Published on March 8, 2018
Hendrix Genetics, first to be certified in France and Poland for PAACO
Our commitment to animal welfare is a top priority, this step is important for standardizing and auditing our efforts on a global scale.
Animal Welfare is a key priority in the Hendrix Genetics Sustainability Program. Many years have been dedicated to the development of an Animal Welfare Program that could apply to all species within Hendrix Genetics. The key to continued success of this program is finding ways to keep performance levels up and to identify when and where improvements are needed. Yearly audits offer a way to monitor performance and our turkey business unit has made significant efforts in this area to ensure we have certified auditors on staff to complete these audits.
There are a number of certification programs around the world and our staff includes auditors who are certified through
- The University of Bristol Poultry Welfare Certification Program
- The Canadian Livestock Transportation Certification
- The Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO)
The largest number of auditors on our team are certified through PAACO, with fifteen employees certified throughout North America and Europe. The mission of PAACO is, “to promote the humane treatment of animals through education and certification of animal auditors, as well as the review and/or certification of animal audit instruments, assessments, and programs.” Since PAACO’s establishment, Hendrix Genetics has been actively involved in the program. We have provided instructors for various training events and also help PAACO candidates, such as customers, allied industry or government, achieve their certification by providing shadow audits and guidance throughout the process.
Two exciting milestones are that the first and only PAACO Certified Poultry Welfare Auditors in France and Poland are employees of Hendrix Genetics!
Having trained auditors and performing audits on a regular basis allow us to continually enhance the welfare of the animals in our care and to lead the industry in best practices. Although the training and certifications referenced in this article pertain to poultry, we can use the expertise of these auditors and the programs they have been trained in, across all species within Hendrix Genetics, as well as to aid customers in ensuring the best care possible for their animals.
I'm convinced that Animal Welfare is a key factor for our future success. It'll never be a constraint but rather an advantage. We are, and will be, proud of the benefits of good practices with our animals.
