World Animal Day is celebrated annually on 4 October to coincide with feast day of Francis of Assisi. The day is aimed at celebrating and advancing animal welfare.
The first World Animal Day was held in 1925, and it has been celebrated annually ever since. In recent years, it has become one of the biggest global days of action for animal welfare. Every year, more and more people and organisations join in the celebration.
This year, we encourage SAPPO members and all pig farmers to use the day to self-evaluate the welfare conditions on their farms, to highlight to their personnel that welfare considerations are non-negotiable.
We should ask ourselves the following question: “Are we managing welfare based on the universally accepted five freedoms?
- Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and diet to maintain health and vigour.
- Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from pain, injury, or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities, and company of the animal’s own kind. Animals need to be able to interact with — or avoid — others of their own kind as desired.
- Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering. This is especially important when handling animals.
We have been given the privilege of farming with animals … let us not abuse that privilege.
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) coordinates industry interventions and collaboratively manages risks in the value chain to enable the sustainability and profitability of pork producers in South Africa.
