Hot-water spraying is a sensitive test for signs of life before dressing and scalding in pig abattoirs with carbon dioxide (CO2) stunning.

This study investigated the benefits of hot-water spraying (HWS) as a diagnostic test to verify the absence of signs of life (SOL) before scalding in pigs slaughtered with carbon dioxide (CO2) stunning. A total of 37 108 finishing pigs from five German abattoirs (A to E) operating at 55 to 571 pigs per hour were assessed. Suspended pigs were sprayed onto the muzzle, head and front legs (143 to 258 s post sticking for 4 to 10 s, 57°C to 72°C). Any active movements during HWS were rated as positive test outcomes. In comparison, SOL were considered to be absent if a subsequent manual examination was negative and no active movements were observed following HWS. The incidence of pigs with activity during hot-water spraying (PWA) was restricted to two abattoirs (B: 0.25%; D: 0.02%; A, C, E: 0.00%). PWA showed movements of facial muscles (88%), mouth opening (78%), righting reflex (63%), isolated leg movements (35%) and vocalization (4%). The manual examination was positive in 71% of PWA (corneal/dazzle reflex: 67%/53%, nasal septum pinch: 33%), whereas all inactive pigs tested negative (P99.9% in either case. Any positive manual findings as well as any respiratory activity were instantly terminated using a penetrating captive bolt. Active movements triggered by the shot were shown to be an indicator for SOL (P<0.001). Video analyses revealed that spontaneous movements (SM) following sticking were present in 100% of PWA as opposed to 3.1% in pigs without such activity (controls). Results for different categories of SM in PWA v. controls were as follows: 100% v. 2.6% for mouth opening, 16.0% v. 0.1% for righting reflex and 22.0% v. 0.9% for isolated leg movements (all P<0.001). First mouth opening after sticking was observed later in PWA (28±24 v. 10±7 s), but mouth openings were observed for a longer period of time (141±44 v. 27±25 s) (both P<0.001). PWA with shorter mouth-opening intervals showed higher movement intensities during HWS and more positive manual findings (P<0.05). We conclude that HWS is a promising test for SOL. SM and sustained mouth opening in particular are indicators for compromised animal welfare and affected pigs should be shot by captive bolt.

Religious slaughter: evaluation of current practices in selected countries.

As part of the project "Religious slaughter (DIALREL): improving knowledge and expertise through dialogue and debate on issues of welfare, legislation and socio-economic aspects", this paper discusses an evaluation of current practices during Halal and Shechita slaughter in cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. During religious slaughter, animals are killed with and without stunning by a transverse incision across the neck that is cutting the skin, muscles (brachiocephalic, sternocephalic, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid), trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins and the major, superficial and deep nerves of the cervical plexus. In this report, the restraint methods, stunning, neck cutting, exsanguination, slaughter techniques and postcut handling in the abattoir were assessed for religious slaughter. Information about the procedures used during religious slaughter in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Turkey and Australia was collected by means of spot visits to abattoirs. To standardize the information gathered during the spot visits three guidelines were designed, one for each species, and translated into the national languages of the countries involved. The document included questions on the handling and restraint methods (stunning, neck cutting/exsanguination/slaughter techniques and postcut handling performed under religious practices) and for pain and distress of the animal during the restraint, neck cutting and induction to death in each abattoir. Results showed differences in the time from restraining to stun and to cut in the neck cutting procedures and in the time from cut to death.

Time to collapse following slaughter without stunning in cattle.

Time to physical collapse was examined in 174 cattle which were restrained in the upright position and then released immediately from the restraint following the halal cut. The frequencies of swelling and false aneurysm in the cephalic and cardiac severed ends of the arteries were recorded. Fourteen percent of the cattle collapsed and stood up again before finally collapsing. The average time to final collapse for all the cattle was 20s (sd+/-33). In 8% of the animals time to final collapse was 60s. Seventy-one percent of the cattle that took more than 75s to collapse had false aneurysms in the cardiac ends of the severed carotid arteries. The frequency of swelling at the cephalic severed ends of the carotid arteries in 129 cattle was 7%. Failure to collapse within 60s was associated with swelling of the cephalic ends of the carotid arteries.

Handling of slaughter cattle in pre and post transport situations including loading and unloading on journeys up to 8 hours in Germany.

In a field study 63 commercial cattle transports to German slaughter plants including 580 bulls, cows and heifers were investigated to estimate the impact of pre and post transport aspects on animal welfare. Study 1 evaluated these aspects as part of a large model covering all possible influences at transport and slaughter on biochemical stress response and carcass and meat quality. Included were keeping system, behavioural and clinical observations at loading, unloading and lairage, transport time, loading density, mounting prevention, regrouping and lairage time. In study 2 more detailed questions about loading and unloading were answered by investigating the impact of facility design and handling criteria on cattle behaviour and heart rate. Cattle from tied housing show an increased stress response to all transport procedures. Many aspects of facility design and handling contribute to quality of loading. Cattle show calmer behaviour, turn, balk or fall less if they are not mixed and driven in small groups on driveways without impediments but with regular sideblock, not wider than the vehicle ramp. Vehicle ramps should have high and closed side gates, be inclined less than 20 degrees, and the step towards ramp should be less than 15 cm. Unloading is improved if performed level and to the back of the vehicle (behaviour, heart rate, cortisol, CK). Direct reloading should be avoided and mounting should be prevented during transport and lairage (CK, lactate, bruising). But mounting prevention devices may increase bruising if set too low (< 20 cm above withers). Longer lairage time is disadvantageous (CK, energy metabolism).

