From the beginning of 2026, updated requirements for the welfare of farm animals during keeping have been in effect in Ukraine. For the pig sector, this means not only formal knowledge of legislation, but also a deep understanding of how to implement these standards in day-to-day farm operations and how to prepare for inspections and audits.
The new course responds to these challenges by combining science-based approaches, Ukrainian legal requirements, international recommendations and practical farm case studies. The programme builds a systematic understanding of pig welfare as a key element of sustainable and responsible production.
A dedicated section of the course focuses on inspections of production facilities. Participants will learn about welfare criteria and indicators, methods for their assessment and auditing, as well as typical mistakes and risks during inspections. Particular attention is paid to pig behaviour, housing and feeding conditions, animal health, and the quality of human–animal interaction.
After completing the course, participants will be able to:
- interpret behavioural, resource-based and clinical welfare indicators;
- assess housing conditions and animal health status;
- recognise signs of stress (including heat stress), pain, hunger and behavioural disorders;
- prepare for inspections and conduct audits of compliance with welfare standards;
- apply best management practices to improve pig welfare.
The course is designed for:
- pig farm staff who work directly with animals;
- company veterinarians;
- inspectors of the competent authority;
- lecturers and students of agricultural specialisations.
The programme consists of five modules:
- Module 1. Welfare fundamentals and audit preparation. Principles of animal welfare, the Five Freedoms concept, pig behaviour, Ukrainian legal requirements, welfare criteria and indicators, preparation for inspections.
- Module 2. Proper feeding of pigs. Minimum standards for feeding and watering, body condition scoring, reducing competition for resources in group housing, inspection specifics.
- Module 3. Proper housing conditions for pigs. Requirements for microclimate, space, equipment and housing; assessment of compliance with welfare standards.
- Module 4. Good health. Assessment of injuries, lameness and diseases, avoiding pain during procedures, principles of humane killing, inspection of health indicators.
- Module 5. Natural behaviour. Expression of social and exploratory behaviour, environmental enrichment, human–animal interaction, good management practices and positive emotional states.
The course lecturers are Vitalii Bashynskyi, a specialist in veterinary medicine, biosecurity and animal welfare, and Oksana Yurchenko, an expert in pig farm biosecurity and animal welfare with many years of experience in international projects.
The course is completely free of charge. Video lectures, assignments and the final test are available 24/7, and participants receive a certificate upon successful completion.
Course start: 2 March 2026
Register here: https://courses.agriacademy.org/courses/course-v1:FAO+PigWelfare+2026Q1/about