Auditing animal welfare at slaughter plants

The OIE Welfare Standards on slaughter transport, and killing of animals for disease control are basic minimum standards that every country should follow. The OIE, European Union, and many private standards used by commercial industry have an emphasis on animal based outcome standards instead of engineering based standards. Numerical scoring is used by both private industry and some governments to access animal welfare at slaughter plants. Five variables are measured. They are: 1) Percentage of animals effectively stunned on the first attempt, 2) Percentage rendered insensible, 3) Percentage that vocalize (bellow, moo, squeal) during handling and stunning, 4) Percentage that fall during handling, and 5) Percentage moved with an electric goad. Each one of these critical control points measures the outcome of many problems. A good animal welfare auditing system also has standards that prohibit really bad practices such as dragging, dropping, throwing, puntilla, and hoisting live animals before ritual slaughter. On farm and transport problems that can be measured at the slaughter plant are: percentage of lame animals, percentage of thin animals, percentage of dirty animals, percentage with sores, bruises or lesions, death losses, morbidity, and percentage of birds with broken wings and legs.     

Stunning and animal welfare from Islamic and scientific perspectives

The transformation of an animal into pieces fit for human consumption is a very important operation. Rather than argue about halal slaughter without stunning being inhumane or stunning being controversial from the Islamic point of view, we discuss slaughter, stunning and animal welfare considering both Islamic and animal welfare legislation requirements. With the world Muslim population close to two billion, the provision of halal meat for the Muslim community is important both ethically and economically. However, from the animal welfare standard point of view, a number of issues have been raised about halal slaughter without stunning, particularly, about stressful methods of restraint and the latency of the onset of unconsciousness. This paper sets out to, discuss the methods of stunning that are acceptable by Islamic authorities, highlight the requirements for stunning to be acceptable in Islam and suggest practical ways to improve the humanness of slaughter.     

Behavioural and physiological reactions of cattle in a commercial abattoir: relationships with organisational aspects of the abattoir and animal characteristics

Behavioural, physiological and metabolic reactions of cattle to handling and slaughter procedures were evaluated in a commercial abattoir, from arrival until slaughter. Different genders or breeds were not subjected to the same procedures due to abattoir equipment or organisational aspects of the abattoir. Reactions to similar slaughter procedures varied according to animal characteristics and could have consequences for subsequent handling procedures. Factors that appeared to cause handling problems and vocalisation were excessive pressure during restraint, and distractions in the corridor such as noise, darkness, seeing people and activity. Post-mortem muscle metabolism depended on slaughter procedures. Following stunning or halal slaughter, some animals showed head rising movements despite the abolition of the corneal reflex, suggesting that head rising is not always indicative of consciousness. Overall, this study presents concrete data on how different types of cattle may react to slaughter procedures with a direct interest for the abattoir itself but also for scientific purposes.     

Animal welfare and society concerns finding the missing link

Young adults in developed countries are distanced from agriculture and the meat industry needs to do a better job of communicating with them. A major welfare concern is slaughter without stunning. Other concerns, such as poor stunning or high levels of bruising, can be easily corrected by management who is committed to maintaining high standards. Another concern is biological system overload, occurring when animals are bred for more productivity. Researchers and industry need to determine optimum production levels instead of maximums. Retailers are major drivers of animal welfare standards enforcement and they respond to pressure from both activists and consumers.     

Animal welfare at markets and during transport and slaughter

This review highlights some recent developments in our understanding of stress and physical injuries that occur before and during transport to slaughter, during handling at livestock markets, and at the time animals are put-up for slaughter within abattoirs. Stress in pigs during transfer to the stunning point within the abattoir has important effects on meat quality, and there is growing evidence that strenuous exercise or CO(2) stunning can contribute to oxidative rancidity in pigs, poultry and fish. In the EU, putting cattle through a crush in order to check that their eartag numbers correspond to their passport numbers is imposing additional stress, and there are reports that it is leading to greater hide contamination with Escherichia coli O157. Recent developments in stunning and slaughter include a better understanding of the causes of variation in captive bolt gun performance, the effectiveness of poll instead of frontal shooting in water buffalo, the prevalence of false aneurysms in carotid arteries during shechita and halal slaughter, and the stress effects of CO(2) stunning in fish. Stunning pigs with 90% CO(2) leads to less PSE meat than 80% CO(2). There have been concerns about the physical activity that cattle show following electrical stunning with an electrically induced cardiac arrest, and with electrical stunning using DC waveforms in broiler chickens. There is also growing concern about the hygiene problems that exist in wet markets, where animals are slaughtered alongside meat that is on display to customers.     

Advances in the industrial production of halal and kosher red meat

The worldwide volume and value of trade in halal and kosher meat and co-products are huge. Muslim countries alone consumed meat estimated to be worth USD 57.2 billion in 2008. The halal and kosher principles that govern the production of red meat have many similarities, as well as some fundamental differences. Perhaps the most significant difference is that at the time of slaughter, the animal needs only to be alive to meet the minimum halal requirement, but must be both alive and conscious for kosher. It is for this reason that reversible pre-slaughter stunning is acceptable only for halal meat, although a compromise form of post-slaughter stunning is now considered kosher in some countries. Extensive research on animal physiology and welfare has characterised and optimised the methods for stunning livestock, and enabled advancement in associated technologies. This forms the basis for harmonising the religious and secular requirements for the protection of animal welfare at slaughter. These technologies and the associated processing practices for the industrial production of halal and kosher meat are reviewed in this paper.     

Presentation and comments on EU legislation related to food industries–environment interactions: sustainable development, and protection of nature and biodiversity – genetically modified organisms

The European Union (EU) legislation regarding sustainable development moves along two distinct lines: the impact of industries (food industries included) on the environment (release of gases and green house effect and the effect of cultivating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on the environment. EU voted three communications [ COM(2002)524 , COM(2003)301 , COM(2004)38 ] in an attempt to set an action plan based on technologies to manage pollution, by promoting less polluting and less resource‐intensive products and services and ways to manage resources more efficiently. As such environment‐friendly technologies pervade practically all economic activities and sectors it is anticipated that they will reduce effectively energy and resource consumption thereby creating fewer emissions and less waste. As regards the cultivation and/or importing of GMOs, EU legislation was based on two directives ( E.U. 90/219/EEC, E.U. 2001/18/EC) and four regulations [ Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 , Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003 , Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003 and Regulation (EC) No. 1946/2003 ]. The directives aimed at adopting measures for limited use of GM micro‐organisms, making the procedure for granting consent to the deliberate release and placing on the market of GMOs more efficient and more transparent, making GMO labelling compulsory and thereby enhancing GMOs traceability along the entire food chain.     

Effect of electrical stunning or sticking without stunning on the microstructure of zousoon, a Chinese semi-dry pork product

The microstructure of muscle fibers from pigs killed following electrical stunning was compared to that from pigs killed after tying-resting and sticking. Examination of the muscle fibers demonstrated that electrical stunning resulted in contracture bands that caused tearing and fragmentation of the myofibers/myofibrils. On the other hand, tying-resting and sticking was not accompanied by microstructural fragmentation of the muscle fibers. Results indicate that electrical stunning of hogs causes fragmentation and breakage of the muscle fibers so that the meat is not suitable for production of Zousoon-a semi-dry shredded Chinese pork product and other similar items prepared from prerigor pig muscle. Heating and drying intensify the deteachment of the myofibrils from the muscle fiber bundles, which is caused mainly by electrical stunning or stimulation and improper conditioning following slaughter. The combined effects of electrical stunning and heating-drying appear to be responsible for the fragmentation of the muscle fibers/myofibrils and contribute to the unsuitability of prerigor muscle from electrically stunned pigs for use in the production of Zousoon. Since sticking of pigs without stunning does not meet humane slaughter standards, alternative animal welfare slaughter procedures should be examined from the standpoint of their usefulness in producing Zousoon.     

Religious slaughter: Evaluation of current practices in selected countries

As part of the project “Religious slaughter (DIALREL): improving knowledge and expertise through dialogue and debate on issues of welfare, legislation and socio-economic aspects”, this paper discusses an evaluation of current practices during Halal and Shechita slaughter in cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. During religious slaughter, animals are killed with and without stunning by a transverse incision across the neck that is cutting the skin, muscles (brachiocephalic, sternocephalic, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid), trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins and the major, superficial and deep nerves of the cervical plexus. In this report, the restraint methods, stunning, neck cutting, exsanguination, slaughter techniques and postcut handling in the abattoir were assessed for religious slaughter. Information about the procedures used during religious slaughter in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Turkey and Australia was collected by means of spot visits to abattoirs. To standardize the information gathered during the spot visits three guidelines were designed, one for each species, and translated into the national languages of the countries involved. The document included questions on the handling and restraint methods (stunning, neck cutting/exsanguination/slaughter techniques and postcut handling performed under religious practices) and for pain and distress of the animal during the restraint, neck cutting and induction to death in each abattoir. Results showed differences in the time from restraining to stun and to cut in the neck cutting procedures and in the time from cut to death.     

Preslaughter handling, stunning and slaughter

This paper reviews some of the recent developments in scientific research into preslaughter handling, transport, stunning and slaughter. Particular emphasis has been placed on work published within the past 2 years, and on the welfare and meat quality aspects of the subject.     

Animal Welfare Labelling and the Approach of the European Union: An Overview on the Current Situation

There is a growing appreciation of the insistence of consumers that animals used in food production should be well treated. High welfare standards could have both a direct and indirect impact on food safety and quality; regulatory and support systems in agriculture must adapt accordingly. Retailers and producers are increasingly recognising animal welfare as a fundamental aspect of product image and quality which create a need for reliable systems for on farm monitoring of animal welfare status and providing some warranty on appropriate production conditions. The article shows an overview of the European strategies for implementing the animal welfare labelling. Received: July 2, 2008; accepted: July 8, 2008     

欧盟关于食品添加剂和食品制成品的使用、进口和营销法规

欧盟食品法规的主体由食品法律法规框架构成。此框架代码为：Regulstion 178/2002。该法律框架提供了以下几点：1、食品的定义；2、欧盟关于食品法律和食品贸易的原则和要求；3、欧洲食品安全机构（EFSA）的设立；4、快速警报系统和在食品安全危机时的危机管理和紧急应对机制。本文将对欧盟食品法规中的各种要求提供一个简要的概述。     

Influence of gas stunning and halal slaughter (no stunning) on rabbits welfare indicators and meat quality

This study assessed the effect of gas stunning which has not been conducted until now in comparison with slaughter without stunning on the welfare and meat quality of rabbits. Eighty male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into two groups of 40 animals and subjected to either halal slaughter without stunning (HS) or gas stunning using 61.4% CO₂, 20.3% oxygen and 18.3 % nitrogen (GS). Analysis of the sticking blood revealed that both slaughter procedures caused a substantial increase in the levels of catecholamines, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, lactic acidemia and an increase in enzyme activities. The ultimate pH of the Longissimus lumborum muscle did not differ between treatments. GS exhibited higher lightness and cooking loss, and lower glycogen and MFI than HS. This indicates that both GS and HS can be significant stressors although the amount of stress may be below the threshold to negatively affect rabbit meat quality.     

Effect of different carbon dioxide concentrations and exposure times in stunning of slaughter pigs: Impact on animal welfare and meat quality

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of different slaughter procedures on animal welfare and meat quality. Before slaughter in a dip-lift, one-gondola system, 460 pigs were exposed to an atmosphere containing either 80% or 90% CO(2) for 70 or 100s, and at the longer exposure time with stun-to-stick intervals of either 25-35 or 40-50s. Clinical parameters (reflexes, catecholamines and lactate) showed deficiencies in animal welfare after stunning with 80% CO(2) for 70 and 100s, with an interval of 40-50s, and with 90% CO(2) for 70s. Stunning with 80% CO(2) for 70 or 100s always induced stress, as indicated by higher lactate levels, and reduced meat quality as indicated by low pH(24) values (5.4 in Musculus longissimus and 5.5 in Musculus semimembranosus) and low impedance (Py(24)) values, especially in combination with the longer stun-to-stick interval (40-50s). Stunning with 80% or 90% CO(2) in a dip-lift system was found to be acceptable for animal welfare (percentage of clinical reflexes) only in combination with the longer exposure time of 100s and the shorter stun-to-stick times of 25-35s. When 90% CO(2) was used, the longer stun-to-stick interval of 40-50s also gave results acceptable with regard to animal welfare. Generally, in comparison to 80% CO(2) stunning meat quality was superior (higher pH(24) and Py(24) values) after stunning with 90% CO(2).     

不同屠宰方式对蒙古羊应激及羊肉食用品质的影响

以内蒙古蒙古羊为研究对象,对比分析抹脖子屠宰、掏心式屠宰及电击晕屠宰对蒙古羊应激及羊肉食用品质的影响,利用生化分析仪等仪器对蒙古羊血液指标及食用品质进行测定。结果表明：经电击晕后屠宰,肉羊血液中乳酸含量、皮质醇含量、乳酸脱氢酶活性及肌酸激酶活性显著低于其他2 种方式,肉羊在屠宰过程中应激反应也最小;相比于抹脖子及掏心式屠宰2 组,电击晕组羊肉的蒸煮损失率较低,而嫩度高于抹脖子组,且与掏心组差异不显著,红度值（a*）高于上述2 组,且电击晕组羊肉的硫代巴比妥酸反应物值最低;营养方面,电击晕及掏心式屠宰可提高羊肉中不饱和脂肪酸的含量。因此,从肉羊屠宰食用品质及经济效益等方面比较,电击晕屠宰方式可以减小肉羊应激反应,提高肉羊屠宰企业的经济效益,符合动物福利屠宰要求。     

Science and animal welfare in France and European Union: Rules,constraints, achievements

The welfare of food-producing animals is a focus of public debate in Europe. Political institutions, have introduced regulations based on scientific data. Meanwhile, the practices of producers and transformers were modified. Implementation of care practices is added to the goal of sustainable basic health of animals. Nevertheless urban consumers still look for the “naturalness” of living animals. A brief historical perspective introduces the building process of European regulations. A short list of Directories and Recommendations provides a clue on the complexity of resulting construct. Now, this complexity is calling for simplification of rules while practices should be compatible with professional constraints. Few selected examples are brought to illustrate how the concepts initially studied by scientists (welfare, pain, stress, “consciousness”/awareness) were integrated in regulations and implemented by producers and meat industry in order to simultaneously maintain the requirements for high quality and security standards. At the same time, free trade market constraints introduced new distortions, in particular those linked to the world demand for proteins. Indeed, the controversy about animal welfare, initially brought on ethical grounds, became a case for ongoing adjustements of EU policy, requesting to combine scientific knowledge on animals, consequent evolution in the representation of animals by urban consumers with the challenge of adaptation and implemention of regulations.     

Validation of a recombinant cell bioassay for the detection of (gluco)corticosteroids in feed

Use of hormones for fattening purposes is forbidden in the animal production in Europe (European Commission. 1996. Council Directive EC/96/22 (replacement of 88/146/EC). Off J Eur Commun. L125:3–9; European Commission. 1996. Council Directive EC/96/23. Off J Eur Commun. L125:10–32). Moreover, Regulation (EC) 178/2002 (European Commission. 2002. Regulation EC No 178/2002. Off J Eur Commun. L31:1–24) and Regulation (EC) 882/2004 (European Commission. 2004. Regulation EC No 882/2004. Off J Eur Commun. L165:1–135) oblige the member states to identify emerging risks and use validated and accredited methods for control analysis. Only combinations of bioassay activity screening with chemical identification are suited to uphold all laws. No such combination is described for the detection of (gluco)corticoids. In the present study, the GR-CALUX bioassay was validated as a qualitative screening method for the determination of glucocorticoid activity in feed. This validation was performed according to EC Decision 2002/657/EC (European Commission. 2002. Commission Decision 2002/657/EC from Directive 96/23. Off J Eur Commun. L221:8–36). Twenty-two representative blank feed samples were selected and spiked with 50?ng?g^?1 of dexamethasone, 100?ng?g^?1 of betamethasone or 500?ng?g^?1 of triamcinolone. All blank and spiked feed samples fulfilled the CCα and CCβ criteria; the method was specific and robust and glucocorticoids in feed were stable for at least 88 days.     

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in the Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Food

The analysis of pesticide residues in food is nowadays an increasingly important task. Quality control has to be very strict in order to safeguard the consumers’ health. One of the most important goals of food quality assurance is testing food for residues and contaminants. Among chemical hazards, the contamination of food with pesticides has been characterized as a significant source of many serious diseases. Consumption of food containing pesticide residues may cause cancer, malformations, and damage to the endocrine, nervous, and immune system. In order to assure human food safety, The European Community has established maximum residue limits (MRL) of pesticides permitted in products of animal or vegetable origin that are intended for human consumption. In the EU, Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 of the European Parliament and Council on pesticide residues established the levels of pesticide residues allowed in food and feed. To ensure the compliance of marketed food commodities with the law on food safety, sensitive and reliable analytical methods for the determination of pesticide residues are required. Multiresidue liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods (LC-MS) are widely recognized as an ideal, highly specific, and extremely sensitive technique for testing food products. This review discusses LC-MS approaches applied most widely to pesticide residue analysis over the last few years. The main ionization methods and MS detectors used as analytical tools in quantification and/or identification/confirmation of pesticide residues in food are presented.     

The effect of the sticking method on the welfare of slaughter pigs

A project was undertaken to investigate the causes of inadequate sticking encountered during a survey of pig abattoirs. The results of the investigation identified the length of the sticking (exsanguination) wound as a major contributor to the problem. Experimental abattoir trials conducted on slaughter pigs comparing two sticking lengths indicated that the rate of bleed out was delayed with short sticking wounds. In addition, information about the identity of blood vessels severed following sticking was obtained. The results indicate that following head-only electrical stunning, a relatively long sticking wound should provide better welfare in slaughter pigs. The study has also highlighted the health and safety problems for the operatives as well as the welfare concerns associated with manual application of electrical stunning.     

欧盟动物源性食品法规体系研究进展

欧盟对于动物源性食品的保护居于世界领先水平,本文在欧盟食品法规体系结构的基础上,从动物源性食品的卫生、动物福利、动物营养、动物健康、污染物及包装标签等方面梳理了欧盟动物源性食品相关法规,并总结其特点,以期对我国动物源性食品的立法提供参考.