Subject: Slaughtering

Evaluation of candidate data-based welfare indicators for calves in Switzerland

Sibylle Zwygart, Barbara Lutz, Beat Thomann, Dimitri Stucki, Mireille Meylan, Jens Becker

Published in 2024

Article showing that the four principles of Welfare Quality that indicate good animal welfare, namely "good feed", "good housing", "good health" and "appropriate behavior", are not reflected in routinely available data on veal calf farms in Switzerland, even though data for health status assessment is available. If animal welfare is to be inferred from routine data, there is a need to adapt data collection strategies and animal identification methods.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Carcass quality, Livestock farming system, Behavioural disorders, Welfare indicators

Go to document

The use of high expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)

Published in 2024

EFSA opinion assessing the suitability of high expansion foam in container as a new stunning and killing method for poultry and pigs. It concludes that, for laying hens and broilers and for pigs weighing between 15 and 41 kg, this is an effective and animal-friendly alternative method, subject to compliance with the specified technical conditions and procedures, and to staff training.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia, Welfare indicators, Stress

Go to document

Welfare of sheep and goats during killing for purposes other than slaughter

EFSA Panel of Animal Health and Welfare

Published in 2024

EFSA opinion assessing the risks and welfare implications associated with on-farm slaughtering of sheep and goats. It proposes animal-based measures to assess these risks, and preventive and corrective measures to mitigate them.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Goats, Sheep

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Euthanasia, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress

Go to document

European Parliament: Answer to Question E-001217/24: Welfare of crustaceans at slaughter

Question: Sarah Wiener (Greens/EFA). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Response from the European Commission to an MEP's question on the welfare of crustaceans at slaughter. The Commission states that it has mandated EFSA to produce an expert opinion on the welfare of certain invertebrates such as decapods. It also refers to the creation, at the beginning of 2024, of the EU Reference Center for Aquatic Animal Welfare.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Crustaceans

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia

Go to document

Final report of a fact-finding mission of Italy in order to collect information on the national system for the protection of turkey welfare on farm - European Commission

DG Health - European Commission

Published in 2024

European Commission report on the national legislation and systems put in place by Italy to protect the welfare of turkeys during production. Italy has transposed, implemented and, for certain parameters, further developed the EU legal framework. However, there is still room for improvement in areas such as stocking densities, mutilation and environmental enrichment.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keyword:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock buildings, Mutilation

Go to document

National Assembly: written answer to question n°14325: Submission of government report on on-farm slaughtering trials

Question: Lisa Belluco (Ecologist - NUPES - Vienna). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2024

Question from a Member of the French National Assembly on the introduction of mobile on-farm slaughterhouses. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has announced the recent publication of a regulation amending Regulation (EC) 853/53/2004 to regulate the use of mobile on-farm slaughter units.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Carcass quality, Euthanasia, Housing,Animal trade, Pain, Transport

Go to document

Animal welfare at slaughter: perceptions and knowledge across cultures

Michelle Sinclair, Maria José Hötzel, Natasha Y. P. Lee, Maria Catalina T. de Luna, Arvind Sharma, Musadiq Idris, Mohammad Ariful Islam, Oluwaseun S. Iyasere, Grisel Navarro, Abdelkareem A. Ahmed, Georgette Leah Burns, Michael Curry, Jeremy N. Marchant

Published in 2023

Analysis of a survey of the general public to assess knowledge and attitudes towards animal welfare during slaughter (including religious slaughter), in 14 culturally and religiously diverse countries. The results suggest that concern for reducing animal suffering during slaughter is a universal human tendency rather than a cultural development. Acceptance of slaughter without prior stunning is linked to local interpretations of religious requirements.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Education, Euthanasia, Fear, Human-animal relationships

Go to document

Analyse d’impact ex post de trente ans de recherche et développement sur les conditions de pré-abattage des ruminants

Christine BERGER, Laëtitia CLAVEL, Barbara DUCREUX, Valérie DAVID

Published in 2024

Analysis of the impact of R&D work carried out over the last thirty years on the pre-slaughter animal welfare of ruminants.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ruminants

Keywords:  Carcass quality, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Education, Euthanasia, One Welfare, Livestock farming system, Transport, Societal issues

Go to document

Welfare of invertebrates: a pilot study on a new land snail stunning technique

Fossati P., Stefanini F.M., Ravasio G., Coerezza U.

Published in 2024

Scientific article providing preliminary data on the effectiveness of a method of stunning edible snails based on immersion in refrigerated water enriched with CO2 intended to avoid the suffering experienced by these invertebrates when slaughtered.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Molluscs

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia

Go to document

Bien-être des animaux : quels critères scientifiques pour construire un étiquetage des produits alimentaires ? Rapport de l’Anses

Anses

Published in 2024

News item on an Anses report recommending a harmonized comprehensive food product labelling system using animal-based scientific welfare indicators and also take into account the living conditions of their parents.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Castration, Animal trade, Enrichment, Identification, Housing, Restraint equipment, Living environment, Mutilation, Prenatal issues, Sterilization, Stress, Livestock farming system, Transport, Behavioural disorders, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

Go to document