Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 74
Special Issue Editor
Interests: stress physiology; pain assessment; electronic identification; transport; handling; stunning; euthanasia; welfare
* Retired
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
There is much discussion about the transportation of farm animals. The main issues are welfare, meat quality, legislation, consumer concerns, and economic aspects. The main hazards identified for transported animals are common for all species. Hazards characterized as serious are inadequate ventilation, insufficient space allowance, transport duration, the lack of appropriate food and water during transport, incorrect handling during (un)loading, poor fitness prior to transport, the introduction of pathogens before and during transport, and the inappropriate application of resting periods during transport. Loading at the farm and unloading at the slaughterhouse have been considered the most stressful preslaughter events.
After arrival, animals need to be placed in a lairage before slaughter. Stress is related to interaction with humans, handling through ramps, steps, and tight spaces, unfamiliar noises and smells, vibrations, ambient temperatures, mixing with unfamiliar animals, and low space allowance.
It is necessary that slaughter animals need to be well restrained for optimal stunning. In a restrainer, animals are stunned by mechanical, electrical, or gas methods. The use of a no-stunning method as an exception is possible for ritual slaughter in some countries. The stun–stick interval and maintenance are relevant for all stunning methods. After stunning, the unconsciousness of the animals needs to be checked.
Dr. Elbert Lambooij
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- slaughter animals
- welfare
- meat quality
- legislation
- consumers concern
- movement
- handling
- economic aspects
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Related Special Issue
- Animal Stress and Welfare during Transport and Slaughtering in Animals (11 articles)
