Subject: Slaughtering

Final report of an audit of Belgium from 12 october 2020 to 16 october 2020 in order to evaluate controls of animal welfare at slaughter and during related operations

DG SANTE

Published in 2021

DG SANTE audit report on Belgium highlighting that little progress has been made by the Belgian competent authorities since the previous audit in 2014 on the assessment of the effectiveness of official controls on commercial operators when killing animals in abattoirs.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Consciousness, Pain

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Specificities of the evaluation of consciousness and unconsciousness according to slaughter method

Claudia Terlouw, Barbara Ducreux and Cécile Bourguet

Published in 2021

Review article on the proper assessment of indicators of consciousness and unconsciousness: moment at which the assessment is carried out, interpretation of the assessment, particular areas for vigilance depending on the assessment method used.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Brain integration, Cognitive processes, Stress

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Effects of Season, Plumage Colour, and Transport Distance on Body Weight Loss, Dead-on-Arrival, and Reject Rate in Commercial End-of-Lay Hens

Enver Çavuşoğlu, Metin Petek

Published in 2021

Scientific paper highlighting that time of year, plumage colour and distance travelled all influence mortality rates, weight loss and rejection rates on arrival when transporting laying hens at the end of their laying period, and should therefore be taken into account to improve their welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Carcass quality, Transport

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Welfare of pigs during killing for purposes other than slaughter

Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Klaus Depner, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Helen Clare Roberts, Liisa Helena Sihvonen, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop and Christoph Winckler

Published in 2020

Assessment of the risks involved in the slaughter of pigs on farms, identifying two separate stages: 1) handling and movement of pigs and 2) slaughter methods (including restraint).

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Risk management, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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Farmers' Perceptions about Health and Welfare Issues in Turkey Production

Nienke van Staaveren, Emily M. Leishman, Benjamin J. Wood, Alexandra Harlander, Christine F. Baes

Published in 2020

A cross-sectional survey of turkey farmers in Canada to identify the main perceived reasons for slaughter, mortality and carcass seizure on their farms.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Carcass quality, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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Sheep welfare during transport and slaughter in Bulgaria - Impact of welfare on slaughter carcass and meat quality: a review

Nıkolay Todorov Ivanov

Published in 2020

Preview: “This overview demonstrates that improper preslaughter handling deteriorates meat quality and increases stress levels in animals.”

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords: Societal issues, Carcass quality, Stress, Transport

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French Assemblée Nationale: written answer to Question No. 24499: Elevages porcins-castration-claquage-bien-être animal

Christophe Naegelen (UDI, Agir et Indépendants, Vosges); Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2020

Question concerning the end date for live castration of piglets and measures to support farmers in this transition.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Pain, Societal Issues, Mutilation, Stress

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French Assemblée Nationale: written answer to question n°25371 : Révélations de L214 sur des maltraitances animales en Dordogne

Question: Julien Dive (Les Républicains, Aisne); Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2020

Question concerning measures to avoid shocking practices such as those exposed by L214 at the Domaine de Lapeyrouse production laboratories, and call for an increase in unannounced inspections of these production laboratories.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Societal issues

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Etat des lieux de la douleur associée à la mise à mort des bovins sans étourdissement

Cécile Bourguet, Noémie Devriendt, Claudia Terlow, Gautier Riberolles

Published in 2020

Inventory of the sources of stress and pain associated with the stunning and killing of cattle in France, with and without stunning.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Brain integration, Cognitive processes

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