THE Polytechnic of Namibia and the World Society for the Protection of Animals have signed an agreement to collaborate in the development of animal welfare in the tertiary education sector in Namibia.

The project will focus on producing competency among lecturers through training-of-trainers courses that will produce trained personnel with animal welfare knowledge and skills.

These skills will be used for employment in the livestock and animal husbandry sector.

The Polytechnic of Namibia has established procedures and timetables for regular reviews of the various curricula. The Department of Agriculture at the Polytech intends to introduce animal welfare education in the next round of curriculum review.

The course will be premised on the Five Freedoms of Animals. These are freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from injury, pain and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress.

Compliance with the Five Freedoms in livestock production systems and general animal husbandry will enhance the quality of productivity, reduce the cost of production, increase wealth generation as well as provide a competitive advantage for Namibian beef products in the international market.