 2013 PQA Plus Program Revamped to Reflect Evolving Industry
As public interest in the food industry grows, it has never been more important for pork producers to embrace the opportunity to show their commitment to providing a safe, quality product while promoting animal well-being and environmental friendliness.
The Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®) program has developed over the years in an effort to reflect changes in the industry, and the PQA Plus Task Force and Producer and State Services Team have evaluated program updates to be rolled out at the 2013 World Pork Expo. The task force has worked diligently to provide value-added components which meet the changing needs of pork producers, packers, retailers and consumers.
"I've always been a supporter of the PQA Plus program," shares Phil Borgic, Illinois pork producer and PQA Plus committee member. "The changes we've made to the program are in response to an evolving market. Consumers are asking us to verify and continuously improve our certifications and knowledge base. Updates to the 2013 program are credible, and the pork industry will continue to make minor changes to enhance the program," said Borgic.
Additions to enhance the quality and credibility of the 2013 PQA Plus program were approved at the 2012 Pork Industry Forum in Denver, CO March 1-3. These components include:
Testing: The addition of a testing component to the PQA Plus certification adds credibility to the pork industry by displaying a commitment to continuous improvement and education. The test will consist of questions related to animal well-being and pork safety and will be no longer than 25 questions. In order to pass the open book test, participants may miss three questions.
Online Certification: While first-time certifications must be obtained through face-to-face training with a PQA Plus advisor or trainer, individuals who wish to renew their PQA Plus certification will be able to do so online. Individuals must contact their PQA Plus advisor to set up and verify the online certification process. PQA Plus certifications will remain valid for a three year time period.
Site Assessment: Site assessments are a crucial part of the PQA Plus certification program. Site certification shows a producer’s commitment and interest in producing a safe, quality product while at the same time promoting animal well-being and a safe environment. Upon completion of a site assessment, a producer must submit a corrective action plan for all non-compliances and follow-up with the PQA Plus Advisor in order to receive site assessment status. The frequency of site assessments will remain at the three year renewal time frame.
Trainers/Advisors Certifications:Trainer/advisor certifications will continue to be conducted face-to-face. This group of individuals is receiving more extensive instructions and information needed to most effectively instruct producers.
Striving for continuous improvement is essential to the success of the pork industry, and the PQA Plus program is one way producers can highlight their knowledge of swine production and interest in serving the public.
 Look for more details to follow, as we eagerly await the reveal of the new PQA Plus program at the 2013 World Pork Expo.
Thank You Advisors!
The National Pork Board would like to take this opportunity to thank you for being a part of the PQA Plus program. Without your dedication and assistance, this educational program would not be possible and producer outreach would be a challenge.
Certification Requirements — Aligned for Success
The PQA Plus program was developed to ensure U.S. pork products continue to be recognized as the highest quality and safest available. As an advisor, you play a key role in administering the program for U.S. pork producers. The certification process and site assessment portions of the program are essential to display the program's credibility and commitment to continuously improving the industry.
In order to coordinate our continuous improvement programs and to ensure legal compliance, the following disclaimer is now being published in all program materials:
National Pork Board may modify, amend or terminate the TQA™, Youth PQA Plus®, PQA Plus® and all other certification programs without notice. Further, the Board in its sole discretion may terminate or condition a participant's continued eligibility for, participation in, and/or use of any rights, license or benefits under such program(s).
The disclaimer adds credibility to each of the certification programs and ensures our producers, trainers and advisors are all aligned for success. Again, we appreciate your efforts and participation to maintain the validity of the PQA Plus program going forward.
 Make Recordkeeping a Priority
Each year, a third party verification process is utilized to validate the site assessment portion of the PQA Plus program. Various categories are evaluated on the operation including air quality, timely euthanasia, facilities, caretaker training and more.
Based on the third party verification assessment findings, recordkeeping appears to be an area producers have potential to make the greatest strides in advancement. Recordkeeping is an essential part of the pork industry for producers, and the National Pork Board has several tools available for producers to utilize.
Please take advantage of the following resources:
1) Recordkeeping forms are available in the back of your PQA Plus manual;
2) Contact the service center at (800) 456-7576 for flash drives containing recordkeeping forms; or
3) All recordkeeping forms have been posted to the pork.org website for your use. Click here to access updated forms.
