By Casey Zangaro and Madonna Benjamin
Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) is an educational tool designed to help pork producers and their employees continuously enhance their production practices through a certification program. The benefits of PQA Plus certification include improved animal welfare, increased food safety, and a positive impact on public health, all of which contribute to the overall success and sustainability of the pork industry.
The comprehensive We Care Initiative is a testament to our collective commitment to a strong code of ethics. It encourages each producer to commit to producing safe food, protecting and promoting animal well-being, ensuring practices that safeguard public health, preserving natural resources, providing a safe workplace environment and respecting employees and contributing to a better quality of life in our communities. By joining this initiative, you become part of a larger, ethical community in the pork industry.
Version 6 includes the PQA Plus Quality Assurance Program and the PQA Plus Site Assessment. Individual certification is obtained by completing an educational program, and the second component is an on-farm site assessment.
No previous education or work experience is required; individuals must be at least 14 years old. However, Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is available for youth aged 13 years or younger.
PQA Plus Individual Version 6 features include
- An interactive, mobile-friendly handbook with fillable forms.
- Updated Animal Handling Animations translated into Spanish, covering the point of balance, flight zone and blind spots.
- Caretaker training resources include On-Farm Reminders, a comprehensive resource list, information on preventing zoonotic diseases, Secure Pork Supply components, a calendar of critical tasks and protocols and updated references in Spanish.
Version 6 makes the process of becoming certified in PQA Plus more accessible
First, attend a PQA Plus certification training session led by a PQA Plus advisor within your state. The advisor will assign you the appropriate training based on your experience and work area, which may include General, Breeding and Market topics. All training sessions are available in English or Spanish, and you can choose between in-person, virtual, or online training, depending on your preferences and schedule. You must pass an examination that covers the We Care ethical principles and good production practices. No fees are required from the National Pork Board, and certification is valid for three years from the date of the PQA Plus training. To find an advisor or learn more about YQCA, you can contact the National Pork Board at or reach out to your Michigan State Extension PQA Plus State Trainers Casey Zangaro (zangaroc@msu.edu ) and Madonna Benjamin (gemus@msu.edu).
No changes have been added to the PQA Plus Site Assessment
To demonstrate your farm's practices and obtain an on-farm evaluation, the PQA Plus Site Assessment, conducted by a PQA Plus Advisor, is an educational tool for all pork producers. This assessment not only reviews on-farm animal care practices, including records, facilities, equipment and animal care and well-being practices, but also provides valuable feedback to help you improve your operations. For more information on producer or individual certification, advisor certification or training, locating an advisor, and methods to achieve PQA Plus Site Status or Site Self-Assessment, please feel free to contact Casey Zangaro (zangaroc@msu.edu) or Madonna Benjamin (gemus@msu.edu), Michigan's state PQA Plus Version.
Source : msu.edu