| Zdroj: |
Holmes, R, Gerritzen, M A, Herskin, M S, Schwarzlose, I & Ruis, M A W 2020, Review on arrival and lairage management at pig slaughterhouses . < https://edepot.wur.nl/526511 > |
| Popis: |
The general requirement of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing is that each pig arriving and handled at the slaughterhouse shall be spared any avoidable pain, distress and suffering. This review highlights the following three key areas relevant for animal welfare: arrival management, handling and moving in lairage, and comfort around resting. After arrival at the slaughterhouse, in addition to preslaughter-stress, pigs are confronted with an entirely new environment which they have to cope with. Technical hazards, such as steep ramps, slippery and uneven floors, and unsuitable pathways but also rough handling in lairage, can cause fear and distress resulting in pigs stopping, turning back, slipping and falling. To maintain a constant speed of the slaughter line, pigs hesitating and stopping can result in staff applying undesirable means to speed up the process, therebyincreasing the risk of fear and/or pain and distress for the pigs. Pigs can be slaughtered with or without housing in lairage pens before slaughter. The purpose of lairage pens in slaughterhouses is to give pigs a chance to rest following arrival to the slaughter plant and to provide a reservoir of animals aimed at maintaining a constant speed of the slaughter line, thus avoiding pigs having to be rushed from trucks to stunning. In addition, slaughtering calm and rested pigs has a positive effect on meat quality. The lairage facilities have to be designed in such a way that they meet the pigs’ biological needs. Undesirablesituations in lairage pens, such as extreme ambient temperatures or poor air quality, lack of supply of water or feed, negative social behaviours caused by mixing or lack of space can lead to fear, pain or distress. Assessing validated animal welfare indicators can improve the standard of inspections in lairageof slaughterhouses as they serve as risk indicators for animal welfare issues. Animal-based indicators such as falling, slipping or turning back represent practical clinical outcome-based measurements for inspectors and business operators and can help to identify and manage animal welfare problems, and support the evaluation of compliance with the legal framework of Council Regulation (EU) No 1099/2009. |
