Despite raising animal welfare concerns, stunning of pigs with CO2 prior to slaughter remains the most widely applied method in commercial settings. The aim of this study was to assess the discomfort period and its influencing factors in fattening pigs and sows in a commercial slaughterhouse.
Abstracts: Pre-slaughter factors linked to variation in responses to carbon dioxide gas stunning in pig abattoirs
The stunning process is an important component of slaughter with implications for animal welfare due to the potential distress and pain in the case of a sub-effective or lengthy stun. This study examined the factors correlated with variation in responses to carbon dioxide (CO2) stunning of pigs in five Australian […]
Abstracts: Analysis of stress indicators for evaluation of animal welfare and meat quality in traditional and Jewish slaughtering
Sixty Charolais male beef cattle of eight months of age were divided into two groups according to the slaughtering method, i.e., traditional or Kosher (religious Jewish rite). The aim of the study was to detect and compare the plasma concentrations of cortisol and catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine), by Elisa […]
Abstracts: Simplifying the Welfare Quality assessment protocol for broiler chicken welfare
Welfare Quality (WQ) assessment protocols place the emphasis on animal- based measures as an indicator for animal welfare. Stakeholders, however, emphasise that a reduction in the time taken to complete the protocol is essential to improve practical applicability. We studied the potential for reduction in time to complete the WQ […]