Welfare Risks of Repeated Application of On-Farm Killing Methods for Poultry

Animals

Victoria Sandilands¹  Dale A. Sandercock¹  Laurence Baker¹  Dorothy E. F. McKeegan²  Julian Sparrey³  Nick H. C. Sparks⁴  Jessica E. Martin⁴ 

[1] Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK;Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK;Livetec Systems Ltd, Building 52, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS, UK;The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Campus, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK;

关键词: killing;    poultry;    cervical dislocation;    captive bolt;    reflexes;    animal welfare.;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani8030039

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Council Regulation (EC) no. 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing restricts the use of manual cervical dislocation in poultry on farms in the European Union (EU) to birds weighing up to 3 kg and 70 birds per person per day. However, few studies have examined whether repeated application of manual cervical dislocation has welfare implications and whether these are dependent on individual operator skill or susceptibility to fatigue. We investigated the effects of repeated application (100 birds at a fixed killing rate of 1 bird per 2 min) and multiple operators on two methods of killing of broilers, laying hens, and turkeys in commercial settings. We compared the efficacy and welfare impact of repeated application of cervical dislocation and a percussive killer (Cash Poultry Killer, CPK), using 12 male stockworkers on three farms (one farm per bird type). Both methods achieved over 96% kill success at the first attempt. The killing methods were equally effective for each bird type and there was no evidence of reduced performance with time and/or bird number. Both methods of killing caused a rapid loss of reflexes, indicating loss of brain function. There was more variation in reflex durations and post-mortem damage in birds killed by cervical dislocation than that found using CPK. High neck dislocation was associated with improved kill success and more rapid loss of reflexes. The CPK caused damage to multiple brain areas with little variation. Overall, the CPK was associated with faster abolition of reflexes, with fewer birds exhibiting them at all, suggestive of better welfare outcomes. However, technical difficulties with the CPK highlighted the advantages of cervical dislocation, which can be performed immediately with no equipment. At the killing rates tested, we did not find evidence to justify the current EU limit on the number of birds that one operator can kill on–farm by manual cervical dislocation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown