Staff key to good poultry welfare at slaughter

Whether arising from inadequate training or skills, personnel failings may lie at the root of the most issues relating to poultry welfare at slaughter, according to a new European report. This applies whether the birds are slaughtered as part of the food chain, or for disease control.

(2 Sisters Food Group)
(2 Sisters Food Group)

To address evolving issues in animal welfare, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published new recommendations on aspects of poultry welfare around slaughter. The outcome of two studies by expert groups have appeared in papers covering birds destined to be part of the food chain, and those that must be culled for emergency disease control purposes.

In each case, and in consultation with animal welfare experts from the European Union (EU), the multinational panel of experts compiled a list of hazards that are most likely to occur at the different stages prior to slaughter. With the aim to prevent these hazards, the authors developed a series of practical recommendations.

Staff-related factors linked to most hazards in welfare at slaughter for food production

For this study, the welfare of the birds was assessed during 3 main phases: pre-stunning, stunning, and bleeding. Stunning methods were considered in 3 categories: electrical, controlled modified atmosphere, and mechanical.

The authors identified 10 welfare consequences to which the birds may be exposed: consciousness, heat stress, cold stress, prolonged thirst, prolonged hunger, restriction of movements, pain, fear, distress and respiratory distress. At each stage of slaughter, these and relevant animal-based measures were described. For each process, outcome tables were developed linking hazards, welfare consequences, animal-based measures, origins, and preventive and corrective measures. Measures to mitigate the adverse welfare consequences were also proposed by the authors.

Of the 35 hazards identified in the study, staff failings were linked to 29 of them. Most common explanations were a lack of appropriate skills or training, or to fatigue. As a result, management has a crucial role in prevention, concluded the EFSA panel. Its recommendation highlight the need for adequate staff training in the different stages of slaughter, as well as for the clear identification of roles and responsibilities.

This is just one of 18 recommendations made in the published scientific opinion on welfare for the slaughter of poultry for food production.

Training, management focus needed for slaughter to control disease

Training of farm staff so they acquire the skills necessary to perform on-farm killing of birds is also among the 20 recommendations arising from the related study on the welfare of birds slaughtered for reasons of disease control. All personnel need to understand their roles and responsibilities, and preparations include written standard operating procedures (SOP), and contingency plans.

Gassing is generally recommended by the authors for killing all the birds in a barn or house. This is because it does not require all the birds to be handled individually, but it does need the house to be sealed effectively. Direct injection of liquid gas into the barn should not be used, according to the authors.

Acceptable methods identified in the study to kill individual conscious birds are captive bolt gun or lethal injection of anesthetic drug (administered according to the manufacturer’s instructions). Unconscious birds may be dispatched through cervical dislocation by stretching and twisting of the neck, decapitation, or brain piercing. Cervical dislocation by crushing, poisons, or toxins should not be used for on-farm killing.

For the killing of surplus or unproductive animals, such as male day-old chicks of layer genotypes, the authors encourage the development and use of alternative technologies. They recommend this applies to single farms as well as to larger-scale processes, such as maceration at hatcheries.

Background to the studies

EFSA’s latest scientific opinions arose from a request for an independent assessment of poultry welfare from the European Commission (EC). Within the European Union, poultry welfare is covered by European Council regulations dating back to 2009, and to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Findings from the studies will be used as a basis for future discussion between the EC and OIE, aimed at aligning their approaches over animal welfare at slaughter.

The latest assessments cover all types of poultry—chickens, turkeys, quail, ducks, geese, and game birds—but not ratites.

EFSA is scheduled to publish its assessments on the welfare of other animal species in 2020—pigs (March), cattle (June), and other species (December).

Without proper training and management, the bird’s quality of life and ultimately business profitability will suffer, according to the Tyson Foods. Its senior manager for wellbeing outlines the firm’s basics for the correct handling of live chickens and turkeys.

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