WOAH Animal Welfare Experts Visit Hunland
Today, animal welfare is not merely a regulatory obligation; it is a cornerstone of modern livestock farming and live animal logistics. At Hunland Group, we believe that the well-being of animals is a priority at every stage of the value chain—from on-farm management and nutrition to preventive animal healthcare and long-distance transport.
On 1 July, Hunland had the honour of welcoming the participants of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Animal Welfare Focal Points Meeting to our headquarters in Bugyi, Hungary. The international delegation, comprising nearly 55 participants from more than 45 countries, included WOAH experts, animal welfare specialists, official veterinarians, researchers, ministry representatives and experts from the European Commission.
Actions Speak Louder Than Presentations
The aim of the visit was to provide participants with first-hand insight into how animal welfare is integrated into Hunland’s daily operations.
During the programme, the delegation toured our headquarters, where they were introduced to our livestock operations, feed production and feed trading activities. They also had the opportunity to observe first-hand the planning and execution of long-distance live animal transport, demonstrating how animal welfare principles are applied throughout the entire logistics process.
Animal Welfare Across the Entire Value Chain
Our owner, Jos Janssen, introduced the Hunland Group, highlighting the key milestones of our journey and the values behind our success. He shared how our integrated business model, family-owned culture, commitment to consistently high quality and long-term partnerships have shaped the company’s growth over the past 35 years.
The central theme of the afternoon presentations was animal welfare in long-distance live animal transportation.
Péter Hencz, Logistics Director of Hunland, demonstrated that at our company, animal welfare is not defined by a single measure, but by a comprehensive approach that guides every stage of the transport process. This includes careful route planning, a dedicated network of approved control posts, digital traceability, continuous temperature monitoring, and our own digital and technological solutions that support real-time decision-making while ensuring full transparency.
The presentation also highlighted how continuous innovation—including the development of our climate-controlled livestock trailer and digital animal welfare solutions—helps us provide optimal conditions for animals throughout long-distance transportation.
Animal Welfare Beyond Transportation
Another key focus of the programme was prevention and sustainability. Participants were introduced to the GB Water water treatment technology implemented across Hunland’s operations, which is already in use at eight of our sites, helping to improve drinking water quality and support high hygiene standards.
We believe that animal welfare is not only about treating diseases, but above all about preventing them through proper housing conditions, high-quality water, strong biosecurity and a commitment to continuous innovation and improvement.
Driving Innovation to Meet Tomorrow’s Challenges
During the event, our Logistics Director, Zoltán Deli, presented Hunland’s newly developed climate-controlled livestock trailer, designed to address one of the greatest challenges facing modern live animal transportation: rising summer temperatures.
The prototype has already proven its performance under extreme summer conditions, demonstrating its ability to maintain an optimal internal temperature of approximately 25°C while fully complying with animal welfare regulations.
As climate change continues to reshape our industry, our goal is not only to improve animal welfare during transport, but also to provide practical solutions and inspire innovation across the livestock transport sector.
Working Together for Better Animal Welfare
It was a great honour for us to welcome WOAH and leading animal welfare experts to Hunland. We are proud to have had the opportunity to share our experience and showcase our practical approach to animal welfare.
We believe that animal welfare is not a competitive advantage—it is a shared responsibility. That is why we place great importance on knowledge sharing, open professional dialogue and continuous innovation, all of which contribute to building a more sustainable, responsible and resilient future for agriculture.
