Animal welfare at abattoir and FCI Flashcards
Are the number of slaughterhouses increasing or decreasing?
Decreasing
What is the basic sequence of steps of animals heading to slaughter? (starting with loading)
- Loading
- Transport
- Unloading
- FCI/ Ear tags/ Passport
- Lairage
- Slaughter
Describe the protocols for transporting animals
- Must have transporter authorisation
- Staff transporting and handling animals must be trained and competent (Certificate of competence)
- If journey is 8+ hours the vehicle must be approved
- Animals must not be injured or suffer unnecessarily
- Animals MUST be fit to travel
- There are rules for length of journey, rest stops, water and feeding
What are the rules for cleaning and disinfection of livestock vehicles?
- Done before new animals loaded
- Inside/ outside the abattoir
- Responsibility of farmer & FBO
- FSA verify FBO compliance
- Breaches must be reported to L.A.
Which animals shouldn’t reach an abattoir?
- Those with open wounds/ prolapses
- Can’t move independently
- Less than 7 days
- Pigs <3wks, lamb<1wk, calves<10dys (if journey 100km+)
- Pregnant (+90%)
- Given birth within 7 days
- Newborns with open navels
- Medicated animals within withdrawal period
(Under council regulation(EC) 1/2005 on transport of animals and related operations)
Describe the correct unloading procedure
- Must be unloaded ASAP/ slaughtered without delay
- Abattoir must have suitable facilities to unload safely (i.e. ramps not too steep, walls etc to stop them falling off)
- Non slip floor
What is the problem with FCI form in sheep?
- Merged the FCI with the transport details but FCI is for the FSA and DEFRA need the transport details
- Lots of ticky boxes make it difficult for OV to add details
What are the responsibilities of management?
- Skilled/ knowledgable stockmen : Animals Welfare Officer (AWO)
- Caring/ responsible planning
- Appropriate environmental design
- To consider handling/ transport
- Have humane slaughter methods
What are the benefits of good management?
- Reduced bruising to eat
- Improved meat quality
- Animals move through system with little encouragement (less stress)
What is the role of the vet in the abattoir?
- Legislation puts responsibility onto FBO and OV
- OV carries out several check on the day to ensure FBO compliance
- In addition to Welfare, Hygiene, Animal by products compliance the OV is responsible for AM of all live animals that arrive
What are the 5 freedoms?
- Free from hunger/ thirst
-Free to express natural behaviours
Free from pain, suffering, disease
-Free from fear/ distress
–Free from discomfort/ extremes of temperature
How can abattoirs meet the free from hunger and thirst need?
- Providing clean drinking water in lairage
- Animals must be able to access drinkers easily, not be able to foul them and they must be easily refilled.
- Where practical drinkers should be in a fixed position
- Should hold enough water for the number of animals to be provided
- Not fed unless kept overnight as dno’t want a full GI tract when processing carcass (cross contamination risk)
- If feed is needed same rules as drinkers
How can abattoirs meet the free from discomfort/ extremes of temperature need?
- Safety/ shelter: lairage must keep animals safe from injuries, don’t expose them to sudden noise, keep animals securely so they cannot escape, allow for animals to be easily inspected
- Lairage must have adequate ventilation
- If field lairage used should be sheltered from weather (sun and rain)
- Must have enough space for all animals comfortably to stand up, lie down and turn around.
How can abattoirs meet the pain, suffering and disease need?
AWO or someone who reports to them must asses welfare of each animal
(if injured often put the animal to front of the queue)
How can abattoirs meet the express natural behaviour need?
- Avoid isolation allowing social animals to remain in a herd
- Consider natural social groupings
- Avoid mixing strange animals together
- Consider that new environment can increase stress and cause aggression.
