CPF prioritises animal welfare for safe and sustainable food production
Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl (CPF) has adhered to the best and sustainable practices on animal welfare for more than 20 years and its efforts have been recognised across the globe, said Payungsak Somyanontanakul, CPF's Vice President and chairman of the Animal Welfare Committee.
Throughout the years, employees have been trained to become poultry welfare officers , giving advice to chicken farms in Thailand and all countries CPF has invested in. To date, their coverage is 100 per cent.
Regarding layer poultry farming, the cage free approach first adopted in Thailand, has shown satisfactory result.
Meanwhile, all sow breeding farms in Thailand will adopt group housing in 2025 while farms overseas will switch to group-pen in 2028. Also, swine health and welfare training is underway to raise sustainable awareness in the company's farms as well as those of contracted farmers, he said.
At CPF, the animal welfare policy is exercised along with the policy on responsible use of antibiotics, adhering to humanitarian and animal welfare principles. Sick animals are treated according to their symptoms and protected against diseases for good physical and mental health, a practice widely adopted in Thailand and many countries.
Payungsak noted that CPF has transferred farming knowledge to chicken and swine farmers in its network, to ensure their understanding in animal welfare and compliance with international requirements . Such knowledge covers farming method, transportation, capturing and processing.
CPF’s chicken farms focus on high quality, healthy and meaty chicken, a product of years of development. Chicken are raised in closed barns, kept cool by evaporative cooling system and equipped with computerised water and food-feeding system. Under the cage-free techniques, the chicken can roam freely.
CPF has also adopted cage-free egg production, whereby hens move freely in closed air-conditioned barns. As guided by the Bio Security Hi-Tech Farming technique, the hens enjoy comfortable and hygienic conditions as well as sufficient food and water.
All swine farms now have EVAP (evaporative) buildings. Farrowing crates for sows are now replaced by group housing to ensure comfort in a good environment.
Payungsak asserted that comfortable environment, protection against diseases and nutritious food keep the animals healthy and strong. Without stress and diseases, they do not need growth hormones and antibiotics, and this guarantees the safety and quality of CPF’s food products that have been delivered to consumers across the world.
