Subject: Slaughtering

Animal Welfare during Transport and Slaughter of Cattle: A Systematic Review of Studies in the European Legal Framework

Svea Nicolaisen, Nina Langkabel, Christa Thoene-Reineke, Mechthild Wiegard

Published in 2023

Scientific review of transport and slaughter procedures in Europe since the European regulations on animal transport and welfare came into force in 2009. It identifies the factors affecting animal welfare during these two phases of a farmed animal's life.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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Stunning and Slaughter: good practices for Animal Welfare in Aquaculture

Aquatic Life Institute

Published in 2023

Fact sheet describing commercially-available "welfare-friendly" stunning and slaughtering equipment for some of the most common farmed species in aquaculture, explaining how the equipment works, emphasizing the importance of proper calibration, and of its context of use. 

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

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Inspection post mortem en abattoir d’animaux de boucherie

Bureau des Etablissements d'Abattage et de Découpe

Published in 2023

Technical instruction from the French Bureau des Etablissements d'Abattage et de Découpe (Slaughtering and Cutting Establishments Office) listing the regulatory provisions relating to post-mortem inspection in abattoirs for slaughter animals, providing a reference list of reasons for official intervention and providing harmonization tools for inspections.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Carcass quality, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

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The Feasibility of Animal-Based Indicators of Consciousness and Unconsciousness for Stunning in Sheep: A Systematic Review

Marta Comin, Sara Barbieri, Michela Minero, Emanuela Dalla Costa

Published in 2023

Systematic review of the scientific literature on the feasibility constraints on animal-based indicators commonly used in abattoirs to assess the correct stunning of sheep.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Stress

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Relevant Indicators of Consciousness after Waterbath Stunning in Turkeys and Stunning Efficiency in Commercial Conditions

Alexandra Contreras-Jodar, Aranzazu Varvaró-Porter, Antonio Velarde, Virginie Michel

Published in 2023

Scientific article evaluating the prevalence and repeatability among observers of the four most valid and usable indicators of consciousness after waterbath stunning in turkeys before bleeding (tonic convulsion, respiration, spontaneous blinking and vocalization) and during bleeding (wing beating, respiration, spontaneous swallowing and head shaking).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Carcass quality, Stress

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IPWA Key Welfare Indicators Reference Guide - Turkeys

IPWA

Published in 2023

Results-based key welfare indicator guide for turkeys

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Carcass quality, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Mutilation, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system, Transport

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IPWA Key Welfare Indicators Reference Guide - Layer Chicken

IPWA

Published in 2023

Guide d’indicateurs clés de bien-être basés sur les résultats chez la poule pondeuse et la dinde.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Carcass quality, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Mutilation, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system, Transport

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IPWA Key Welfare Indicators Reference Guide - Broiler Chicken

IPWA

Published in 2023

Key welfare indicators on results for broilers.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Carcass quality, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Mutilation, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system, Transport

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Investigating clove oil and its derivatives as anaesthetic agents for decapod crustaceans to improve welfare commercially and at slaughter

Felicity Spoors, Mark James, Tania Mendo, J. Chris McKnight, Eva-Maria S. Bønnelycke, Nicola Khan

Published in 2023

Scientific review on the use of clove oil as a natural, effective and reversible anaesthetic in decapods, including brown crab and langoustine, which are commercially important in the UK, and whether it can  improve the welfare of these animals at the farming and slaughter stages of life.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Pain, Societal issues

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Assemblée nationale: réponse écrite à la question n°5240 : Absence d’étiquetage concernant l’abattage rituel 

Question: Serge Muller (RN - Dordogne). Answer: Ministry of the Interior

Published in 2023

Answer to a question on the possible introduction of labelling to show "slaughter with stunning" or "slaughter without stunning", to enable all consumers to make informed purchases.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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