We Care
The We Care℠ responsible pork initiative is an important message to relay to the public - and what better way to do so than through pork producers themselves? Please take the opportunities you have to educate producers not only about the PQA Plus program, but about our efforts with the We Care initiative.
We Care is a joint effort of the Pork Checkoff, through the National Pork Board, and the National Pork Producers Council, to help demonstrate that producers are constantly striving to maintain and exceed the six established ethical principles which include:
- Produce safe food
- Protect and promote animal well-being
- Ensure practices to protect public health
- Safeguard natural resources in all of our practices
- Provide a work environment that is safe and consistent with our other ethical principles
- Contribute to a better quality of life in our communities
Learn more about We Care at www.porkcares.com.
Euthanasia Training Module Available
Based on the Pork Checkoff’s On-Farm Euthanasia of Swine booklet, a software-based training module is available to help train pork producers and farm workers in the correct techniques of euthanasia. The six chapters on the training tool utilize images and videos to teach producers and employees how to determine which pigs should be euthanized, how to administer euthanasia while promoting human safety and how each method works to result in the humane death of an animal.
 "Within each method, information is provided about the equipment needed and how to properly use and maintain the equipment," said Sherrie Niekamp, director of swine welfare for Checkoff. "The biology of what is occurring to the pig when the method is applied is also covered."
Producers who have euthanized pigs before know what happens and that ultimately the pig dies, Niekamp said, but they may not understand the entire process. This new tool is designed to help fill that knowledge gap. The importance of human safety also is stressed throughout the module when applying scientifically valid euthanasia methods.
For more information or to receive your copy of the training module, please contact the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675.
PQA Plus Training DVDs
New copies of the PQA Plus training DVDs were mailed at the end of March to every advisor who certified April 2010 to present on PQA Plus verison 1.2. Updated DVDs include both English and Spanish translations. Please utilize this new copy of the PQA Plus training DVD and dispose of your outdated version.
If you did not receive a copy of the new PQA Plus training DVD or have any questions, please contact the Pork Checkoff Service Center at 1 (800) 456-7675.
Upcoming Training Dates
If you have any upcoming producer class dates for PQA Plus trainings, please contact the Pork Checkoff Service Center using the Contact Us feature on the password protected website. This will enable us to provide a list of up-to-date sessions for producers.
Join Us at World Pork Expo
Join the Pork Checkoff June 6-8 at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. There is much to do during this annual event, but be sure to drop by the Pork Checkoff booth in the Varied Industries Building to learn about the We Care initiative. Pork Academy sessions will be held Wednesday and Thursday during the event, including opportunities to enhance your understanding and knowledge of current industry trends. Also, be sure to check out the "Fiesta" themed hospitality tent, featuring cooking demonstrations, food samples and more!
Proper Injection Site Protocols for Sows - Preliminary Results
In a study conducted by David Smith of the Agriculture Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and North Dakota State University, proper injection site protocols were analyzed for sows in production. The preliminary results support the protocols developed by the National Pork Board. Producers should follow these guidelines:
Using proper injection techniques will help increase product efficacy and absorption, while reducing injection-site reactions, broken needles and residues. When giving a proper injection in the muscle (intramuscular - IM):
- Use a spot on the neck just behind and below the ear, but in front of the shoulder.
- Do not use a needle to inject in the ham or loin, unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. There may be some bleeding and bruising of the muscle followed by scarring. This scar can stay in the muscle for the life of the pig and be a blemish in the cut of meat. This standard applies to sows as well as to market hogs. While sows may not be going to market soon, they are at greater risk for blemishes because of the repeated injections they typically receive over their productive life in the form of vaccinations and farrowing medications.
- Use the proper size and length of needle to ensure the medication is deposited in the muscle, not in other tissues.
Sometimes, there is a need to give a large volume of product, usually for extra-label usage. When doing so, you need to:
- Administer no more than 10cc per injection site.
- Alternate injection site locations when administering medication for consecutive days.
Separate locations need to be 2-3 inches apart.
- Follow proper withdrawal times.
Figure 1 demonstrates multiple injection sites (left and right sides) when administering medications for consecutive days. Administering medications in different injection sites is important to increase product efficacy and reduce violative residues.
 Figure 1. Figure adapted from: http://www.smithlifescience.com/ExpertMammalStudy.htm
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