Abstract
The aim of this Opinion is to provide a detailed review of the animal welfare implications of the various circumstances and methods for killing the commonly farmed animals and poultry on-farm (and in hatcheries).
Reviewing the main methods used for on-farm killing of different farmed species and age groups and legal compliance;
Assessing the animal welfare issues relating to methods of on-farm killing, competency of those responsible and the decision making process;
Setting out the conditions for acceptable methods of on-farm killing; and
Making recommendations to improve the welfare of animals subject to on-farm killing.
Killing animal populations for notifiable disease control purposes (also called whole farm culling or depopulation) will not be covered in detail in this study and nor will small scale and/or seasonal slaughter on farm. These species and issues have been subjects of a number of previous reviews by FAWC and others3.
Reviewing the main methods used for on-farm killing of different farmed species and age groups and legal compliance;
Assessing the animal welfare issues relating to methods of on-farm killing, competency of those responsible and the decision making process;
Setting out the conditions for acceptable methods of on-farm killing; and
Making recommendations to improve the welfare of animals subject to on-farm killing.
Killing animal populations for notifiable disease control purposes (also called whole farm culling or depopulation) will not be covered in detail in this study and nor will small scale and/or seasonal slaughter on farm. These species and issues have been subjects of a number of previous reviews by FAWC and others3.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DEFRA Farm Animal Welfare Committee |
| Number of pages | 31 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2017 |