Animal requirements
Animals arriving at the slaughterhouse all have different backgrounds and requirements. This affects their perception of the slaughterhouse and their behaviour, and in the long run it affects your success when it comes to handling the animals.
The handling of dairy cows and extensively maintained beef cattle is very different, and this can be seen at the slaughterhouse. Photographs: Dairy cows, Anne Larsen, SLU; Highland Cattle, Jan Svedberg.
For all animals, no matter what their species, the time at the slaughterhouse presents a major challenge and stress as they are inundated with new impressions. In general, it can be expected that breeds that have been handled extensively by humans adapt better to the environment among new humans and other animals of their own species than extensively maintained animals. Compare tethered dairy cows with Highland Cattle, and sheep that have spent large parts of their life indoors with sheep that are kept out in wide open spaces.
Humans have spent a long time breeding certain desirable qualities into livestock. The tameness and calmness of animals have frequently been given priority so as to make them easier to handle. The tamer an animal is, the greater its acceptance of humans. This makes things easier for the animal at the slaughterhouse and at the time of killing. Unlike with animals which are readily frightened, animals can avoid stress and panic to a great extent if they are calm in themselves.
Dehorning cattle or breeding out the horns simplifies handling at the slaughterhouse and elsewhere. Photograph: Jan Svedberg.
Breeding has also allowed humans to do away with certain unwanted qualities that can affect animals at the time of slaughter. For instance, what is known as the halothane gene (a gene which causes pigs to become resistant to halothane anaesthesia) has been bred out. This caused pigs to develop Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) during transportation and slaughter. Some cattle breeds have also been bred to remove their horns. Many cattle are dehorned – i.e. their horn tissue is rendered useless – at an early age. Animals with horns increase the risk of harm to other animals and slaughterhouse personnel.
The age, sex and pecking order of animals influence how they perceive the day of slaughter. Younger animals are usually more inclined than adult animals to accept the close proximity of humans. Males often have a larger The distance which the animal needs to maintain to unfamiliar/threatening individuals or objects. Encroaching upon this zone will trigger the animal’s flight reaction. flight zone – i.e. the distance from unfamiliar/threatening individuals or objects with which the animal feels comfortable – than females.
Dominant animals tolerate the close proximity of inferior animals as they do not pose a threat. If two dominant animals come too close to one another, this can be perceived as a threat to the pecking order and an invitation to fight. These qualities can affect how the animals behave and how well you succeed in handling them.
The animals’ production stages are one of a number of criteria for their time at the slaughterhouse. For instance, there is a big difference between a high producing dairy cow, which should be slaughtered immediately, and a worn out, dry dairy cow.
Photograph: Anne Larsen, SLU.
Copyright © disa.se | 2024