Animal Healthcare
The Dutch government has set out the requirements for pig-keeping in the Animal Health and Welfare Act. The act is the basis for keeping animals healthily and combating transmissible animal diseases. The requirements apply to animal hygiene, health, safety, welfare, environment and transport.Veterinary surgeons
Pig farms are constantly under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon. The veterinary surgeon regularly visits the business to see how things are going and assess the health of the animals. This veterinary surgeon has a great deal of knowledge and experience and specialises in pig farming. The vets are recognised under the code of Good Veterinary Practices (GVP). They are approved as a result of extensive checking by the independent certifying organisation, Certiked. These checks are repeated annually thereafter.
If necessary, veterinary surgeons can call on the experts at the Animal Health Department and one of the institutes in the veterinary medicine facility at the University of Utrecht.
Prevention of diseases
The pig farms which supply to VION Fresh Meat West are obliged to prevent animal diseases. They must protect their farms against the introduction of harmful pathogens. For example, they have a special changing room, special clothing for visitors and a visitor registration system. At most farms, visitors must shower and/or wear special clothing before they are admitted.
Veterinary surgeons and pig farmers record the examinations and/or treatments performed at the pig farm. This means that the entire medical history of each animal will be known.
Pig breeding farms comply with the Health Certification Regulations. They must meet all sorts of requirements to prevent and combat animal diseases. There are also requirements for hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting. The farms are inspected four times a year for this by the Animal Health Department.