The online seminar “Implementation of Pig Welfare Requirements during Keeping” brought together more than 200 participants, including producers, consultants, representatives of government authorities and international projects. The event focused on the practical implementation of requirements in force in Ukraine since January 1, 2026, in line with Order No. 224 approving the Welfare Requirements for Farm Animals during Keeping.
In her speech, Oksana Yurchenko underlined that welfare should not be perceived as an “organic idyll” or as keeping animals exclusively on straw without technological systems. According to her, in commercial pig production welfare is primarily reflected in the condition of the animals themselves:
“If animals are calm, clean, free of injuries, respiratory problems and signs of chronic stress, this already indicates an appropriate level of welfare.”
She noted that, according to industry experts, 75–80% of the requirements of Order No. 224 are in fact already met by most modern farms. The main adjustments concern details such as the ratio of solid to slatted flooring, space allowance per animal and the organisation of group housing.
The president of the association also paid special attention to the responsibility of market operators. She stressed that lack of awareness of the requirements does not exempt operators from compliance, and that welfare is directly linked to production economics, productivity and the farm’s reputation.
At the same time, she highlighted the role of industry associations in supporting producers:
“Today, the Association is a platform that helps producers understand the requirements, obtain practical tools and adapt to changes without unnecessary stress.”
During the seminar, Oksana Yurchenko presented training materials developed with the participation of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, including:
- a large free online pig welfare course on the AgriAcademy platform;
- industry guidelines published as a special issue of the magazine Profitable Pig Farming;
- practical templates for daily animal monitoring and recording inspection results.
According to her, simple daily control tools help producers confidently pass inspections and systematically improve housing conditions.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in cooperation with FAO and the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, with support from Switzerland within the Quality FOOD Trade Program.