PAACO's spring Meat Plant Training will be held May 19-21, 2025 in NW Iowa. 

This training will be conducted in a hybrid format, meaning there is an option to join us in-person or virtually. All registered attendees will be expected to join us in-person unless approved by PAACO. In order to attend virtually, you will need to request that prior to registering by emailing Dakota dthomas@animalauditor.org. International attendees and those with specific circumstances will be given priority to the virtual seats.

The course will be a combination of classroom curriculum and "hands-on" learning through site visits. In-person attendees will visit both a pork plant a nd beef plant to gain hands-on experience while instructors are present. Virtual attendees will be shown video footage while instructors dicuss various points. The course uses the NAMI Animal Handling Guidelines. Material and instruction will be presented in English.

Travel and hotel information is available in the informational brochure below.

PAACO's fall Meat Plant Training will be held October 20-22, 2025 in Nebraska. All registered attendees will be expected to join us in-person in Nebraksa; there is no option for virtual attendance. 

The course will be a combination of classroom curriculum and "hands-on" learning through site visits. In-person attendees will visit both a pork plant a nd beef plant to gain hands-on experience while instructors are present.  The course uses the Meat Institute Animal Handling Guidelines. Material and instruction will be presented in English.

Travel logtistics and hotel information will be available soon.

This is our annual Poultry Welfare Auditor Training, which includes Broilers, Layers, Turkeys, and Ducks.  It will be virtually held June 24-26. Attendees must meet PAACO education and experience requirements to attend. Following successful completion of training and passing the online exam, attendees will still be required to complete two (2) full shadow audits. 

All attendees joining us for this training will be required to take Poultry 101, a four-part online course.  These four prerequisites are Basic Avian Biology, Broiler 101, Layer 101, and Turkey 101 and are included in the cost of training.  Once you have paid for the onsite/virtual training, you will gain access to Poultry 101; they will be available on your account page, the My Online Training tab.  If you are prompted to pay for these courses, or they aren't available contact Dakota dthomas@animalauditor.org.  Please do NOT pay for the 201 trainings - PAACO does not guarantee a refund if you do.

Due to USD value fluctuations, some international discounts may be available by contacting PAACO. CE rates available, too. A limited number of discounted grad/DVM students seats are available by application and approval. 

You will be sent additional information regarding the agenda, training details, and more 30 days ahead of the training.

This course will be held virtually and presented in English.

Join us on-site July 8-9 in Great Bend, KS for this year's Beef Feedlot Welfare Auditor Training. This will be our only beef feedlot training this year.

All attendees joining us for the PAACO Beef Feedlot Welfare Auditor training will be required to take Beef Feedlot 201.  This prerequisite is included in the cost of training.  Once you REGISTER for training, are APPROVED, and PAY for the onsite training, access is granted. Beef Feedlot can be found on the "My Online Trainings" tab (fourth over) when you're logged in and on your account page. If you are prompted to pay for this course, or they aren't available contact Dakota at dthomas@animalauditor.org.  Please do NOT pay for the 201 training. If you pay for Beef Feedlot 201 separately, we cannot guarantee a refund.

The training will be a combination of detailed classroom instruction and hands-on experience at a feedlot operation. *This training is entirely on-site/in-person.*

The informational brochure with travel and hotel is available below.

Join us September 23-25 at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD for the Swine Welfare Auditor Training.  This course will use the Common Swine Industry Audit to combine a detailed classroom curriculum with hands-on training and a sow facility and a wean-to-finish operation.

This training will be conducted in a hybrid format, meaning there is an option to join us in-person or virtually. All registered attendees will be expected to join us in-person unless approved by PAACO. In order to attend virtually, you will need to request that prior to registering by emailing Dakota dthomas@animalauditor.org. International attendees and those with specific circumstances will be given priority to the virtual seats.

There is an online prerequisite for this course, Swine 201.  This online course is included in the cost of training. Once you are registered for the onsite training and submit payment, you will have access to this course on your account.  If you are prompted to pay for Swine 201, or it isn't available contact Dakota dthomas@animalauditor.org.  Please do NOT pay for Swine 201 - PAACO does not guarantee a refund if you do.

Due to USD value fluctuations, some international discounts may be available by contacting PAACO. CE rates available, too. A limited number of discounted grad/DVM students seats are available by application and approval. 

You will be sent additional information regarding the agenda, training details, and more 30 days ahead of the training.

This course will be presented in English.

PAACO Broiler Welfare Auditor Training will be held September 30 - October1, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This training will cover broilers (hatchery, growout, catch/transport, and processing) and broiler breeders. This training will be a combination of classroom curriculum along with "hand-on" learning during site visits.

Travel and hotel information will be available soon.