This chapter describes how to implement animal welfare assessment programmes; the most severe animal welfare problems that must be corrected immediately; how to measure bruises, injuries and other animal welfare problems at the slaughter plant; the conceptual frameworks for forming animal welfare...

This chapter describes how to write clear animal welfare standards and guidelines that will be interpreted the same way by different people; the difference between animal-based outcome measures and input resource-based standards; how to determine the most important core criteria or critical points...

This chapter discusses slaughter procedures with animal-based measures (ABMs), the principles of all types of stunning methods, gas and low atmospheric pressure stunning (LAPS), how to determine insensibility (unconsciousness), welfare issues associated with slaughter without stunning and how to...

This chapter discusses if an animal is fit for transport, the preparation of animals for transport, the design of loading ramps and handling facilities, how to determine if bruises and injuries are occurring on vehicles or in the abattoir, research on space requirements and rest stops and the use...

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the topics discussed in the book, including welfare at slaughter, ways to improve existing equipment, numerical animal-based measurements of welfare, how to achieve good animal welfare and welfare issues that originate on the farm.

When working with commercial companies, it is often more effective to actually achieve 70-80% of the desired welfare improvements than attempt to achieve 100% perfection and accomplish nothing. There are conditions that cause suffering that are always wrong and in these situations there is never a...

This chapter presents guidelines on how to assess fitness for transport, undertake on-farm euthanasia for animals not fit for transport; and develop on-farm policies to avoid transporting animals in a deteriorated and compromised condition. Also, how lairage conditions and the management of animals ...

This chapter presents guidelines on the concepts of stockmanship and abattoir facilities which includes: finding and removing visual and auditory distractions that cause animals to baulk, turn back, or refuse to move; understanding flight zone principles and point of balance when moving livestock;...

This chapter describes the most commonly used methods for the stunning of poultry and the regulatory and welfare aspects in relation to each method.

This chapter describes the equipment, procedures, advantages and disadvantages and welfare aspects of controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS) and low atmospheric pressure stunning (LAPS) for poultry.