Main Factors Affecting Animal Welfare and Meat Quality in Lambs for Slaughter in Chile

Gallo, Carmen; Tarumán, Juan; Larrondo, Cristian

doi:10.3390/ani8100165

Cited by 29 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…In production systems, sheep may experience pain due to different diseases, e.g., mastitis and lameness [4]. Also, lambs in extensive production systems, the predominant husbandry system in Chile [5], are subjected simultaneously to several routine husbandry practices that cause pain and distress (ear tagging, tail docking, castration, vaccination), which may have a negative impact on their welfare [6]. Different researchers [7,8] and international recommendations [9,10] challenge the use of some of these procedures in a routine way, such as castration and tail docking, because there is no consensus regarding the productive and welfare impact of these procedures on the animals [8,11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sheep Farmers’ Perception of Welfare and Pain Associated with Routine Husbandry Practices in Chile

Larrondo

Bustamante

Gallo

2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryLambs are simultaneously subjected to several routine husbandry practices that cause pain. One of the main factors that limit the use of analgesics in lambs is the difficulty in pain recognition by sheep farmers. This study aimed to determine how husbandry practices are carried out in Chilean farms, the sheep farmers’ perception of animal welfare and pain, and the factors that affect them, as well as the level of agreement among farmers in the recognition of pain associated with these practices. Farmers were invited to participate in a workshop and they were asked through a survey about their sociodemographic information, how husbandry practices are being performed in their farms, and were asked to score the intensity of pain associated to seven of these practices. Castration and tail docking were perceived as the most painful practices and farmers agreed among them that these routine husbandry practices cause severe pain to animals. Several factors were associated with the farmers’ pain perception, such as the method used for the specific husbandry practices and the farmers’ educational level. In general, routine husbandry practices were carried out without using analgesics and with painful methods despite the agreement among farmers regarding the recognition of pain associated with these procedures.AbstractConsidering the public concern about the welfare of farm animals during routine husbandry practices, this study aimed to determine how husbandry practices are carried out in Chilean farms, sheep farmers’ perceptions of animal welfare and pain, and factors that affect them, as well as the level of agreement among farmers in the recognition of pain associated with these practices. Using a self-administered survey, participants were asked about their sociodemographic information, how husbandry practices are carried out in their farms, and their pain perception for seven of these common husbandry procedures using a numerical rating scale (0 to 10). A total of 165 farmers completed the survey and perceived castration and tail docking as the most painful practices in lambs (median pain score 10 vs. 8, p < 0.05). Pain perception was associated with the method used for the specific husbandry practices, the farmers’ educational level, the farm size, and flock size (p < 0.05). There was a fair to good level of agreement beyond chance (p < 0.05) in the recognition of pain associated with the most painful practices. In general, husbandry practices are not carried out in young animals, use painful methods, without using analgesics, which may have a negative impact on animal welfare.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sheep Farmers’ Perception of Welfare and Pain Associated with Routine Husbandry Practices in Chile

Larrondo

Bustamante

Gallo

2018

Animals

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“…Our data show clearly that the hair cortisol was less accumulated during the extensive breeding despite the various activities and experiences that the animals undergo, which affects this parameter (daily motor activity along high altitude slopes, sudden climatic changes, and presence of predators). This parameter indicates a better adaptability to the environment, provides information that is increasingly being considered by the final consumer ( 27 , 28 ), and has been reported to have some consequences on the quality of the meat product with respect to lamb ( 32 ) and pork ( 33 , 34 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New Approach to LCA Evaluation of Lamb Meat Production in Two Different Breeding Systems in Northern Italy

et al. 2020

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Lamb meat production provides vital landscape-management and ecosystem services; however, ruminant farming produces a considerable share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. To measure and compare the advantages and disadvantages of the intensification of livestock farming, an integrative analysis was conducted in this study by combining environmental impact analysis and animal welfare assessment. This approach is the first of its kind and is the innovative aspect of this paper. The methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) entails the holistic analysis of various impact categories and the associated emission quantities of products, services, and resources over their life cycle, including resource extraction and processing, production processes, transport, usage, and the end of life. The outlines of LCA are standardized in DIN EN ISO 14040/14044. To assess the environmental impacts of the production of lamb meat in northern Italy, two case studies were undertaken using the LCA software GaBi. The analysis is based on primary data from two sheep-breeding systems (semi-extensive and semi-intensive in alpine and continental bioregions, respectively) combined with inventory data from the GaBi database and data from the literature. The assessment was conducted for the functional unit of 1 kg of lamb meat and focuses on the impact categories global warming potential, acidification potential, and eutrophication potential. For an overall evaluation of the supply chain, we have also considered a parameter indicating animal welfare, in keeping with consumer concerns, employing an analysis of chronic stress as shown by cortisol accumulation. The goal is to derive models and recommendations for an efficient, more sustainable use of resources without compromising animal welfare, meat quality, and competitiveness. The aim of this study is to provide a standard for individualized sustainability analyses for European lamb production systems in the future. From the LCA perspective, the more intensive case-study farm showed a lower impact in global impact factors and a higher impact in local impact categories in comparison with the more extensively run farm that was studied. From the animal welfare perspective, lower amounts of the stress hormone cortisol were found on the extensively managed case-study farm.

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“…Awareness of driving style can help improve driving style to minimize stress to the animals, and Grandin [ 20 , 37 ] showed that there was an increase in the welfare of animals when livestock drivers received a bonus payment for meat quality of the animals transported. On the other hand, truck design is also likely to influence animal welfare during transport [ 38 ]. For example, Huertas et al [ 29 ] found differences in carcass bruising with different truck designs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a Method to Identify Potential Stressors during Commercial Sheep Transport

Collins

Stockman

Barnes

et al. 2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryLand transport is a common and unavoidable experience for most livestock, yet it remains a health and welfare concern. From the animals’ perspective, transport involves mixing with other animals, novel experiences, and prolonged standing, often after periods of water and feed withdrawal (‘curfews’). Although the physical effects of transport have been studied, often by the impact on meat quality, the effects on the mental well-being of sheep are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence the behavioural expression of sheep undergoing land transport, using observers who were blinded to the experimental treatments to score the animal’s body language during land transport. Various vehicle crate types, deck positions, sheep breeds and point of origin were compared. All treatments were variations on current commercial transport, and therefore stocking density was similar between the vehicles as per regulatory requirements, but truck designs varied. This study supports using the scoring of behavioural expression to assess sheep welfare during transport.AbstractLand transport is an unavoidable experience for most livestock, yet there is limited research comparing animal welfare under different conditions. We video recorded sheep responses during short (2 h) commercial road transport journeys. Using Qualitative Behavioural Assessment, observers (blinded to the treatments) scored the behavioural expression of sheep and reached significant consensus in their scoring patterns (p < 0.001). There were also significant effects of vehicle crate design (sheep transported in a ‘standard’ crate were more calm/relaxed than those transported in a ‘convertible’ crate), deck position (sheep on upper decks were more curious/alert than those on lower decks), and sheep breed (fat-tail sheep were more agitated/distressed than merino sheep) on observer scores. We only found marginal differences for sheep originating from feedlot or saleyard. Significant effects of vehicle driver (included as a random factor in all but one of our analyses) suggest driving patterns contributed to demeanour of the sheep. Finally, the fourteen drivers who participated in the study were asked their opinions on livestock transport; none of the factors we tested were identified by drivers as important for sheep welfare during transport. This study supports the use of qualitative measures in transport and revealed differences that could inform truck design.

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Main Factors Affecting Animal Welfare and Meat Quality in Lambs for Slaughter in Chile

Cited by 29 publications

References 45 publications

Sheep Farmers’ Perception of Welfare and Pain Associated with Routine Husbandry Practices in Chile

Sheep Farmers’ Perception of Welfare and Pain Associated with Routine Husbandry Practices in Chile

A New Approach to LCA Evaluation of Lamb Meat Production in Two Different Breeding Systems in Northern Italy

Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a Method to Identify Potential Stressors during Commercial Sheep Transport

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