Processor Perspective on Human and Animal Gut Health March 23, 2017 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Processor Perspective on Human and Animal Gut Health March 23, 2017 1 Colleen Roehrig MSc, Producer Services and Animal Welfare

OUTLINE • Introduction to Conestoga Meat Packers • Pork Markets • Swine Gut Health and Human Health • Pathogen Transmission to Pork • Steps taken to Prevent Transmission • Pork Production and Human Health • Connections to Consider • Conclusions • Questions? 2

CONESTOGA MEAT PACKERS • Federally licensed pork processing plant in Breslau • Co-op of 150+ Producer/Owners • 850+ Employees • Process 28,000+ hogs/wk 3

PORK MARKETS • Our pork is sold domestically and internationally • Fresh and frozen product • +50% of our product is sold internationally • Large proportion is sold to customers that further process 4

SWINE GUT HEALTH AND HUMAN HEALTH • Swine are carriers of many food borne zoonotic diseases • Fecal/gut transmissible • Escherichia coli • Salmonella • Campylobacter • Yersinia enterocolitica • Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) • Listeria monocytogenes Our goal at slaughter is to prevent gut bacteria contamination of the carcass. A healthier animal at slaughter will minimize the risk. 5

PATHOGEN TRANSMISSION 6

STEPS TAKEN TO PREVENT PATHOGEN TRANSFER 7

PORK PRODUCTION AND HUMAN HEALTH – A LINKED SYSTEM Transporter Customer • Identify treat • CFIA regulations and protocols diseases on farm • Segregate ill • Expecting a safe • HACCP programs with vet input animals product • Production • Hold ill animals on standards • Assembly points • Follow safe farm handling • Export regulations • Trailer cleaning techniques Producers Processor We need to maintain swine gut health at various checkpoints. 8

CONNECTIONS TO CONSIDER Producers CFIA Customers Conestoga Transporters Employees 9

CONCLUSIONS • Protecting Human Health is our Priority • Minimize transmission of gut bacteria to protect humans, prevent food related illness • Maintain customer confidence in pork products • Maintain our market places, Conestoga and our Canadian industry • Hog Health impacts Human Health • Healthier animals are easier to process • Less risk of contamination • Conestoga’s unique perspective • Provide timely feedback on health issues • Work with producers and their vets • Proactively look for solutions 10

QUESTIONS? 11