[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.

[The least requirements for the rotation of swine for slaughter from loading to transport to resting time until stunning from the viewpoint of animal protection and meat quality]. / Mindestanforderungen an den Umgang mit Schlachtschweinen von der Verladung-Transport-Ausruhzeit bis zur Betäubung aus der Sicht des Tierschutzes und der Fleischqualität.

1. According to the loading density there is a significant increase of the physical burden (strain) during a transport of pigs to the slaughterhouse. Keeping up minimal requirements (kgs pigs/sqm) the stress reaction decreases and the meat quality becomes better. 2. Each transport produces excitement which can be shown in higher respiratory and heart frequencies. The slaughtering of excited animals shows a higher percentage of carcasses with bad meat quality. Waiting times from at least 2 hours up to a maximum of 4 hours shows that the percentage of carcasses with a better meat quality increases. 3. Handling of animals at the slaughterhouse prior to stunning by dividing the number of pigs into small groups of at least 9 animals is very important especially because it reduces the excitement of the pigs prior to stunning. The stunning results are getting better. Mistakes in handling pigs prior to stunning especially in guiding them to the stunning place usually destroy all positive efforts for optimal transparent conditions and keeping up waiting times after transport. 4. The last step ahead to the stunning equipment. No good solution does exist which makes the pigs willingly do this last step and enter the place where the stunning is performed. This results in the CO2 stunning system itself as well as in the automatic electrical stunning equipment using a restrainer. 5. Stunning with CO2.

[Case description of a congenital malformation in a calf, characterized by an ingrowth of the fetal membranes into the cranial cavity]. / Fallbeschreibung einer angeborenen Missbildung beim Kalb, charakterisiert durch Einwachsen der Eihäute in die Schädelhöhle.

It is reported on a congenital malformation at the head of a calf born dead, characterized by downgrowth of the fetal membranes into the cranial cavity. The outer appearance and the pathologic-anatomical observations are presented in pictures and the attempt of an interpretation is made.