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PAACO | Events/Training | Certification | Find Auditors | Press and Papers |
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PAACO newsletters, press releases, white papers, & other publicationsPAACO NEWSLETTERS Click on link(s) below to view the PAACO newsletter. PAACO PRESS RELEASES September 26, 2011 CHRISTENSEN ELECTED Karen Christensen, PhD, of Ft. Smith, AR, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) at the group’s annual meeting in Kansas City Sept. 7. Director of technical services for O.K. Farms, Christensen was PAACO’s vice chair the previous two years. She succeeds David Hermes, DVM, of Washington, IN. Named vice chairman was Terry Mader, PhD, Concord, NE, professor, Extension beef specialist for the University of Nebraska. Rounding out the officer team are Secretary Frank Owsley, PhD, of Auburn, AL, associate professor, Extension animal scientist, Auburn University; and Treasurer Kenton Kreager, DVM, Dallas Center, IA, senior technical service veterinarian for HyLine International. The organization’s executive director is Mike Simpson. The PAACO board also welcomed two new directors, who were appointed by their respective member organizations: Cassandra Tucker, PhD, assistant professor, University of California-Davis – Federation of Animal Science Societies Jennifer Walker, DVM, PhD, director of dairy stewardship, Dean Foods, Dallas, TX – American Association of Bovine Practitioners PAACO’s mission is to promote the humane treatment of animals through education and certification of animal audits and auditors. PAACO is an organization of five animal industry organizations with extensive expertise on best management practices and current science in animal agriculture. Founding and current organizations are the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS), American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS), American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP). # June 7, 2011 PAACO POULTRY TRAINING The popular welfare auditing training course offered by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, Inc. (PAACO) will be held Aug. 9-11, 2011, in a new location. After several years in North Carolina, the 2011 version of the 3-day hands-on course will be held in Fayetteville, Arkansas, hosted by the University of Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension Service. “We have had excellent cooperation from NC State for many years, but our board felt a change of venue might benefit trainees and the industry alike,” says PAACO Executive Director Mike Simpson. “We appreciate the University of Arkansas’ willingness to partner with us in this important endeavor. PAACO is also pleased that a diverse group of stakeholders recognizes the value of our training and have provided substantial funding for this event.” Corporate sponsors include Aviagen, Cargill, Cobb, Hybrid Turkeys, Koch Foods, Pilgrim’s, Novus, OK Foods, Techno-Catch and Walmart. Industry professionals again comprise the prestigious staff of instructors for the PAACO training. Guiding trainees through both lecture and site visits will be Dr. James Barton, laboratory director of the Poultry Federation Laboratory; Dr. Sacit “Sarge” Bilgili, professor of graduate program offices in the poultry science department of Auburn University; Dr. Karen Christensen, director of technical services at O.K. Farms, Inc.; Dr. Temple Grandin, president of Grandin Livestock Handling Systems; Dr. David Hermes, regional veterinarian for broiler chickens and turkeys, Perdue Farms; Michael Lopez, assistant national supervisor of audits for the USDA/AMS poultry programs; Dr. Ryn McDonald, director of technical services at CalMaine Foods; Dr. Tom Tabler Jr., project/program manager in the department of poultry science at the University of Arkansas; Dr. Yvonne Thaxton, professor and director of food animal well-being in the department of poultry science, University of Arkansas; and Dr. Susan Watkins, professor and director of applied broiler research, department of poultry science at the University of Arkansas. Class size is limited and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first served basis. Official registration deadline for the course is July 5, but previous courses have filled up long before the deadline and those who wait to register have found themselves on a waiting list. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up promptly to assure a spot. For more course information and registration materials go to PAACO’s website, www.animalauditor.org, or contact Mike Simpson, executive director, at 402-403-0104; e-mail: mike@animalauditor.org. June 5, 2011 NEW YORK DAIRY WELFARE PROGRAM The New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP) animal welfare review program for dairy producers is the second of its kind to be granted certified program status by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, Inc. (PAACO). Earning the PAACO-certified distinction signifies that the New York dairy program has met or exceeded all of PAACO’s minimum standards from start to finish as a rigorous, comprehensive audit program and instrument. The initial step in the process was submission of the program materials and audit for third-party peer review. An independent panel of dairy welfare professionals made up of veterinarians and dairy scientists with welfare backgrounds reviewed the materials against 12 minimum standards that PAACO’s board of directors has established. “More and more, we see in the animal industry a call to validate husbandry practices related to welfare through credible audit instruments, professional training and qualified auditors that our organization supports,” says PAACO Chairman David Hermes, DVM. “We are confident that the people responsible for the care of livestock and poultry do a fine job, but consumers are seeking some independent assurance that their food products come from a humane process.” The NYSCHAP Cattle Welfare Certification module was developed by experts in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry and is exceptional among similar programs in its comprehensive review of participant farms' facilities, programs of animal care and actual animal well-being. All criteria for evaluation are firmly grounded in current scientific literature. Producers who choose to participate in NYCHAP’s animal welfare module must be dedicated to meeting the requirements of the program, including training for any farm employees who work with cattle. Field veterinarian Melanie Hemenway, DVM, serves as the NYSCHAP program coordinator and believes PAACO brings additional recognition to the NYSCHAP program and the high standards it promotes. NYSCHAP’s website is http://nyschap.vet.cornell.edu.
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