University LINKs Scheme
National University of Agriculture (Vietnam)
Dr. Han Quang Hanh
Faculty of Animal Science
Email: hqhanh@vnua.edu.vn
2023:
Pig Welfare Assessment Contest for Students within University LINKS scheme, UFAW
Within the support from UFAW university LINKS scheme, the Faculty of Animal Science of Vietnam National University of Agriculture, has hosted a students’ contest about pig welfare assessment in 2023. Under the support of UFAW, the program has received great attention from students and achieved good results. Hereby is a short summary of the mission.
1. Training workshop on the topic of pig welfare
The training workshop was conducted by Dr. Han Quang Hanh, lecturer at the Faculty of Animal Science on 5th May 2023 for 60 third-year students. The main content of the training workshop was about General concepts of animal welfare and Methodology of welfare quality assessment of pigs on farms (based on the Welfare Quality (2009) assessment protocol). During the workshop, general information about UFAW was also introduced to students.
After the training workshop, students have a better understanding on not only general principle and concepts about animal welfare, but also be aware of the methodology for welfare quality assessment of pigs on-farm.
Dr. Han Quang Hanh presented about UFAW and the welfare assessment protocol to students
2. Student research on welfare assessment of pigs
After the training, groups of students prepared their research proposals or research plans. Then, they went to the pig farms and stayed their for one month to investigate pig welfare and other
farm practices. They assessed both gestation sows, lactation sows and piglets. They protocol is quite long and then they just simplified it by selecting some representative welfare indicators. The major goals is to help them to identify welfare issues of pigs and know how to assess it. Students also learned about farming practices from
3. Presentation and contest ceremony
On 26 June 2023, at the Faculty of Animal Science, all groups of students presented their research findings and understanding of pig welfare. The committee included lecturers at the Faculty of Animal who give comments for student groups and assess their presentations. Besides that, other students were also invited to the contest ceremony.
Students showed their deepth understanding of pig welfare and give some recommendations to farmers. Some of their advices were accepted by farmers to treat animal humanely. The pig farms has changed their practices towards humane treatment with pigs.
At the end of the contest, the committee has awarded several prize for groups. It included a First prize, a Second prize, two Third prize. Students were given a Vietnamese book about “stress and some issues related to animal welfare in livestock production” and also a certificate.
3. Conclusions
Thanks to the funding from UFAW, the program has received great attention and participation of students. Students are very interested in this kind of activities. They would like to have more opportunities to participate in other projects like this. This project is very useful for students and lecturers to enhance the knowledge, perception of animal welfare.
The information of the program is now posted on the website of the university at:
And also on the website of the Faculty at:
