Killing for purposes other than slaughter: poultry

Abstract

Poultry of different ages may have to be killed on-farm for purposes other than slaughter (in which slaughtering is defined as being for human consumption) either individually or on a large scale (e.g. because unproductive, for disease control, etc.). The processes of on-farm killing that were assessed are handling and stunning and/or killing methods (including restraint). The latter were grouped into four categories: electrical methods, modified atmosphere, mechanical methods and lethal injection. In total, 29 hazards were identified and characterised, most of these regard stunning and/or killing. Staff were identified as origin for 26 hazards and 24 hazards were attributed to lack of appropriate skill sets needed to perform tasks or due to fatigue. Specific hazards were identified for day-old chicks killed via maceration. Corrective and preventive measures were assessed: measures to correct hazards were identified for 13 hazards, and management showed to have a crucial role in prevention. Eight welfare consequences, the birds can be exposed to during on-farm killing, were identified: not dead, consciousness, heat stress, cold stress, pain, fear, distress and respiratory distress. Welfare consequences and relevant animal-based measures were described. Outcome tables linking hazards, welfare consequences, animal-based measures, origins, preventive and corrective measures were developed for each process. Mitigation measures to minimise welfare consequences were also proposed.

Welfare of broilers on farm

“…Similarly, chickens unable to walk (gait score 4 and higher) will be unable to reach the feeders and drinkers and suffer from prolonged hunger and thirst (Weeks et al., 2000 ). As these are usually a small proportion of the flock, the farmer needs to pay attention to these chickens during the daily checks of the flock and, when no other alternative is possible, needs to cull the chickens using the appropriate method to prevent (further) suffering (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2019 ).…”

“…If older broilers are too small (‘runts’) or cannot walk (gait score of 4 or higher) these should be culled, using the appropriate method (as defined by EFSA AHAW Panel, 2019 ). Farmers need to check their flocks daily to identify these chickens.…”

COVID-19 Effects on Livestock Production: A One Welfare Issue

“…The apparatus should contain rapidly rotating, mechanically operating blades." There are a number of identified hazards that may prevent this from happening, such as slow equipment and overloading by handlers (65) and there is likely an increased risk of such hazards when both machines and workers experience higher than normal throughput. Maceration is banned in Switzerland, France, and Germany.…”

“…Recently, the European Commission tasked the European Food Standards Agency to examine the scientific evidence surrounding mass euthanasia of farm animal species and identify hazards to animal welfare. The report concerning poultry identified 29 potential hazards, of which 26 were associated with the personnel carrying out the task (65). For both whole-house gassing and foam methods, insufficient time of exposure was a hazard.…”

A Perspective on the Use of Sexed Semen to Reduce the Number of Surplus Male Dairy Calves in Ireland: A Pilot Study

“…The killing of surplus offspring might not be an AW issue per se , provided that the killing is performed humanely following best practice ( 25 ). There are several AW risks with on-farm euthanasia, for instance the application of inadequate killing methods or the treatment of the animals before killing, particularly since they lack economic value ( 26 ).…”