This August will mark the second successful year for the Pork Checkoff funded and producer created Swine Welfare Assurance Program ™ (SWAP™).

SWAP is a site-specific certification, rather than a producer certification, and focuses on three essential good production practices: record keeping, animal observation and facilities. Each area has Care and Well-being Principles (CWPs) for a total of nine principles that are based on sound scientific practices.

"SWAP was created by the proactive actions of pork producers to address our customers' concern for animal welfare," said Erik Risa, Certification Programs Manager for the National Pork Board. "It makes the most sense that our industry develops the program rather than an outside source who may be unfamiliar with our practices. Additionally, a program produced by an outside source isn't likely to be credible, affordable or implementable for the pork industry."

"Consumers want to know how their food is being produced and if it is being produced in an appropriate manner," said Risa. "SWAP was created as the industry's proactive approach to meet the consumer demand for correct documentation of animal welfare."

The program is voluntary, although many packers encourage SWAP participation. SWAP is the pork industry standard.

Why should a producer participate in SWAP?
SWAP has advantages for both consumers and producers. Pork producers now have access to professionals trained to assess on-farm animal welfare, called Certified SWAP Educators (CSEs). A CSE will perform the assessment at a producer's farm and work with producers and employees to improve their production practices. An assessment can improve management techniques by making sure records and documents are well maintained, as well as identify welfare issues before they become production problems.

Participating in SWAP not only allows producers to become more efficient -- it shows customers that pork producers not only care about their livestock, but are committed to providing a safe and quality product to consumers.

Who performs the SWAP assessment? Currently, there are 52 Certified SWAP Educators (CSEs) located in Iowa that can perform an assessment. CSEs are swine professionals, such as veterinarians and ISU Extension Specialists, that have gone through an application and training process. All CSEs have been properly trained by an Instructor Training Team. (ITT). In Iowa, the ITT consists of Iowa State University's Dr. Tom Baas, Dr. John Carr, Dr. James McKean and Dr. Ken Stalder.

Producers can locate their closest CSE by going to www.porkboard.org/ SWAPHome/ and simply entering their zip code.

How much does a SWAP assessment cost?
Like PQA, there is no set cost for a SWAP assessment. Each CSE is responsible for handling the evaluation and it is up to the educator and producer to negotiate the cost. There may be multiple CSEs in the area, so it might be in a producer's best interest to talk to different CSEs to make sure they are getting the best deal possible. CSEs may incur different costs due to mileage concerns and their own schedules.

Cost is also dependent on the amount of time the CSE spends assessing the site. A producer can lower the expense of a SWAP assessment by gathering and organizing records in advance.

Is there a recertification process?
Every three years a site must be reassessed and the process is the same as the original assessment. "A third year recertification process is ideal. Producers can become PQA recertified at the same time, which will save time and money for producers," said Risa.

How is SWAP different from PQA?
While both serve as educational tools driven by producers, SWAP is a program for assessing sites rather than individuals. However, there are many similarities between PQA and SWAP. Both are producer driven, science-based and implementable programs. SWAP is based on the PQA Good Production Practice #8 - "Provide Proper Swine Care," and focuses just on animal welfare.

Is SWAP an audit?
No, SWAP is an educational assessment, not an audit. This means that production sites do not receive a score by means of a test, instead they use benchmarking tools and consultation with an educator to find ways to improve production practices. A farm becomes SWAP certified after a CSE has assessed the site and has held a consultation with the producer.

Where is SWAP going in the future?
Risa comments that like any industry program, SWAP will continue to evolve. "No matter what changes, three goals will remain -- the program must be credible to our customers and workable and affordable for pork producers," says Risa.
Risa says that SWAP assessments continue to pick up as producers become more aware of the program and that participation will increase as more customers demand documentation of animal welfare practices on the farm.

PRODUCER PROFILE: Tim Bierman, National Pork Board Larrabee, Iowa

Tim Bierman, a pork producer from Larrabee, is one Iowa pork producer who has completed the Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP). Tim is the owner of Bierman Farms, Inc., a wean-to-finish operation that finishes around 15,000 hogs per year. After serving on the National Pork Board Animal Welfare Committee, he became aware of SWAP during its early stages and recognized the program's importance for both consumers and producers. During his assessment, many aspects of his operation were reviewed by the Certified SWAP Educator (CSE), including water flow, ventilation and temperature control. The physical condition of the animals including scratches or wounds was also assessed. "The CSE would then try to locate the source of any logistic or building problems so improvements could be made," said Tim. "The CSE was very helpful in identifying solutions and making suggestions to improve my operation," said Tim. "From his suggestions I can maximize my efficiency while ensuring a healthy and safe product for consumers." Tim believes the time and funds he spent were very well used. SWAP certifications only last three years, however Tim says he will definitely become recertified. "A SWAP recertification assessment will allow me to see areas where I have improved over the past three years, and for every assessment after that I can create benchmarks to make sure the welfare of the animals on my farm is a top priority."