Livestock and fish welfare at slaughter and when killing for e g disease control and emergency killing development of technologies procedures and or protocols to increase the reliability of methods which assess consciousness and death
Action 3 - Leading Institute: WR
Project summary
The available parameters to assess (un)consciousness and death differ strongly among the different animal species. Moreover, validated parameters for (un)consciousness are not available for all species, especially fish and crustaceans. Furthermore, increasing slaughter speed in European slaughterhouses makes it very difficult to assess all or a reliable number of animals. This project aims to develop validated indicators and procedures, new or improved protocols and/or technologies for the objective assessment of (un)consciousness and/or death in different species and under different circumstances.
Project objectives
The general objective of this project is to develop and provide technologies, procedures and/or protocols to increase the reliability of methods which assess (un)consciousness and death at slaughter or killing during non-slaughter situations. Important species to consider are poultry, rabbits, pigs, cattle, small ruminants and fishes & other aquatic species.
Objective 1: Create an overview of existing methods and protocols to assess (un)consciousness and death including gaps of knowledge for different species.
Objective 2: Develop objective assessment methods, tools and protocols to assess (un)consciousness and death at slaughter (1) and on farm or in transit (2)
Objective 3: The use of communication & dissemination to make protocols or assessment methods available to stakeholders.
Outcomes and impacts
- Overview of existing methods and protocols to assess (un)consciousness and death including gaps of knowledge for different species or animal categories are listed and were relevant described in general terms.
- Improved protocols and assessment methods are described in more detail for the different species or animal categories involved (month 24)
- Validated protocols or methods are listed for the different species or animal categories involved
- Protocols & assessment methods are described and made available to stakeholders and when possible, made available via the Knowledge platform on animal welfare (OO1 action6) (Month 36)