This chapter describes the brief history and continuing progress of selection and breed development for desirable traits in livestock.

This chapter presents various behavioural tests to help determine the different characteristics expressed by an individual animal, such as optimism, anxiety, fearfulness, boldness and dominance.

In this chapter, examples of tests employed to investigate behavioural effects of ageing, development and experience in animals are discussed.

In this chapter, the author discusses a variety of issues to consider; things to remember before, during and after testing and pitfalls to avoid regarding behavioural testing. The objective is to highlight certain matters that are important to keep in mind, independent of the complexity of the...

This book contains 18 chapters that discuss welfare issues at slaughter; tradeoffs balancing livestock and poultry welfare concerns with the commercial reality of slaughter; conditioning of animals an arrival at the abattoir and their management during lairage; bruising in cattle; behavioural...

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.

This chapter discusses animal welfare in the context of slaughter and reviews the types of welfare issues that some animals can experience before and during slaughter. It shows how animal feelings such as pain, distress, fear, hunger, thirst, fatigue and discomfort can be affected by the procedures ...

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;...