United States pork producers are committed to producing the highest quality and safest pork in the world. In 2014, the National Pork board and various industry leaders created the new Common Swine Industry Audit to avoid duplication of packer audits.
"Like PQA PLUS, the Common Swine Industry Audit emphasizes food safety and animal well-being, but it goes much more in-depth on many of the criteria," explained Bob Thaler, Professor & SDSU Extension Swine Specialist.
While the Common Swine Industry Audit is a voluntary program, most packers are requiring producers to take part in the Common Swine Industry Audit program.
Common Swine Industry Audit 101
A third party trained auditor will come to a producer's farm and evaluate their records, Standard Operating Procedures or SOPs, safety documents, etc. Also, the auditor and producer will walk through the entire operation and assess animal welfare, animal handling, worker training and the environment that the pigs live in.
The entire audit is based on a point system with a potential for a total of 457 points. Individual packers set the minimum points they want their producers to achieve.
Are you ready for the audit? To help producers prepare for the Common Swine Industry Audit, SDSU Extension created a two hour training program that covers everything a producer will need to successfully complete the audit.
Participants will receive a 3-ring binder with the templates and examples of all the records, SOP's, etc. that they will have to provide to the auditor. Producers will also learn what things the auditor will be evaluating on the walk-through and what is acceptable and unacceptable.
Dates & locations
Three training sessions are scheduled for this fall, and will run from 2 to 4 p.m.
Aberdeen, Nov. 18, 2015 the training will be held at the SDSU Extension Regional Center in Aberdeen
Huron, Dec. 7 the training will be held at the Crossroads Convention Center
Freeman, Dec. 17 the training will be held at the Prairie House restaurant.
Registration for the event is $40 registration and will cover the cost of the binders and material. Enrollment is limited to the first 30 people per site.
To enroll or for more information, please contact Heidi Carroll, SDSU Extension Livestock Stewardship Associate, 605.688.6623 or Bob Thaler at 605.688.5435 and let them know which site you'd like to attend.
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