Validus Poultry
Specific Refresher
Course
February 5, 2016
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Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
UEP Cage
UEP Cage-Free Changes
Hatchery Audit Tool
American Humane
Other poultry species audit tools
Food Safety
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Invited Guests
• Mark Oldenkamp- VP of NW Operations,
Valley Fresh Foods, Inc
– Animal Welfare Chairman for UEP
• Derreck Nassar- UEP Director of
Operations
• Rich Musselman- AHC- Fields Operation
Manager
• Connor Reynolds- AHC- Producer Account
Manager
• Laurie Mack- Ph.D.- AHC- Producer
Account Manager
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Validus Poultry
Specific Refresher
Course
1. UEP Updates
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Avian Influenza Updates
• Conference call with UEP and members
• Key message- Mutating virus when passed
from wild birds to commercial flocks
• UEP Stance
– Continue desk audits until May of 2016
– May 2016 Board will vote regarding decision of
desk audits or on-farm audits
• Outbreak in IN contained
• Biosecurity will be heightened
– Shower in/out facilities
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Audit tool
changes
2016 Auditor guidance
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2016 Changes- Caged ToolPoint Reallocations
• Overall points stayed at 200
• Section I- Housing and Space
– Bird space allocation= 25 pts
– 40 pts in the past
• Feeder Space
– 10 pts now
– 5 pts in past
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Tool Changes
SECTION I - Housing and Space Allowance
Yes
No
6.
Is feeder space sufficient to allow all layers equal access to feed daily?
10
1.
Is there evidence of prohibited backfilling?
7.
Is there a minimum of one water cup or nipple for no more than 12
layers?
5
2.
Is there evidence of commingling eggs (i.e., marketing noncertified eggs as certified eggs, and caged as cage free or
organic eggs)?
8.
Is light intensity a minimum 0.5 foot candles during production?
5
9.
Does the ventilation system allow for continuous flow of fresh air for all
layers?
5
3a.
White Layers
Does the layer house provide the average cage space of 67 sq.
inches?
Possible
Points
10.
Brown Layers
3.a Does the layer house provide the average cage space of 76 sq.
and inches?
3.b --------------------------------
Points
Received
11.
25
3b. Is there a minimum of 67 square inches PER LAYER for
White Leghorns and 76 square inches for Brown Egg Layers
when the following condition is met:
5.
Are all layers able to stand comfortably upright in the cage?
5
Is feed and water kept so that it remains in a fresh condition?
5
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5
5
12.
Does the company have a plan in place to protect layers from
unmonitored visitors as well as wild birds, rodents, and other animals?
5
13.
Are on-farm layers, including the daily removal of those layers that are
dead or injured, euthanized and depopulated in a humane manner in
accordance with written procedures compliant with the UEP
Guidelines?
10
14.
For houses with automatic feeding and ventilation, are stand-by
generators and alarm systems provided and monitored?
5
 Equipment was purchased, contracted, or installed after
December 31, 2003
4.
Are ammonia concentration levels maintained at 25 ppm or less and
corrective action taken when level is exceeded?
Is the production facility maintained overall? Specifically, are manure
curtains and/or shields in place and in good working condition to
prevent manure from passing down through lower cages?
Section I - Total Points
90
Tool changes (cont.)
• Section I total Points
– 90 pts
– 100 pts in past
• Beak Trimming
– Beak trimming crew trained= 10 pts
– 5 pts in the past
– Section total now=35 pts
• Molt Section
– Points and questions remain the same
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Beak Trimming changes
SECTION II – Beak Trimming and Treatment
Possible Points
Does company beak trim layers?
35
1.
Yes (see below)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
No (award points)
If trimmed, was the first trim completed at 10 days of age or younger?
5
If a second trim was not needed or if second a trim was necessary, was it done at 8 weeks or younger?
5
Is beak trimming crew trained and monitored for quality control?
10
Were nutritional supplements provided before and after trimming?
5
Were water and feed levels adjusted accordingly until beaks were healed?
5
Are the blade and guide holes of beak trimming machine cleaned regularly?
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5
Section II - Total Points
35
Tool changes (cont.)
• Handling and Transportation
– Section remains the same
• Personnel and Training
– Added question about Quarterly Compliance
records
– Adds 5 pts to section
– New total is now 15 pts
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Personnel and Training
SECTION V – Personnel and Training
Possible Points
1.
Have personnel responsible for euthanizing and depopulating layers in a humane manner, received annual training based on UEP Guidelines (i.e., guidelines,
video, demonstrations, etc.)?
5
2.
Have all company poultry caretakers, including contract employees, signed the Code of Conduct form?
5
3.
Are the Quarterly Compliance Reports completed and on file for review?
