Slaughterhouse processes involve the examination of each animal (ante-mortem) and its carcass (post-mortem), therefore, it presents an ideal opportunity to measure animal-based outcomes. This can give important insights into the welfare and health of animals on farm and during transit. Inspection at the slaughterhouse has advantages over inspection of livestock at the farm level due to cost effective data collection over time and biosecurity reasons. The large amount of data collected from slaughterhouses could be used for various purposes including animal health/welfare surveillance, quantifying financial implications of health/welfare issues, and benchmarking or risk assessment. However, there are different challenges that need to be addressed for an effective utilization of such information across the supply chain. Both research and stakeholder perspectives towards the use of slaughterhouse findings to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit is needed to take full advantage of its potential.
The objective of this Research Topic is to expand the knowledge on how animal-based welfare measurements collected through slaughterhouses can contribute towards significant improvements in animal health and welfare of animals on farm and during transit.
Specific themes that are invited to this Research Topic include but are not limited to:
- Post-mortem carcass inspection for the assessment of animal health/welfare on farm and in transit
- Transport/lairage findings ante-mortem to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit
- Standardized or automated recording methods of animal health/welfare outcomes at the abattoir
- Stakeholder perspectives on the use of slaughterhouse findings as a tool to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit
- Production or financial losses (e.g., carcass/viscera condemnation, downgrading) associated with animal welfare on farm and in transit
Type of manuscripts:
- This Research Topic welcomes reviews and research (applied/fundamental) manuscripts related to the assessment of slaughterhouse findings to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit
- Manuscripts about both terrestrial and aquatic species are welcome
Slaughterhouse processes involve the examination of each animal (ante-mortem) and its carcass (post-mortem), therefore, it presents an ideal opportunity to measure animal-based outcomes. This can give important insights into the welfare and health of animals on farm and during transit. Inspection at the slaughterhouse has advantages over inspection of livestock at the farm level due to cost effective data collection over time and biosecurity reasons. The large amount of data collected from slaughterhouses could be used for various purposes including animal health/welfare surveillance, quantifying financial implications of health/welfare issues, and benchmarking or risk assessment. However, there are different challenges that need to be addressed for an effective utilization of such information across the supply chain. Both research and stakeholder perspectives towards the use of slaughterhouse findings to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit is needed to take full advantage of its potential.
The objective of this Research Topic is to expand the knowledge on how animal-based welfare measurements collected through slaughterhouses can contribute towards significant improvements in animal health and welfare of animals on farm and during transit.
Specific themes that are invited to this Research Topic include but are not limited to:
- Post-mortem carcass inspection for the assessment of animal health/welfare on farm and in transit
- Transport/lairage findings ante-mortem to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit
- Standardized or automated recording methods of animal health/welfare outcomes at the abattoir
- Stakeholder perspectives on the use of slaughterhouse findings as a tool to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit
- Production or financial losses (e.g., carcass/viscera condemnation, downgrading) associated with animal welfare on farm and in transit
Type of manuscripts:
- This Research Topic welcomes reviews and research (applied/fundamental) manuscripts related to the assessment of slaughterhouse findings to inform animal health and welfare on farm and in transit
- Manuscripts about both terrestrial and aquatic species are welcome
