Region :

Europe

Login Main site Search
Login Main site Search

“Train the trainer’’workshops on long distance transport of farm animals by land

Header

The welfare of animals during transport was identified as one of three priority topics in both the first (2014-2016)  and second (2017-2019) Action Plans of OIE Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe. They propose various capacity building activities for Veterinary Services aiming at improving animal welfare during transport by land in line with the Chapter 7.3 of OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

In particular, as part of the Second Action Plan (2017-2019) , the OIE conducted three “Train the trainer’’ workshops on long distance transport of animals by land to train a set of trainers from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine.

First OIE ‘’Train the Trainer’’ workshop on long-distance transport of animals by land for Kazakhstan and Ukraine
December 2016 – February 2017, Astana/Kazakhstan

 

Third OIE ‘’Train the Trainer’’ workshop on long-distance transport of animals by land for Russia
August – September 2017, Belgorod and Moscow/Russia

 

Objectives of the ToT workshops

The main objective of the workshops was to support countries in implementing best practices during the transport of farm animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry) in accordance with Chapter 7.3 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code. The ‘experts’ trained during the ToT workshops are tasked with duplicating the knowledge acquired in various workshops at national level aimed for the veterinary workforce and the business operators, but also check if the current legislation and veterinary core curriculum contain sufficient provisions on long distance transport to provide the necessary enabling environment.

Structure of workshops

The OIE ‘’Train the Trainer’ workshops are composed of the three following consecutive training sessions, with 3 to 4 week breaks in-between for study and preparation.

   Session 1

The first session provides participants with technical knowledge on animal welfare during transport in the context of Chapter 7.3 on transport animals by land of OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.  During series of lectures, participants learn about animal welfare concept, welfare assessments, animal behaviour and how to apply knowledge animal behaviour for animal handling and design of facilities. Participants also learn about journey planning and preparation, vehicles and facilities, loading, unloading, resting, role and responsibilities all actors involved and effect of animal transport on meat quality.

In addition to technical lectures, this training session also includes working group exercises such as assessment of animals’ fitness to travel, preparing journey plan for long distance transport and developing a list of competencies for animal handlers/drivers.

   Session 2

The 2nd training session includes a recapitulation of technical information presented during 1st session, following lecture on training and learning, how to prepare lectures and how to develop a training program based on learning objectives. This session allows participants to work on improvement their training skills during public presentation and also become more familiar with specific issues related to animal welfare during transport.

   Session 3 

The 3rd session takes a format of  a technical conference for Veterinary Services but also open to a wide range of public and private stakeholders coming from the industry, the academia, the research, NGOs, etc.
The conference provides an opportunity for the newly trained trainers to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise on animal welfare in during transport as well as their lecturing skills.
The participants who successfully completed training programme receive OIE Certificates of proficiency  indicating that they are able to replicate the knowledge acquired at national level through various capacity building activities.

 

Main outcomes

During the three OIE “Train the trainer’’ workshops, 29 trainers from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine gained deep understanding of the OIE Standards and how to implement them; they also received pedagogical training to properly transfer acquired knowledge in their country through cascading activities.

In addition, a Regional network of trainers on animal welfare at slaughter, composed of trained trainers, was established to support collaboration between countries and further regional OIE Platform actions.

ToT workshop materials

The training/learning materials comprise nine PowerPoint presentations and accompanying Technical Notes.
The Technical Notes document covers presentation topics in more detail providing a framework of knowledge comprising relevant standards and science. (Please see our training materials)

 

Post ToT workshop Survey – what has been done by countries?

Six months after completion of the workshops,  the OIE Platform Secretariat sent a questionnaire to countries to understand which cascading activities have been conducted in the four expected following areas:

  • upgrading national legislation as relevant
  • enhancing initial veterinary education
  • organising workshops for veterinary inspectors at national, provincial and district levels, and the sustainable integration of the topic in the national programme of Veterinary Services continuing education
  • raising business operators’ awareness on their responsibilities.