Unlike the first stage, which concentrated on the new veterinary legislation and the principles of responsible antibiotic use, the second stage had a strong practical orientation. Participants reviewed the results of their homework assignments, assessed their own approaches to disease treatment and prevention, and worked on improving animal health management systems on their farms.
During the training, experts covered the recording and traceability of antibiotic use, veterinary documentation, and the role of disease prevention, biosecurity, and vaccination in reducing the need for antimicrobial treatments.
Particular emphasis was placed on practical exercises. Working in teams, participants simulated disease outbreak scenarios on farms, developed response protocols and antibiotic stewardship plans, and then discussed their proposed solutions with the experts.
The training sessions in Poltava marked another step in the nationwide EpiC training programme, which brings together livestock producers, representatives of territorial communities, and specialists from the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection around a shared goal: implementing modern approaches to animal health and the responsible use of antibiotics.
The EpiC project in Ukraine aims to strengthen public health, animal health, and laboratory capacity by providing targeted technical assistance, building institutional capacity, and improving coordination between national and regional public health and animal health authorities in accordance with international standards and cross-sectoral principles.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders (AUPB) is a non-profit voluntary organization established by Ukrainian pork producers. Its primary objectives are to represent and protect the rights and interests of member farms, promote the development and implementation of modern pig production technologies, expand market opportunities, and protect the domestic pork market.