Improving livestock, poultry, and fish welfare in slaughter plants with auditing programs and animal-based measures.

This chapter discusses slaughter procedures with animal-based measures (ABMs), the principles of all types of stunning methods, gas and low atmospheric pressure stunning (LAPS), how to determine insensibility (unconsciousness), welfare issues associated with slaughter without stunning and how to solve animal handling and stunning problems.

Successful technology transfer of behavioral and animal welfare research to the farm and slaughter plant.

This chapter describes the successful transfer of the center-track restrainer system, which is used in many large beef slaughter plants, from a research project to widespread commercial use. It also provides tips on the successful conversion of individual gestation stalls to group sow housing.

Implementing effective animal-based measurements for assessing animal welfare on farms and slaughter plants.

This chapter describes how to write clear animal welfare standards and guidelines that will be interpreted the same way by different people; the difference between animal-based outcome measures and input resource-based standards; how to determine the most important core criteria or critical points to prevent abuse or neglect; easy-to-use measures for assessing body condition, lameness, injuries, condition of haircoat/feathers, animal handling, hygiene, heat and cold stress and the presence of abnormal behaviour and how to set up effective animal welfare auditing programmes.

Painful husbandry procedures in livestock and poultry.

This chapter describes the common painful husbandry practices in cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and other livestock. It explains why the procedures are done, how they are done and methods to alleviate pain both during and after the procedure. The procedures covered are dehorning, disbudding, castration, marking, beak trimming and other practices.

Future of animal welfare - technological innovations for individualized animal care.

This chapter discusses the new technological solutions that can solve problems in animal reproduction management, activity and location tracking, feed and feed management and health and disease monitoring. Some practical and feasible commercial solutions that can address some of the issues affecting sectors such as cattle farming, poultry, swine agriculture and aquaculture are presented. The potential of some of the emerging technologies such as cameras, artificial intelligence, the internet, 5G and robotics in creating new avenues in fast communication, wide range connectivity and data-driven decision making to build truly connected farms of the future are also described.

A practical approach on sustainability for supply chain managers of meat, dairy, and other animal proteins.

This chapter discusses how grazing ruminants can be used to improve the environment, the principles of sustainability, animal welfare as a part of a sustainable system; development of supply chains where the origin of a meat product can be tracked and some programmes for renewable fuels that are not sustainable.

Precision livestock farming and technology in swine welfare.

This chapter describes the application of technology in pig farming, including understand how computer systems learn, the different types of sensors to monitor health and behaviour, the basic operation of precision livestock farming (PLF) and future possibilities.

Recommended on-farm euthanasia practices.

This chapter discusses topics relative to euthanasia, including indications for euthanasia, methods to be applied, how to confirm unconsciousness and death and the human side of euthanasia as it applies to emotional and psychological well-being. Electrical methods, inhalants and the use of firefighting foam for poultry are also covered.

Welfare during transport of livestock and poultry.

This chapter discusses if an animal is fit for transport, the preparation of animals for transport, the design of loading ramps and handling facilities, how to determine if bruises and injuries are occurring on vehicles or in the abattoir, research on space requirements and rest stops and the use of animal-based measurements (ABMs) to assess transport and handling.

The importance of good stockmanship and its benefits to animals.

This chapter describes the role of good stockmanship on the improvement of animal welfare, the detrimental effects of fear on productivity, the importance of positive attitudes towards animals for improving both welfare and productivity; how to train stockpeople to have more positive attitudes and how to remedy barriers to improving stockmanship.