The UGM Faculty of Animal Science, in collaboration with Global Food Partners and AERES University of Applied Science, The Netherlands, successfully organized the International Training on Cage-free Innovation and Welfare Hub for the first time on July 9-15, 2023.
The training aims to provide knowledge of cage-free egg farming practices to academics and enhance participants’ capacity to understand the cage-free layer farming system.
It also provided a suitable platform for participants to engage in discussions, knowledge transfer, and expertise sharing with experts in animal science and industry professionals.
The pilot cage and training center were open to domestic academics and those from abroad.
Thirty-one academics from the Philippines, funded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), participated in this training.
The training activities included lectures, practical sessions, and evaluations (pre-and-post-tests).
The lectures and evaluations were conducted at the Faculty of Animal Science, with materials presented by lecturers from the same faculty and strategic partners, including Global Food Partner, Vencomatic, and Hato Lighting.
During the opening speech on Monday, July 10, 2023, the Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science emphasized the importance of knowledge about cage-free layer farming. He stated that cage-free layer farming is still a relatively new topic, and many need to familiarize themselves with its practices.
Therefore, the Faculty of Animal Science, in collaboration with Global Food Partners and AERES University of Applied Science, initiated the development of a pilot cage and training center for cage-free layer farming.
“Hopefully, with the well-being of the laying hens fulfilled, it will result in better eggs,” said Dean Budi Guntoro.
Senior Program Associate of the Education and Collective Learning Department at SEARCA, Blessie P. Saez, stated that this training provides insights.
“Our goal in attending this training is to enhance the capacity of academics in understanding the cage-free poultry farming system. This knowledge will then be disseminated to other members so that it can be applied widely,” said Saez.
Author: Prisil