Recommendations for future development in cattle transport in Europe.

Every year millions of calves and cattle are transported across, from and to Europe. Most of these animals are going to slaughter houses in the respective countries or in another community state or coming or going abroad (extra-EU). These transports give cause for concern for at least three reasons: First, it can cause severe stress in animals entailing poor welfare. Second, stressful transports may have a negative effect on meat quality. Third, there is the risk of spread of infectious diseases over large distances. Existing legislation does not provide enough protection to transported animals especially over long distances largely because considerable parts of the regulations are not sufficiently based on scientific evidence. In recent years some research is carried out including the EU financed CATRA research project (contract QLK5-CT 1999-0157) concentrating on the welfare and meat quality aspects of cattle transport. This paper summarises important results of this recent research and gives some recommendations for future legislation. The welfare of the animals is limited by their needs not by a fixed maximum transport time, if vehicle and transport conditions are appropriate. Bulls, steers and heifers are reacting differently on transport. Adapt transport schemes to the needs of the animals. Meat quality is only effected in extreme situations. Some animals develop an energy deficit after 6 h of transport. Develop appropriate feeding regimes for long transport. Abolish stressful loading and unloading in staging posts (injuries, infectious diseases). Staging posts are particularly stressful for bulls. Educate handlers and drivers more intensively. Pay drivers inverse to losses. Develop monitor systems for long and short distance transport (e.g. records, GPS). Improve vehicle design (e.g. vibration).

[Humane killing of animals in agricultural management]. / Tierschutzgerechtes Töten von Tieren in landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben.

The special problem of handling weak, chronically ill, injured farm animals or those not sellable for slaughter is described. Farmers generally do not have sufficient knowledge in killing animals. They need external help or they must take specific training courses to get the necessary knowledge. Solutions how to improve animal welfare in this field are given.

[Sudden deaths in taking blood samples from fattening swine herds-- experiences from practice]. / Plötzliche Todesfälle bei Blutentnahmen in Schweinemastbeständen--Erfahrungen aus der Praxis.

Experiences in a large-scale blood sampling was the cause for reflections about the reason of sudden deaths of pigs. The one-sided breeding of pigs in order to get a high lean meat content, the ability to grow rapidly and to put on weight causes susceptibility to exertional myopathy. In addition, in modern housing systems pigs grow up in an environment without any stimulus, which results in emotional stress, if the pigs get suddenly in a close contact to man. Therefore a routinely operation such as taking blood causes an abnormal acceleration of glycolysis and the development of lactacidosis and sometimes a circulatory insufficiency up to sudden death. The metabolic acidosis, which is of breeding origin and arises from stress, often is strengthened by pneumonia in fattening herds caused by faulty husbandry, high animal concentration, stall climate and a high risk of infection. Because of this the metabolic acidosis cannot be compensated for by respiration. The high number of sudden deaths caused by lactacidosis and cardiac shock (fattening period: 1-12%, transport to slaughter: 0.4%, and 0.45% in the own investigation into blood sample taking from fattening pigs [weight: 80-110 kg]) emphasizes the problem. The exertional myopathy is not only characterized by sudden death but also by poor meat quality due to PSE. From the point of view of animal welfare as well as from the point of view of the consumer it is desirable to change the aim of breeding, especially by reducing lean meat content as well as to improve the type of husbandry.

[Applied animal welfare of slaughter houses]. / Angewandter Tierschutz in Schlachtbetrieben.

Applied Animal Welfare at Slaughter Houses. The activities of the training- and consultancy institute for careful handling of breeding- and slaughter-animals (bsi) which exists for 3 years now are described. Some major critical points and solutions are discussed.

[Fatal accident to a horse from a narrow transverse beam in the box door]. / Tödlicher Unfall eines Pferdes durch einen zu niedrigen Querbalken über der Boxentür.

It is reported on the fatal accident of a horse due to a cross-beam too low above the door of the stable, in which the animal suffered several skull fractures and a tear of the musculus longus capitis from the base of the skull. The aim of this article is, to supply a contribution to the establishment of minimal requirements for the housing of horses, in this case for the request of the minimum height of stable doors and ceilings as well as for constructions on horse transporters. On the grounds of this example, the natural behaviour of horses is discussed at the hand of the literature and the efforts are shown to improve the existing inadequacies in the housing and transport of horses with regard to the judicial situation. In the light of section 2 of the animal protection law, as to the construction of horse stables the importance is especially emphasized to consider the panic behaviour in connection with abrupt flight reactions as physiologic in the prevention of accidents.

[Animal welfare in the slaughterhouse]. / Tierschutz am Schlachthof.

The importance of correct handling of slaughter animals at the farm, on transport and in the slaughterhouse is described. The status of animal welfare in slaughterhouses, the relations between animal welfare, preslaughter animal condition and meat quality are discussed. Possibilities of better information exchange by integrated quality systems are shown. A summary of the first-year-work experiences of the Beratungs- und Schulungsinstitut für tierschonenden Umgang mit Nutz- und Schlachttieren (bsi) gives an overview of handling and related animal welfare problems during the slaughter process.