tools and the ability to do that and PQA Plus will serve as a foundation to help meet that challenge.

Pork Quality Assurance Plus incorporates an animal welfare component, mainly the Pork Checkoff's Swine Welfare Assurance Program. The industry's solution is a continuous improvement system focused on producer education, certification, and premises assessment. An audit of a representative sample of sites will extend credibility to the program.

The PQA Plus will involve 0others in in the pork industry such as Veterinarians. Thier participation and support is vital, said Peugh. 0The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) has been integral in the development and testing of PQA Plus ans is very keen for its members to 0accept the scheme.

“The AASV is very pleased to support the new PQA Plus program,“ said Dr. Daryl Olsen, AASV president. “Practitioners and producers will continue to rely on the framework provided by the new PQA Plus program in maintaining high standards for judicious antibiotic use, residue avoidance, health management and welfare assurance.“

To ensure all 0producers, no matter what type of production, are able to take advantage of the PQA Plus program, the Pork Checkoff has been conducting trials on pilot farms. PQA Plus advisors helped the units 0that took part and offered 0a variety of swine experience and background to the development of the program, on farm.The pilot study covered all types and sizes of pork production units.

“As with any new program, we ran into a few challenges,“ said Larry McMullen, Iowa State University Extension swine field specialist. “The challenges were addressed and resulted in a PQA Plus program that accommodates production methods resulting in positive well-being to animals and allowing for production efficiency.“