If we have simulators for train drivers, air traffic controllers, pilots, lorry drivers, etc. etc….. Why not for poultry slaughterhouses? After all, today’s slaughterhouses — which are better referred to as processing plants, since “slaughter” is only a tiny fraction of the work they carry out — are complex agri-food facilities valued at tens of millions of Euros, and ones that are increasingly difficult to access due to food safety requirements and labour regulations.
The scarcity of slaughterhouses and strict biosecurity measures hinder students’ access to these learning environments. In response to this challenge, a group of experts in Veterinary Public Health from the UNA Europa network has developed a Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator (VSS) for poultry — an innovative tool designed to address this gap.
- Objective and development of the VSS: The primary objective of the simulator is to provide a realistic and safe environment in which students can practise ante mortem, post mortem and audit procedures, strengthening their training in meat hygiene. The development of this simulator was inspired by the success of the bovine VSS, which has proven to be a valuable learning resource for veterinary students.
- Features of the Poultry Simulator: The poultry VSS includes a risk assessment tool that enables prediction of the risk of human campylobacteriosis associated with poultry meat consumption. This feature is critical, given that campylobacteriosis is one of the most common intestinal infections in humans, with chicken meat representing a major source of transmission.
- Application and demonstration: The poultry VSS was presented at the European Poultry Conference, where a live demonstration of its functionality was given. The results of previous studies on the bovine VSS encourage continued investment and collaboration to further develop this technology.
- Funding: This project has been funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU programme, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
- Implications: The simulator represents an innovative solution for the practical training of veterinary students, enabling them to acquire competencies in an environment that would otherwise be difficult to access. It also offers a means of improving the teaching of meat hygiene and food safety in the poultry industry. Furthermore, the risk assessment tool is particularly relevant to food safety management and public health.
- Next Steps: Further investment and collaboration are planned to refine this technology, not only for veterinary students, but also for other stakeholders in the European poultry food industry.
The Virtual Poultry Slaughterhouse Simulator is a promising tool for training future veterinarians, offering a safe and efficient alternative to traditional slaughterhouse placements. Its development responds to the current needs of the sector and is projected as a key resource for ensuring training in food safety and public health within the European poultry context.
Source:
-. Paper presented at the EPC in Valencia in June 2024: “Development of a virtual poultry slaughterhouse simulator to train veterinary students in Europe” Alessandro Seguino et al.
Further reading:
-. “Development and Evaluation of a Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator for Training and Educating Veterinary Students“.
-. FAO: “Strengthening meat production food safety teaching through a virtual slaughterhouse simulator (VSS)“