AUSTIN, Texas – The American Meat Institute Foundation and Alchemy Systems have partnered to co-develop an animal welfare training series for the beef and pork industry. This new instruction, endorsed by the American Meat Institute’s Animal Welfare committee, will be available in early 2012 exclusively on DVD from AMI and as new courses with the SISTEM training platform from Alchemy.

Federal humane slaughter rules have prescribed strict humane handling requirements that plants must meet since 1958. In the 1990s, AMI released recommended animal-handling guidelines and subsequently a plant audit that has helped industry meet and exceed federal requirements, it said. The new training is based on federal rules and industry best practices.


AMI’s DVDs will include courses on Proper Handling and Movement of Pigs; Humane Stunning Practices for Pigs; Proper Handling and Movement of Cattle; and Humane Stunning Practices for Cattle.

The SISTEM training will include courses on Unloading and Receiving Pigs at Processing Facilities; Proper Handling and Movement of Pigs; Humane Stunning Practices for Pigs; Unloading and Receiving of Cattle at Processing Facilities; Proper Handling and Movement of Cattle; and Humane Stunning Practices for Cattle.

“Alchemy is honored to partner with AMI on the development and delivery of Animal Welfare training,” said Jeff Eastman, Alchemy’s CEO. “Our SISTEM training platform is used by many AMI members and we make it our mission to provide them with relevant content that simplifies the delivery and documentation of their training.”

Alchemy plans to demonstrate the new courseware at AMI’s Animal Care and Handling Conference, Oct. 19-20, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo.