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Welfare of Animals in Livestock Production Systems and at Slaughter
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Welfare of Animals in Livestock Production Systems and at Slaughter

A topical collection in Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This collection belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Viewed by 51730

Editor

Dr. Shana Bergmann

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Chair of Animal Welfare, Ethology, Animal Hygiene and Husbandry, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
Interests: animal welfare; well-being of farm animals; husbandry systems; species-specific behavior; slaughter process

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current legislation for animal welfare often defines only minimum requirements and does not yet prevent animal welfare-related problems from being widespread in all production stages. Problems are regularly experienced with cattle, pigs, and poultry, and examples range from lameness in dairy cows to tail biting in fattening pigs and feather pecking in laying hens. As prophylaxis and to minimize some of these problems, interventions are carried out on animals associated with pain, such as dehorning calves, shortening the tail of piglets, and beak-trimming of chicks. Inappropriate and rough treatment of animals at the slaughterhouse and insufficient assessment of adequate stunning at the slaughterhouse also impair the animals’ well-being. Different approaches are being made to improve housing systems and slaughter processes for livestock. Improvements have become part of retail communication, not least because consumers increasingly demand ethically correct livestock handling. To date, however, not all questions and relationships of the known problems and their occurrence have been conclusively clarified.

Original research papers that address aspects to further improve animal welfare in livestock husbandry and at slaughter are invited to this Collection. Topics on the development and evaluation of new housing systems, environmental enrichment, alternatives to zootechnical measures, humane handling and humane slaughter, and other research on the support of health and animal well-being are of particular interest.

Dr. Shana Bergmann
Collection Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal welfare
  • farm animal
  • environmental enrichment
  • husbandry system
  • behavior
  • zootechnical measures
  • climate
  • handling
  • slaughter

Published Papers (23 papers)

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2023

Jump to: 2022, 2021

15 pages, 2376 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Foot and Claw Lesions and Claw Horn Growth in Piglets from Birth to End of Nursery
by Maren Bernau, Hannah Meckel, Theresa Dölle and Armin Manfred Scholz
Animals 2023, 13(22), 3477; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223477 - 10 Nov 2023
Viewed by 646
Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate foot lesions and claw horn growth of piglets from the day of birth until the end of the suckling period and describe the prevalence and extent in three different genetic lines. Therefore, bruising, dorsal horn [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to evaluate foot lesions and claw horn growth of piglets from the day of birth until the end of the suckling period and describe the prevalence and extent in three different genetic lines. Therefore, bruising, dorsal horn lesions, claw horn growth, and weight gain were evaluated five times during growth, starting with the day of birth (day 0 of life) and ending with the end of nursery (day 68 ± 2 of life). Totally, 74 piglets of three genetic lines (German Landrace × Large White; Piétrain × Piétrain-Duroc; pure German Landrace) were examined. Bruising and dorsal horn lesions reached maximum levels at day 7 (±1) of life (with up to 91% of piglets having bruising marks and up to 94.1% of piglets having dorsal horn lesions). Differences among genetic lines were detected, with German Landrace × Large White crossbreds showing the highest percentage of bruising, but Piétrain × Piétrain-Duroc crossbreds showed the highest score for dorsal horn lesions at day 0. Until weaning (day 28 ± 1), front feet were more affected by bruising than hind feet (70.3% of the front feet and 64% of the hind feet showed bruising), but at the end of nursery (day 68 ± 2), hind feet showed a higher percentage of affected feet than front feet (65.5% vs. 41.3%). Several factors affect bruising scores in piglets, including body weight, age at examination, litter size, sex, parity, breed, and claw horn length. Additionally, significant differences for claw horn length were detected among the genetic lines from birth to end of nursery. Full article
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15 pages, 2074 KiB  
Article
Agonic Aspiration of Blood: Not Useful as an Animal-Based Indicator of Electrical Stunning Ineffectiveness in Pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus)
by Maria Francisca Ferreira, Emma Fàbrega, Isabel Pires and Maria Madalena Vieira-Pinto
Animals 2023, 13(14), 2292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142292 - 13 Jul 2023
Viewed by 930
Abstract
Agonic aspiration of blood (AAB) may result from an inadequate exsanguination with accidental trachea severing, that can be favoured by ineffective stunning of pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). This study aimed to evaluate AAB as an animal-based indicator of electrical stunning ineffectiveness, [...] Read more.
Agonic aspiration of blood (AAB) may result from an inadequate exsanguination with accidental trachea severing, that can be favoured by ineffective stunning of pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). This study aimed to evaluate AAB as an animal-based indicator of electrical stunning ineffectiveness, which could be used by official veterinarians during the post-mortem inspection of pigs. Information on 3584 finishing pigs was collected at a Portuguese abattoir that performs head-to-body electrical stunning with horizontal bleeding. Of them, 15.5% of the pigs presented signs of ineffective stunning. AAB lung lesions were found in 27.8% of lungs. Despite what was predicted, a strong correlation was found between well stunned animals and the presence of blood lesions in lungs (p = 0.006). Statistical significances were found between pigs’ lateral recumbency at the conveyor and the presence of blood affecting one lung. Under the conditions of this study, the authors cannot point to AAB lung lesions as an animal-based indicator of electrical stunning ineffectiveness. Further studies should be conducted to establish a better understanding of the causes of aspiration of blood, in particular how horizontal bleeding may affect the occurrence of similar lesions. Full article
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15 pages, 479 KiB  
Article
Impact of Social Buffering and Restraint on Welfare Indicators during UK Commercial Horse Slaughter
by Katharine A. Fletcher, Georgina Limon, Barbara Padalino, Genevieve K. Hall, Natalie Chancellor, Andrew Grist and Troy J. Gibson
Animals 2023, 13(14), 2276; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142276 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1372
Abstract
Current legislation in the United Kingdom stipulates that horses should not be slaughtered within sight of one another. However, abattoir personnel anecdotally report that, for semi-feral horses unused to restraint, co-slaughtering alongside a conspecific could reduce distress through social buffering and improve safety, [...] Read more.
Current legislation in the United Kingdom stipulates that horses should not be slaughtered within sight of one another. However, abattoir personnel anecdotally report that, for semi-feral horses unused to restraint, co-slaughtering alongside a conspecific could reduce distress through social buffering and improve safety, but there is a lack of evidence to support this. CCTV footage from an English abattoir was assessed retrospectively with welfare indicators from when horses entered the kill pen until they were killed. Of 256 horses analysed, 12% (32/256) were co-slaughtered (alongside a conspecific) and 88% (224/256) individually. Co-slaughtered horses moved more in the pen, but individually slaughtered horses showed more agitated behaviour, required more encouragement to enter the kill pen, and experienced more slips or falls. Unrestrained horses (40%; 102/256) showed increased agitation, movement, and agonistic behaviour towards the operator and resisted entry to the kill pen compared to restrained horses (60%; 154/256). Positive interactions between conspecifics were seen in 94% (30/32) of co-slaughtered horses, and only 6% (1/16) showed a startled response to the first horse being shot, with a median time of 15 s between shots. This study highlights the impact that both conspecific and human interactions can have on equine welfare at slaughter. Semi-feral or unrestrained horses appear to experience increased distress compared to horses more familiar with human handling, and the presence of a conspecific at slaughter mitigated this. Full article
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15 pages, 1287 KiB  
Systematic Review
Animal Welfare during Transport and Slaughter of Cattle: A Systematic Review of Studies in the European Legal Framework
by Svea Nicolaisen, Nina Langkabel, Christa Thoene-Reineke and Mechthild Wiegard
Animals 2023, 13(12), 1974; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121974 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1762
Abstract
Literature related to European transport and slaughter processes were included in this systematic review. The publication period is limited to the past twelve years since the European Animal Welfare Transport Regulation was enacted in 2009. Three different databases were used. The final screening [...] Read more.
Literature related to European transport and slaughter processes were included in this systematic review. The publication period is limited to the past twelve years since the European Animal Welfare Transport Regulation was enacted in 2009. Three different databases were used. The final screening resulted in the inclusion of 19 articles in this review. When handling cattle during transport and slaughter, personnel have an important impact and may inflict stress on the animals. Other factors, such as the group composition and health status prior to transport, can have a strong negative effect on animal welfare. At the abattoir, constructional conditions and the resulting environmental influences can have a negative impact on welfare as well. These include increased noise levels due to the lack of noise dampening and changing light conditions. Stress in cattle can be assessed, e.g., by measuring stress hormones or heart rate. Effective stunning is an important welfare-relevant step in the slaughtering process. Some signs of unconsciousness, such as immediate body collapse or absence of the corneal reflex, can be easily assessed. Expertise and continuous training of all personnel involved are important measures in stress reduction. Full article
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16 pages, 3929 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Immune Nanoparticles for Rapid and Non-Specific Activation of Antiviral and Antibacterial Immune Responses in Cattle, Swine, and Poultry
by William H. Wheat, Lyndah Chow, Alyssa M. Betlach, Maria Pieters, Jade Kurihara, Cooper Dow, Valerie Johnson, Franklyn B. Garry and Steven Dow
Animals 2023, 13(10), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13101686 - 18 May 2023
Viewed by 1205
Abstract
Given the rapid potential spread of agricultural pathogens, and the lack of vaccines for many, there is an important unmet need for strategies to induce rapid and non-specific immunity against these viral and bacterial threats. One approach to the problem is to generate [...] Read more.
Given the rapid potential spread of agricultural pathogens, and the lack of vaccines for many, there is an important unmet need for strategies to induce rapid and non-specific immunity against these viral and bacterial threats. One approach to the problem is to generate non-specific immune responses at mucosal surfaces to rapidly protect from entry and replication of both viral and bacterial pathogens. Using complexes of charged nanoparticle liposomes with both antiviral and antibacterial toll-like receptor (TLR) nucleic acid ligands (termed liposome-TLR complexes or LTC), we have previously demonstrated considerable induction of innate immune responses in nasal and oropharyngeal tissues and protection from viral and bacterial pathogens in mixed challenge studies in rodents, cattle, and companion animals. Therefore, in the present study, we used in vitro assays to evaluate the ability of the LTC immune stimulant to activate key innate immune pathways, particularly interferon pathways, in cattle, swine, and poultry. We found that LTC complexes induced strong production of type I interferons (IFNα and IFNβ) in both macrophages and leukocyte cultures from all three species. In addition, the LTC complexes induced the production of additional key protective cytokines (IL-6, IFNγ, and TNFα) in macrophages and leukocytes in cattle and poultry. These findings indicate that the LTC mucosal immunotherapeutic has the capability to activate key innate immune defenses in three major agricultural species and potentially induce broad protective immunity against both viral and bacterial pathogens. Additional animal challenge studies are warranted to evaluate the protective potential of LTC immunotherapy in cattle, swine, and poultry. Full article
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16 pages, 2179 KiB  
Article
Does Parity Influence the Magnitude of the Stress Response of Nellore Cows at Weaning?
by Camila de Paula, Luciana Navajas Rennó, Matheus Fellipe de Lana Ferreira, Samira Silveira Moreira, Hudson Caio Martins, Isabela Iria Rodrigues, Edenio Detmann, Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho and Mário Fonseca Paulino
Animals 2023, 13(8), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081321 - 12 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Most studies investigate the impact of stress at weaning on calves; however, little is known about the responses of cows, and whether they would differ according to parity. This study aims to investigate whether parity would influence the weaning stress response in beef [...] Read more.
Most studies investigate the impact of stress at weaning on calves; however, little is known about the responses of cows, and whether they would differ according to parity. This study aims to investigate whether parity would influence the weaning stress response in beef cows. Thirty pregnant Nellore cows with their respective calves were randomly allocated to five paddocks and two females from each parity group were placed in the paddocks. There was an interaction (p < 0.05) between parity and evaluation days regarding cortisol, where on d + 7, the higher concentration was observed for multiparous cows. There was an interaction (p < 0.05) between parity and evaluation day for red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), and hemoglobin (HB), whereby higher RBC counts on d + 4 were observed for multiparous cows. For HCT and HB, on all post-weaning collection days, higher values were observed for multiparous cows. The day of evaluation had an (p < 0.05) effect on all recorded behaviors, except for rumination (p > 0.05). Nellore cows, regardless of parity, underwent behavioral and physiological changes on abrupt weaning. Physiological parameters indicated that the magnitude of stress was greater in multiparous cows. Full article
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15 pages, 1919 KiB  
Article
Influence of an Automatic Enrichment Device on Laying Hen Behavior and Plumage Condition
by Anna Riedel, Meryem Canci, Birgit Spindler and Nicole Kemper
Animals 2023, 13(6), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13060989 - 08 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1135
Abstract
Feather pecking and cannibalism are prominent problems in modern laying hen husbandry. Among the various approaches to address this issue, environmental enrichment plays a crucial role. In this on-farm study, four winter gardens of an organic farm henhouse were equipped with an automatic [...] Read more.
Feather pecking and cannibalism are prominent problems in modern laying hen husbandry. Among the various approaches to address this issue, environmental enrichment plays a crucial role. In this on-farm study, four winter gardens of an organic farm henhouse were equipped with an automatic enrichment device. Different quantities of downpipes dosing grain on rough-coated pecking plates (PPs) were tested. One group served as a control (CG) without an automatic enrichment device, while the others were offered different numbers of PPs, with one equipped with a doubled amount of PPs (DEG) compared to the other two groups (SEG). Video analyses of the hens’ duration of stay and behaviors in the recorded winter garden area and around the PPs were performed, and regular assessments of the plumage condition were conducted. By the end of the production cycle, no hens with intact plumage were found, with hens in the CG and DEG showing worse scores and earlier deterioration in the plumage condition than in the SEG. The offer of PPs showed a significant influence on the duration of stay in the filmed area. Hens in the DEG stayed significantly longer (mean: 129 s, SD: 126 s) than those in the CG (mean: 79 s, SD: 91 s; p < 0.05) and SEG (mean: 75 s, SD: 83 s; p < 0.005). On the performed behavioral bouts per hen and minute (CG mean bouts/minute (SD): 5.47 (2.92); SEG mean (SD): 5.33 (2.76); SEG mean (SD): 5.81 (3.24)), no significant influences were detected. Environmental pecking was the behavior most frequently observed in all winter gardens, where, particularly around the PPs, pecking at the device was observed. Therefore, the enrichment device can be assessed as well accepted by the hens in winter gardens. The effect of the device on the plumage condition remains unclear, with external factors probably showing a greater influence than the enrichment. Full article
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15 pages, 560 KiB  
Article
Greek Pig Farmers’ Perceptions and Experiences of Tail Biting and Tail Docking
by Michail Kakanis, Katerina Marinou and Evangelia N. Sossidou
Animals 2023, 13(4), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040672 - 15 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1490
Abstract
Tail biting is both an important economic and a welfare problem. The primary preventive measure, almost on a routine basis throughout Europe, remains tail docking following a risk analysis. This study aimed to get insight on the perceptions of Greek pig farmers towards [...] Read more.
Tail biting is both an important economic and a welfare problem. The primary preventive measure, almost on a routine basis throughout Europe, remains tail docking following a risk analysis. This study aimed to get insight on the perceptions of Greek pig farmers towards tail docking, intervention measures, and risk factors of tail biting, as well as opinions on pig welfare themes. Eighty-two farmers answered a questionnaire provided online and in printed form. In the case of a tail-biting outbreak, the most important intervention measure is the removal of the bitten pig (victim), while feed quality, air movements, and stocking density were ranked as the highest risk factors (p ≤ 0.05). Chains are the most common type of enrichment by 67% followed by plastic objects by 29.5%. Almost half of the farmers reported having no tail-biting problem on their farm, while 64.4% of the respondents have already tried at least once to raise pigs with intact tails. To reduce routine tail docking, it is essential to apply specific farm-oriented solutions effectively. To succeed in this aim, it is important to consider farmers’ concerns and practices. This study is the first step in that direction. Full article
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20 pages, 792 KiB  
Article
Relevant Indicators of Consciousness after Waterbath Stunning in Turkeys and Stunning Efficiency in Commercial Conditions
by Alexandra Contreras-Jodar, Aranzazu Varvaró-Porter, Antonio Velarde and Virginie Michel
Animals 2023, 13(4), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040668 - 14 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1352
Abstract
The prevalence and inter-observer repeatability of the four most valid and feasible indicators of consciousness after waterbath stunning in turkeys were evaluated before bleeding (i.e., tonic convulsion, breathing, spontaneous blinking and vocalization) and during bleeding (i.e., fluttering, breathing, spontaneous swallowing and head shaking). [...] Read more.
The prevalence and inter-observer repeatability of the four most valid and feasible indicators of consciousness after waterbath stunning in turkeys were evaluated before bleeding (i.e., tonic convulsion, breathing, spontaneous blinking and vocalization) and during bleeding (i.e., fluttering, breathing, spontaneous swallowing and head shaking). Furthermore, correlations between them were calculated to further understand the association between such indicators. This study compared the assessments of four observers on 7877 turkeys from 28 flocks slaughtered in eight different abattoirs. Repeatability between observers was assessed by combining the crude percentage of agreement and the Fleiss’ kappa. Before bleeding, tonic seizure was observed to be not reliable under commercial conditions and spontaneous blinking and vocalization had poor repeatability. During bleeding, spontaneous swallowing was not observed and head shaking had poor repeatability. Hence, the most relevant indicators of consciousness before bleeding is breathing while during bleeding is breathing and wing flapping. Moreover, the stunning efficiency of the key electrical parameters used in the different slaughterhouses was assessed. Therefore, a refined list of indicators of the state of consciousness after waterbath stunning is proposed to be used in commercial turkey slaughterhouses to ensure consistency of controls. On the other hand, the range of the prevalence of turkeys with indicators of consciousness within a batch found before bleeding [0–16%] and after bleeding [0–18%] highlights the importance of controls. Full article
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12 pages, 1393 KiB  
Article
Dairy Cows’ Temperament and Milking Performance during the Adaptation to an Automatic Milking System
by Jéssica Tatiana Morales-Piñeyrúa, Aline Cristina Sant’Anna, Georgget Banchero and Juan Pablo Damián
Animals 2023, 13(4), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040562 - 05 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1466
Abstract
Adaptative responses of cows to an automatic milking system (AMS) could depend on their temperament, i.e., cows with certain temperament profiles could be able to cope more successfully with the AMS. The relationships between dairy cows’ temperament, behaviour, and productive parameters during the [...] Read more.
Adaptative responses of cows to an automatic milking system (AMS) could depend on their temperament, i.e., cows with certain temperament profiles could be able to cope more successfully with the AMS. The relationships between dairy cows’ temperament, behaviour, and productive parameters during the changeover from a conventional milking system (CMS) to an AMS were investigated. Thirty-three multiparous cows were classified as ‘calm’ or ‘reactive’ based on each of the temperament tests conducted: race time, flight speed (FS), and flight distance, at 5, 25, and 45 days in milk at CMS, then the cows were moved from the CMS to the AMS. During the first five milkings in AMS, the number of steps and kicks during each milking were recorded. The daily milk yield was automatically recorded. The number of steps did not vary by temperament classification, but the number of kicks per milking was greater for calm (0.45 ± 0.14) than for reactive cows (0.05 ± 0.03) when they were classified by FS (p < 0.01). During the first seven days in the AMS, reactive cows for the FS test produced more milk than calm cows (36.5 ± 1.8 vs. 33.2 ± 1.6 L/day; p = 0.05). In conclusion, behavioural and productive parameters were influenced by cows´ temperament during the milking system changeover since the calm cows kicked more and produced less than the reactive ones. Full article
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14 pages, 2115 KiB  
Article
Social Support in a Novel Situation Aimed for Stunning and Euthanasia of Pigs May Be Increased by Familiar Pigs—A Behavioural Study with Weaners
by Astrid Söderquist, Anna Wallenbeck and Cecilia Lindahl
Animals 2023, 13(3), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030481 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1761
Abstract
The common method of stunning pigs using high concentration carbon dioxide prior to slaughter poses an animal welfare issue, as the gas is aversive. Proof of concept for using nitrogen gas encapsulated in high-expansion foam as an alternative non-aversive method for stunning pigs [...] Read more.
The common method of stunning pigs using high concentration carbon dioxide prior to slaughter poses an animal welfare issue, as the gas is aversive. Proof of concept for using nitrogen gas encapsulated in high-expansion foam as an alternative non-aversive method for stunning pigs has recently been presented. However, the individually tested pigs showed distress-related responses to foam exposure, regardless of whether it was nitrogen- or air-filled. This study examined the effect of companionship from a familiar or unfamiliar pig on behaviours in 72 nine-weeks old pigs during exposure to air-filled foam. Escape attempts were observed by 75% of solitary pigs, 42% of pigs with unfamiliar conspecifics, and 33% of pigs with familiar conspecifics. Familiar pig pairs clearly preferred social contact during foam exposure, whereas this was not as clear in unfamiliar pig pairs, and their motivation for social contact could have multiple explanations. The results from this study highlight the importance of contact with conspecifics when studying animal welfare and suggest that familiarity between pigs is important for social support, thus emphasizing the importance of maintaining social groups to reduce distress in pigs at slaughter. Full article
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14 pages, 2054 KiB  
Article
Highly Effective Frontal Stunning Procedure Using a Pneumatic Penetrating Captive Bolt in Water Buffaloes
by Valeria Molnar-Fernández, Lohendy Muñoz-Vargas, Juan José Romero-Zúñiga and Gustavo Araya-Rodríguez
Animals 2023, 13(1), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010177 - 03 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2799
Abstract
An effective frontal stunning procedure in water buffaloes was assessed using a pneumatic penetrating captive bolt (PPCB) with high air pressure. The study contemplated two phases; first, 352 buffaloes and 168 post-mortem heads were evaluated to determine the most effective anatomical site for [...] Read more.
An effective frontal stunning procedure in water buffaloes was assessed using a pneumatic penetrating captive bolt (PPCB) with high air pressure. The study contemplated two phases; first, 352 buffaloes and 168 post-mortem heads were evaluated to determine the most effective anatomical site for stunning. Then, the second phase (n = 182) was used to validate the stunning procedure at the discovered anatomical site in the first phase, which was located 8 cm dorsal above the middle of the forehead on an “X” formed between the eyes and the base of the contralateral horns, and 2 cm lateral, avoiding the midline, where the skull tended to narrow. A total of 95.1% of buffaloes received effective stunning at the first shot with evidence of the presence of collapse, absence of rhythmic breathing, and absence of ocular reflexes (corneal and palpebral). There were no differences in the stunning efficacy by sex, breed, or skull thickness. These findings demonstrated that stunning with a PPCB at pressures of 1379–1516.8 KPa (200–220 pounds per square inch (psi)) in the site reported here produces a highly effective stunning at the first shot in water buffaloes. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2023, 2021

17 pages, 619 KiB  
Article
Does the Implementation of an Animal Welfare Programme on a Farm Yield a Demonstrable Improvement in Fattening Pig Welfare?
by Patrick Schale, Armin O. Schmitt, Sven Dänicke, Jeannette Kluess, Angelika Grümpel-Schlüter and Engel F. Arkenau
Animals 2022, 12(23), 3337; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233337 - 29 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1163
Abstract
In the course of social criticism of fattening pig farming, an animal welfare programme called “Initiative Animal Welfare” (ITW) was founded to increase animal welfare in pig farming in Germany. Furthermore, there is a legal obligation to record animal welfare parameters as a [...] Read more.
In the course of social criticism of fattening pig farming, an animal welfare programme called “Initiative Animal Welfare” (ITW) was founded to increase animal welfare in pig farming in Germany. Furthermore, there is a legal obligation to record animal welfare parameters as a self-monitoring measure. The “German Association for Technology and Structures in Agriculture” published a guideline on the applicable animal welfare criteria. This guide formed the basis of this study’s data collection. The aim was to apply the animal welfare parameters on farms by comparing the results between farms participating in ITW with those not participating. A cumulative score was calculated by evaluating the collected data. In addition, the relative risk was calculated in order to estimate the risk of finding a negative expression of a parameter. Our data show that ITW farms did not perform significantly better than the farms without ITW in terms of both the cumulative score and the relative risk. Overall, it must be considered that in both farm variants the occurrence of negative evaluations was very rare and the visited farms thus certainly can be considered to be well-managed farms. Climate parameters were recorded in each compartment and showed no significant differences in most cases. Full article
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10 pages, 281 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Preslaughter Electrical Stunning on Serum Cortisol and Meat Quality Parameters of a Slow-Growing Chinese Chicken Breed
by Wenpeng Li, Chao Yan, Kris Descovich, Clive J. C. Phillips, Yongyou Chen, Huijing Huang, Xuan Wu, Jian Liu, Siyu Chen and Xingbo Zhao
Animals 2022, 12(20), 2866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202866 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1416
Abstract
Electrical stunning is widely utilized prior to a neck cut to induce unconsciousness in order to improve animal welfare and slaughter efficiency in the broiler production industry. However, slaughter without stunning is still very commonly used in China, in part because there is [...] Read more.
Electrical stunning is widely utilized prior to a neck cut to induce unconsciousness in order to improve animal welfare and slaughter efficiency in the broiler production industry. However, slaughter without stunning is still very commonly used in China, in part because there is a belief that stunning reduces meat quality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the physical (hemorrhages, pH, drip loss, and shear force) and chemical (inosinic monophosphate concentration and reducing sugar content) properties of broiler meat differed between chickens in preslaughter stunning and nonstunned slaughter groups, and whether the groups differed in their levels of cortisol as an indicator of stress. Serum cortisol levels of the nonstunned group were nearly twice as high as those in the stunned group (p < 0.05). Several meat quality indicators were better in the stunned group than in the nonstunned group. We concluded that electrical stunning prior to slaughter significantly decreases the stress caused by slaughter, resulting in both improved animal welfare and meat quality traits. Full article
15 pages, 880 KiB  
Article
Inter-Observer Repeatability of Indicators of Consciousness after Waterbath Stunning in Broiler Chickens
by Alexandra Contreras-Jodar, Aranzazu Varvaró-Porter, Virginie Michel and Antonio Velarde
Animals 2022, 12(14), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141800 - 13 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2161
Abstract
This study evaluated the prevalence and tested the inter-observer repeatability of the most valid and feasible animal-based indicators of the state of consciousness after waterbath stunning in broilers before bleeding (tonic seizure, breathing, spontaneous blinking and vocalization) and during bleeding (wing flapping, breathing, [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the prevalence and tested the inter-observer repeatability of the most valid and feasible animal-based indicators of the state of consciousness after waterbath stunning in broilers before bleeding (tonic seizure, breathing, spontaneous blinking and vocalization) and during bleeding (wing flapping, breathing, spontaneous swallowing and head shaking). In addition, correlations among them were computed to better understand their relationship and offer insights into the reliability of such indicators. This was aimed at proposing a refined list of indicators that could be used in commercial slaughterhouses to ensure consistent assessments. This study compared the assessments of three observers of 5241 broilers from 19 batches in six different slaughterhouses. Inter-observer repeatability was assessed through the combination of the crude percentage of agreement and the Fleiss’ kappa coefficient and interpretation. Before bleeding, the results led us to recommend assessing breathing over spontaneous blinking and vocalizations and to neglect tonic seizure in commercial conditions. During bleeding, the recommended indicators are breathing, wing flapping and head shaking while spontaneous swallowing can be neglected. Full article
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16 pages, 2077 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Evacuation of Dairy Cattle at Night in Collaboration with the Fire Brigade: How to Prepare Openings for Swift Rescue in Case of Barn Fire
by Florian Diel, Elke Rauch, Rupert Palme, Carola Sauter-Louis and Eva Zeiler
Animals 2022, 12(11), 1344; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111344 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2949
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the influencing factors of successfully rescuing year-round housed cattle in case of a barn fire. Empirical research indicates the reluctance of cattle to leave their familiar barn. Subsequent retreat back to the perceived safety inside, [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to investigate the influencing factors of successfully rescuing year-round housed cattle in case of a barn fire. Empirical research indicates the reluctance of cattle to leave their familiar barn. Subsequent retreat back to the perceived safety inside, which stands in contrast to the unknown and thus adversary elements outside, for example, the fire brigade, is to be expected. We examined the evacuation of 69 dairy cattle, split into three groups, to an adjacent pasture by night and inspected the animals’ acceptance of two differently designed escape routes and the effect of preceding training. Along with the time needed for evacuating all animals, we measured faecal cortisol metabolites and daily milk yield to assess stress in the animals. Our preliminary assumption was that cattle trained for pasture would have a decisive advantage over untrained cattle. However, adapting the exits to the sensory physiology of the cattle resulted in an extensive impact on the animals’ readiness to leave the familiar housing, as the evacuation of the cattle non-habituated to the exit was comparatively quick and successful. We consider this study instructional for fire brigades and farmers, encouraging them to develop a customised concept for rescuing their cattle in case of an emergency. Full article
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16 pages, 2754 KiB  
Article
Influence of Excitability Rate on Physiological Responses to Stress in Goats
by Govind Kannan, Phaneendra Batchu, Aditya Naldurtiker, Gregory S. Dykes, Brou Kouakou, Thomas H. Terrill and Priyanka Gurrapu
Animals 2022, 12(8), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12081023 - 14 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1764
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine if excitability score (ES) in goats can influence their physiological responses when subjected to stress. Thirty-six intact male Spanish goats (8-mo-old) were individually weighed and scored for excitability: 1 for calm (13 goats), 2 for moderately excitable [...] Read more.
This study was conducted to determine if excitability score (ES) in goats can influence their physiological responses when subjected to stress. Thirty-six intact male Spanish goats (8-mo-old) were individually weighed and scored for excitability: 1 for calm (13 goats), 2 for moderately excitable (11 goats), and 3 for highly excitable (12 goats). To impose stress, goats were assigned to one of three treatments (TRT) for 90 min: (i) isolation in an open pen with metal grill panels, (ii) isolation in a pen with side panels covered using tarp sheets, and (iii) no isolation (control). Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min of isolation and physiological data were analyzed using MIXED procedures in SAS. The data from the two isolation treatments were pooled and compared with that of the control group. Plasma cortisol and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were the lowest in goats with ES 1 (p < 0.05). Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios were also the lowest in goats with a calm temperament (p < 0.01). Application of full quadratic model using response surface methodology (PROC RSREG) in SAS revealed that the influence of ES on physiological stress responses over time was not the same between the TRT groups. The results indicate that physiological stress responses are greater in goats with an excitable temperament compared to goats with a calm temperament. Full article
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27 pages, 714 KiB  
Communication
Applied Animal Ethics in Industrial Food Animal Production: Exploring the Role of the Veterinarian
by Elein Hernandez, Pol Llonch and Patricia V. Turner
Animals 2022, 12(6), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060678 - 08 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 9145
Abstract
Industrial food animal production practices are efficient for producing large quantities of milk, meat, and eggs for a growing global population, but often result in the need to alter animals to fit a more restricted environment, as well as creating new animal welfare [...] Read more.
Industrial food animal production practices are efficient for producing large quantities of milk, meat, and eggs for a growing global population, but often result in the need to alter animals to fit a more restricted environment, as well as creating new animal welfare and health problems related to animal confinement in high densities. These practices and methods have become normalized, to the extent that veterinarians and others embedded in these industries rarely question the ethical challenges associated with raising animals in this fashion. Moral ‘lock-in’ is common with those working in food animal industries, as is the feeling that it is impossible to effect meaningful change. Animal welfare issues associated with the industrialization of food animal production are ‘wicked problems’ that require a multi- and transdisciplinary approach. We argue that veterinarians, as expert animal health and welfare advocates, should be critical stakeholders and leaders in discussions with producers and the food animal sector, to look for innovative solutions and technology that will address current and future global sustainability and food security needs. Solutions will necessarily be different in different countries and regions, but ethical issues associated with industrial food animal production practices are universal. Full article
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16 pages, 3411 KiB  
Article
Associations between Animal Welfare Indicators and Animal-Related Factors of Slaughter Cattle in Austria
by Johann Burgstaller, Thomas Wittek, Nadine Sudhaus-Jörn and Beate Conrady
Animals 2022, 12(5), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050659 - 05 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3874
Abstract
Three cattle welfare indicators (lameness, dirtiness, and abomasal disorders) were evaluated in 412 slaughter cattle in a cross-sectional study in Austria. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the prevalence of lameness, dirtiness of slaughter cattle, and abomasal disorders; and (2) [...] Read more.
Three cattle welfare indicators (lameness, dirtiness, and abomasal disorders) were evaluated in 412 slaughter cattle in a cross-sectional study in Austria. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the prevalence of lameness, dirtiness of slaughter cattle, and abomasal disorders; and (2) to determine the association between these welfare indicators and animal-related factors (e.g., housing type, carcass weight, transportation and waiting duration of the animals). The lameness prevalence was 0.73%, the abomasal disorders prevalence was 52.43%, and 88.59% of all cattle were contaminated. The latter result indicates that the cattle were kept in a dirty environment. The occurrence of abomasal disorders was associated with cattle housing systems (p ≤ 0.00) and slaughter weight (p = 0.03). The odds for abomasal disorders were 28.0 times higher for cattle housed on slatted flooring compared to cattle kept in a tethered system. The chance for occurrence of abomasal disorders was 3.6 times higher for cattle with a low carcass weight compared to cattle with a high carcass weight. Furthermore, significant associations were found between dirtiness (also referred to as cleanliness or contamination) and husbandry system, sex, and breed. Cattle housed in deep litter boxes had 40.8 times higher odds of being contaminated compared to cattle in a tethered housing system. Cows (odds: 32.9) and heifers (odds: 4.4) had higher odds of being contaminated with feces compared to bulls, whereby female calves (odds: 0.09) and male calves (odds: 0.02) had significantly lower odds of being contaminated. Furthermore, the breeds Brown Swiss (odds: 0.26) and Holstein-Friesian (odds: 0.14) had a significantly lower chance of being contaminated compared to Simmental cattle. Other collected factors, such as production system, transportation duration, life days of the cattle, average daily weight gain, carcass classification, and fat coverage, showed no association with the collected welfare indicators. The study presented here indicates that welfare indicators evaluated for slaughter cattle are suitable to assess cattle welfare, and improvements in husbandry may positively impact both the abomasal physiology and cleanliness of cattle. Full article
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2021

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12 pages, 1039 KiB  
Article
Time to Loss of Behavioral and Brainstem Responses of Ducks following Non-Stunned Slaughter
by Alexandra Friedman, Filipe Antonio Dalla Costa, Osmar Antonio Dalla Costa, Alicia Godsell-Ryan and Troy John Gibson
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3531; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123531 - 11 Dec 2021
Viewed by 2380
Abstract
Non-stunned slaughter has been extensively described for other farmed species but there has been limited research on waterfowl. The study assessed 34 White Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) (study 1) in a non-stunned halal slaughterhouse in Brazil for time to loss of [...] Read more.
Non-stunned slaughter has been extensively described for other farmed species but there has been limited research on waterfowl. The study assessed 34 White Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) (study 1) in a non-stunned halal slaughterhouse in Brazil for time to loss of consciousness using various behavioral and brainstem indices (balance, cranial nerve reflexes, and muscle tension) and assessed the relationship between extent of clotting, location of neck cut, level of damage to neck vessels/tissues, and the time to onset of unconsciousness. In addition, operator practices were separately observed and neck pathology following the cut was examined in 217 carcasses after bleeding (study 2). In study 1 following the neck cut there was a wide variation between birds in the time to loss of behavioral and brainstem indices, ranging from 20 to 334 and 20 to 383 s for neck and beak tension, respectively. The median time to loss of balance following the neck cut was 166 ± 14 (22–355) seconds. There was a moderate correlation (R = 0.60 and 0.62) between distance of the neck cut and time to loss of balance and neck tension, respectively. This is the first investigation of the time to loss of consciousness following non-stunned slaughter of ducks in commercial conditions. The findings could be used to improve the welfare of ducks during non-stunned slaughter, such as recommending performance of the neck cut closer to the jaw line and ensuring appropriate waiting periods between slaughter and birds entering the scalding tanks. Full article
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12 pages, 270 KiB  
Review
Literature Review on the Pre-Slaughter Welfare of Italian Heavy Pigs
by Marika Vitali, Luca Sardi, Giovanna Martelli and Eleonora Nannoni
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123352 - 24 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1735
Abstract
This work provides a narrative review of the available information on the welfare of Italian heavy pigs in the pre-slaughter phase (transport, lairage, and stunning). The meat from these pigs is used for specific PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) products, and the production [...] Read more.
This work provides a narrative review of the available information on the welfare of Italian heavy pigs in the pre-slaughter phase (transport, lairage, and stunning). The meat from these pigs is used for specific PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) products, and the production rules for these specialties require higher body weight (160–170 kg) and age (in general more than 9 months) at slaughter than in most other countries. This may lead to specific behavioral and physiological needs of pigs. The present paper summarizes the main research findings and knowledge gaps for each of the pre-slaughter phases. Studies are presented according to the four principles of the Welfare Quality assessment protocol (good feeding, good housing, good health, and appropriate behavior). The results of the literature review indicate a lack of knowledge on several aspects. Most of studies were carried out in a single slaughterhouse, making it difficult to identify risk factors and confounding effects. Moreover, animal-based measures were assessed using different protocols, reducing the possibility of comparison across studies. These findings may serve as a basis for the development of specific research studies and policies aimed at enhancing the animal welfare level and the ethical attributes of this renowned production, also in accordance with consumers’ expectations. Full article
16 pages, 1496 KiB  
Article
Feather Pecking in Non-Beak-Trimmed and Beak-Trimmed Laying Hens on Commercial Farms with Aviaries
by Angela Schwarzer, Christina Plattner, Shana Bergmann, Elke Rauch, Michael Erhard, Sven Reese and Helen Louton
Animals 2021, 11(11), 3085; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113085 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a major animal welfare problem in layers. It results in pain and injuries in the affected animal. It was the aim of this study to gain insight into the actual pecking behavior of laying hens kept on commercial [...] Read more.
Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a major animal welfare problem in layers. It results in pain and injuries in the affected animal. It was the aim of this study to gain insight into the actual pecking behavior of laying hens kept on commercial farms with flock sizes common in practice. We observed aggressive pecking and SFP in non-beak-trimmed and beak-trimmed flocks of laying hens and investigated possible influencing factors. The study took place on eight conventional farms in Germany with aviaries, including three farms with a free range and a winter garden, one with a free range and one with a winter garden. Pecking behavior was observed during three observational periods (OPs): OP 1, at the peak of the laying period between the 28th and 33rd week of life; OP 2, in the middle of the laying period between the 42nd and 48th week of life; and OP 3, at the end of the laying period between the 63rd and 68th week of life in one laying period. Videos were analyzed using behavior sampling and continuous recording. We found that SFP occurred in all flocks, but the pecking rate differed significantly between the flocks. SFP correlated positively with the number of hens per square meter of usable area, with statistical significance in the litter area (r = 0.564; p = 0.045). The multivariate analysis revealed that access to a winter garden or free range significantly reduced the SFP rate on perches (p = 0.001). The stocking density (number of birds per usable square meter) had a significant influence on the SPF rate in the nest-box area (p = 0.001). The hybrid line had a significant effect on the SFP rate on perches and in the nest-box area (p = 0.001 each). Lohmann Brown hens in mixed flocks had a higher SFP rate (significant in OP 2) than those in homogeneous flocks, indicating that mixed flocks may be a risk factor for SFP. Lohmann Brown hens pecked significantly less than Dekalb White hens in the litter area (p = 0.010) and in the nest-box area (p = 0.025) and less than Lohmann Selected Leghorn hens in the litter area (p = 0.010). Lohmann Brown and Lohmann Selected Leghorn hens showed increasing SFP rates during the laying period. All hybrid lines had significantly higher SFP rates in the litter area, followed by the nest-box area and perches. These findings emphasize the importance of providing enough litter, litter areas and environmental enrichment. We found a significant positive correlation between aggressive pecking and SFP—in OP 1: rho (Spearman) = 0.580, p < 0.001; OP 2: rho = 0.486, p = 0.002; and OP 3: rho = 0.482, p = 0.002 (n = 39) —indicating that SFP may lead to a higher stress level in the flock. Beak trimming reduced pecking rates but did not entirely prevent SFP. Instead of subjecting chicks to this potentially painful procedure, reasons for SFP should be addressed. In conclusion, our data suggest a positive influence of a lower stocking density and the provision of a winter garden or free range for additional space. The hybrid line had a significant influence on the feather-pecking rate on perches and the nest-box area. Aggressive pecking and severe feather pecking correlated positively. We assume that vigorous and painful AP were an additional stress factor, especially in non-beak-trimmed flocks, leading to more SFP in due course. Beak trimming had a reducing effect on SFP. However, our results showed that non-beak-trimmed flocks could be kept without major outbreaks of SFP. Full article
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20 pages, 3300 KiB  
Article
Welfare and Performance of Three Turkey Breeds—Comparison between Infrared Beak Treatment and Natural Beak Abrasion by Pecking on a Screed Grinding Wheel
by Stefanie Grün, Klaus Damme, Matthias Müller, Marie Franziska Sommer, Paul Schmidt, Michael Erhard and Shana Bergmann
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2395; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082395 - 13 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3343
Abstract
Feather pecking and cannibalism are behavioral disorders that cause animal-welfare-relevant and economic problems. To mitigate these problems, the beaks of conventionally reared turkeys are usually already trimmed in the hatcheries. To find an alternative to beak trimming, we conducted this study with male [...] Read more.
Feather pecking and cannibalism are behavioral disorders that cause animal-welfare-relevant and economic problems. To mitigate these problems, the beaks of conventionally reared turkeys are usually already trimmed in the hatcheries. To find an alternative to beak trimming, we conducted this study with male turkeys of three breeds: B.U.T. 6, B.U.T. Premium and, Auburn (200 turkeys per breed). Half of the birds had infrared-trimmed beaks; the other half had intact beaks. For each treatment combination (breed, beak status), 25 turkeys were housed in one section. A screed grinding wheel was installed in each feed pan of the non-beak-trimmed turkeys as of week six to facilitate natural beak abrasion until slaughter. Eight randomly selected turkeys per section were regularly examined to record injuries, plumage condition, and beak dimensions. In addition, 96 beaks from randomly slaughtered birds were examined macroscopically and histologically. The results concerning injuries and plumage condition showed in most cases no differences between the beak-trimmed turkeys and the ones provided with the blunting disks. The histological examinations revealed alterations in only the beak-trimmed birds. We can conclude that the blunting method smoothens the beak during feeding and thus may be a possible alternative to beak trimming. Full article
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