The UGM International Training Center–Cage-Free Innovation and Welfare Hub, nestled in Kalijeruk, Sleman, has obtained international animal welfare certification from the Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) organization in the United States.
Luiz Mazzon Neto, the Director of the HFAC Global Program, formally presented the certificate to the Dean of the Faculty of Animal Sciences, Professor Budi Guntoro, at UGM on Tuesday (Jan. 23).
Professor Guntoro underscored that the international certification from HFAC symbolizes global acknowledgment of the center’s development, with a commitment to animal welfare principles.
“The organization recognizes that the training model we have cultivated aligns with the concept of animal welfare, and consequently, we are honored with the certification,” he remarked.
He further noted that this animal welfare certification from HFAC to the Faculty of Animal Sciences marks a pioneering achievement, being the first bestowed upon higher education in the Asia-Pacific region. Historically, such certifications were primarily awarded to contemporary livestock industries.
“I believe this is the inaugural occasion where a campus in the Asia-Pacific region has been bestowed with this certification,” he highlighted.
Dean Guntoro expressed his optimism that this certification would inspire faculty members and students of the Faculty of Animal Sciences to play a more substantial role in advancing poultry farming practices that prioritize animal welfare.
“Moving forward, our livestock products will be healthier, and our treatment of animals will align with their natural habitat conditions,” he emphasized.
According to Dean Guntoro, the cage-free hub established through collaboration between the Faculty of Animal Sciences, UGM, and Global Food Partners now stands as an international hub for free-range poultry education in the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite its global recognition, the center remains dedicated to supporting and involving traditional farmers within the country.
“Recently, we hosted around 30 farmers from the Philippines, as well as participants from Malaysia, India, and several students from the Netherlands,” he explained.
Luiz Masson Neto asserted that with this animal welfare certification, UGM could emerge as a pioneer in developing free-range layer chicken coop management within the Asia-Pacific region.
Elisa Lane, CEO of Global Food Partners, added that the international training center affiliated with the Faculty of Animal Sciences is an exemplary reference for global free-range layer chicken husbandry systems.
“I am confident that egg suppliers can gain valuable insights into the welfare of laying hens in this establishment. Realizing animal welfare, specifically for layer chickens, becomes feasible,” Lane remarked.
Author: Gusti Grehenson