5
Section V - Total Points
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15
Colony System Audits
• Also called “enriched” or “enrichable”
systems
– CA compliance
• Audit using the “Caged Layer” audit tool
• 10 birds or less, auditors expected to count
birds
• 11 birds or more, audits based on
documentation- like cage-free audits
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Bird Counts
• Samples need to be taken on top and
bottom decks in two deck systems
• A good ladder is needed for 7 deck
systems
• If in question, conduct calculations before
leaving to prevent failure findings during
QA/QC process
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Enriched/Enrichable Bird Count
3 ways to verify bird count:
– Review housing diagrams
– Verify the number of birds placed in the
house
– Verify production records vs. breeder
standards
• Cargill has a tool for auditing enriched
houses
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“Loose Bird” Policy
• Look for loose birds
• Verify Loose bird policy/process for “feed
and water”
• Verify that manure load-out doors are
closed
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Continual
Improvement
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Auditor Focus
• Raising the bar for the audit process
• Examples
– Ammonia/Light sampling
• Verification that equipment is being calibrated
• Records to show
• Have seen numbers that cannot be accurate due
to equipment malfunction
– Training records
• Interviews with employees and use of a translator
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Top Non-conformances in 2015
• Lack of ammonia testing
• Lack of light testing
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UEP Certificates
• Certificates expired on December 31st for
2015
• Extension due to avian influenza
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Validus Poultry
Specific Refresher
Course
2. Cage-Free Changes
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UEP Cage-Free
Tool
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Space Allocation Changes
• 1.0 sq. ft./bird for either white or brown
birds for partially slatted and multi-tiered
systems (aviary)
• 1.5 sq. ft./bird for single level, all litter floor
systems
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Perches
• At least 20% of the perch space must be elevated a
minimum of 16 inches, but no more than 40 inches,
above the adjacent floor or platform
• Adjacent perches must be at least 1 foot apart
horizontally to allow hens to easily perch
simultaneously, and at least 8 inches from the back
wall
• Perches must be positioned to minimize fecal
fouling of birds, feeders, or drinkers located below
them
SLATTED FLOORING MAY NOT COUNT AS
PERCH SPACE!
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Validus Poultry
Specific Refresher
Course
3. Hatchery Audit tool
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Summary of Hatchery Audits to Date
• Complete 8 hatchery audits annually
– PA, GA, IN, OH, TX, ID, MN, IA
• Audits were completed on-site
– 2 Video audits in IA and MN
• Currently looking at standards and audit
tool for suggested changes
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Validus Poultry
Specific Refresher
Course
4. American Humane Certified
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Expert Committee Call
• Auditor Consistency focused
• Working on new training system
–
–
–
–
–
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Web Based
Modules
More photos
Allows for auditor to take courses when needed
Will update as system progresses
Perch Clarification
• AHA will leave the perch standards as
written but we will change the Note at the
bottom of section E26.
– The note will now indicate that if a producer has
at least 2” of perch by 2016, 4” of perch by 2018,
and the full required 6” by 2020 then they will get
the points for this item, each year as they
progress.
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Farm Data Page
• Depopulation date tends to be missing
• Use the interactive audit tool to verify
calculations
– Reduced errors
• Fill this page out for EACH building
– Assists with data entry personnel
– Ensure date on tool matches date when
producer signed audit tool
– Make sure to identify the houses audited
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Non-conformances
• Ensure the level of detail in the nonconformances so reader understands
– Do NOT just list that they are short of perch
space. How MUCH are they short compared to
the standard.
– No one word answers
• Ensure items marked “No” in tool matches
non-conformance document
• Efforts will assist producers and retailers
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Standards
• AHC standards are posted on their website
• Producers and Auditors have access to
same tool
• SOP templates are available on the AHC
website for producers
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PAACO
• PAACO training- July 20-21, 2016
– North Carolina
• Growing demand for auditors to be PAACO
certified for broilers and turkey
– NCC, NTF, American Humane
• Auditor certification needed for client base
– Poultry, Swine, and Plant
• Validus leads the training of the layer
section
• NCC and NTF audits are on their website
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Validus Poultry
Specific Refresher
Course
5. Other Poultry Audits
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NCC and NTF
• Standards are posted on their website
– www.nationalchickencouncil.org
– www.eatturkey.com
• PAACO certification is needed for these
audits
• Standards have remained consistent for
the last few years
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Whole Foods
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Whole Foods Audits
• Have begun the audit process
– On-Farm and desk audits started 2/4/16
– Original training no longer current with tool
changes
• Focus is on eggs belonging to the 365
Brand
• New tool modified to move to “levels”
• Cameras will be needed for photos of
beaks/feathers
– Prior approval with producer is required
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Independent Standards
• Working with the U.S. Largest Duck
Producer
• Praedium working on standards
• Validus will audit
• Training will be completed once standards
and pilots are completed
• Similar to turkey style of audits
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Validus Poultry
Specific Refresher
Course
6. Food Safety
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UEP 5-Star
• Audit for their SE Plan
• No changes to current audit tool
• Notified by UEP or producer if this audit is
requested
• Can complete in conjunction with SQF
audits
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SQF- Safe Quality Foods
Level III
• Fastest growing audit sector for 2015
• Audit of the plant for safety and/or quality
• Safe Quality Food Institute (owned by FMI)
• www.sqfi.com
• Week long training course
• Validus is a licensed “Certifying Body” (CB)
with SQF
– 6 certified auditors
• Ability to “package” audits with animal welfare
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Audit Findings
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Audit reports
• Findings are provided to either:
– Producer
– UEP
– AHC
• Retailers
– Upon request, audit findings can be sent/posted
– Important to capture notes for readers
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Auditor responsibility
• Understand process
• Able to answer questions from producers
– All reports come in and out of Validus office
– No audit sent without consent from client
• Not the auditor’s responsibility to submit to
clients, provide certification, or estimate on
timelines (when reports will be sent)
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Summary
• Changes made to the 2015 Caged layer
tool- Point allocation
• All current tools on Validus auditor website
or client website- If not known, ASK
• Enriched/enrichable systems will be
audited like cage systems
• Expanded timelines have been provided for
perch requirements with AHC
• More and more individuals are reading final
audit reports- Details are important
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Questions?
OR
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