About Us

  • Opas is a cooperative (the Board of Directors is made up only of farmers with the decision-making power of the members stabilized on the basis of the paid-up share capital), the cost of the pigs is in fact a revenue traced back to the contributing member who has an indirect benefit in terms of profitability as well as guaranteeing the withdrawal of pigs from the market.

  • Opas is the largest Italian pig slaughterhouse, capable of slaughtering heavy pigs. +50% of the supply comes from the contribution by the member-breeders, the rest is purchased on the market, from the regions of central and northern Italy which are notorious for our country’s zootechnical vocation.

  • Opas is the largest product organization in Italy (12% of Italian pig farming): it manages to give sustainability to the cost of slaughter thanks to the integration of the different production phases (breeder-slaughterer-distributor).

  • Opas is a leader in the production of legs certified for the DOP/PGI and for export certifications.

OPAS HAS NUMEROUS COLLABORATIONS WITH IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS:

  • MASAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and Forestry)

  • University of Bologna

  • University of Turin

  • Regions

  • Local health authority

  • C.R.P.A. – Animal Production Research Center

  • OI. Interprofessional organization

  • I.Z.S. BRESCIA – National animal welfare contact

  • CIWF CompassionIn World Farming

  • SUIVET

  • ASSICA

  • CREFIS, Economic Research Center on Pig Supply Chains

OPAS AND LARGE ITALIAN PIG, NEW PROJECTS APPROVED

Opas is a key player in the pork sector, participating in new projects of the Gran Suino Italiano Interprofessional Organization approved by the Emilia Romagna Region.

Regarding the economic recognition of product quality and new innovative management tools in terms of Animal Welfare…. (continue reading)

FEASR Regulation at this address: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/browse/summaries.html

COURSES

Training organized by OPAS for its member farmers

With the project “OPAS TRAINING PLAN 2021” prot 64 Notice 1/2020, the company, with the contribution of the Confagricoltura Training Entity (ENAPRA), implemented a training project aimed at enhancing the skills of agricultural entrepreneurs (members of the cooperative) and their employees in the pig farming sector. On average, the courses were attended by 25 people for a total of 60 hours.

The training plan, which started in 2021 and ended in May 2022, included the delivery of a course divided into 9 modules:

  1. “THE WELFARE OF SOWS AND THE CORRECT MANAGEMENT OF THE FARROWING ROOM” focused particularly on the regulatory and practical aspects of animal welfare applied to the management of breeders on farms.
  2. “PIG HANDLING” related to the correct handling of the flow of animals on farms, and the management of their transport according to current animal welfare regulations.
  3. “BIOSECURITY ON FARMS” defining guidelines to prevent the spread of diseases that cause significant economic losses for farmers.
  4. “WORKPLACE SAFETY” concerning the prevention and safety of managing equipment on farms and COVID-19 procedures.
  5. “PIG FEEDING DURING WEANING AND FATTENING” addressing aspects related to pig nutrition in terms of the correct use of feed and its impact on animal health.
  6. “CONSCIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF MEDICINES ON FARMS” covering aspects aimed at reducing the use of antibiotics in pig farming with the presentation of field experiences.
  7. “PRACTICE OF CORRECT MEDICATION USE” discussing good practices in medication use, including intervention timing, proper use of tools (needles, syringes, etc.), storage, and correct disposal.
  8. “NEW BAT FOR PIG FARMS” interventions on Good Farming Practices to reduce ammonia emissions from pig farms: technical, economic, and administrative aspects.
  9. “AGENDA 2030 FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” addressing the challenges that agricultural livestock businesses will face for sustainable development: environmental, economic, and social.

COURSES 2023

COURSES FOR BREEDERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES

  • “BIOSECURITY IN PIG FARMS DURING THE TIMES OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER according to Decree 28/06/2022 and EU Regulation 2023/594. Held at OPAS on 22/11/23 by Professor Annalisa Scollo – Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin.
  • ANIMAL WELFARE IN PIG FARMS Management of pig farming according to D.L. 122/2011 and EC Directive 120/2008. Held at Opas on 11/12/23 by Professor Paolo Trevisi – Department of Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna.”

COURSES FOR TRANSPORTERS

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE AND TECHNICAL UPDATE FOR PIG TRANSPORTERS

On the path of supply chain logistics in biosecurity, correct techniques for handling pigs.

Held at OPAS on 02/12/2023 by Dr. Tim Nelson and Mark Beghian on 02/12/2023.