euwelnet coordinated european animal welfare network · pdf filespanish national contact point...

7/17/2015

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EUWelNet

Coordinated European

Animal Welfare Network

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Antonio Velarde

Spanish National Contact Point

IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Veïnat de Síes,

Monells, 17121, Spain

Website: http://www.euwelnet.eu

Background:

2006 Community Action Plan

on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010

‘creation of a European Centre or Laboratory

for the protection and welfare of animals ‘

Support to the Commission and the MS with technical expertise.

Conduct training courses.

Contribute to dissemination of research findings and technical

innovations

Coordination of research.

http://www.google.es/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=nTWZKN3FyysT8M&tbnid=8pIxTKny3D23EM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http://www.irta.cat/ca-es/RIT/Noticies/pagines/L'IRTAestrenanovaweb.aspx&ei=5doMUYKmI-m90QW4z4G4Bg&psig=AFQjCNG7miQzJSqY8xmwdGr_heBro5nVfg&ust=1359883365612104

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Call (SANCO 2012/10293) for a pilot project

‘to investigate (and make recommendations) on the

feasibility and usefulness of a network of technical

resources designed to assist the competent

authorities and the stakeholders in improving the

implementation of EU legislation on animal welfare

through targeted knowledge strategies.’

Background:

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Objectives:

1) Establish and coordinate a network of

recognised technical, scientific and

educational experts in the field

2)Identify some of the bottlenecks/ difficulties

in implementing EU legislation on animal

welfare

3)Develop and test knowledge transfer

strategies designed to overcome selected

bottlenecks

4)Make recommendations on the feasibility

and the likely conditions required for an

effective European animal welfare

network

WP4 Overarching analysis and

recommendations

WP2 Difficulties &

Bottlenecks

WP

3.1

Pig

s

WP

3.1

Kil

lin

g

Coordination Team WP1

WP3 Knowledge

strategies

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Council Directive 2008/120/EC of 18 December 2008 laying

down minimum standards for the protection of pigs.

Council Directive 2007/43 of 28 June 2007 laying down

minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat

production.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September

2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing.

Legislations:

Task 3.4 Setting up a technical network of experts to

develop and improve standard operation procedures to

implement welfare requirements at slaughter (of poultry,

pigs, cattle and sheep)

Antonio Velarde, Pedro Rodriguez, Joaquim Pallisera (IRTA)

Steve Wotton (UoB)

Lotta Berg (SLU)

Marien Gerritzen, Merel Verhoeven and Hans Spoolder (WUR-LR)

Luc Mirabito (Institute d’Elevage)

Claudia Terlouw (INRA)

Xavier Manteca (UAB)

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1. Development of a technical network.

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2. Identification of the main causes of difficulties in:

- Implementation of minimum electrical requirements for

effective waterbath stunning in poultry.

- Assessing unconsciousness after mechanical stunning in

bovines, electrical stunning of ovine and poultry, and gas

stunning in pigs.

3. Development of strategies to solve these difficulties with SOPs

4. Assessment of the effectiveness of the SOPs.

5. Evaluation of the role of the technical network in the development

of the SOPs.

Objectives:

1. Development of the technical network

• Identification of the national contact points in

– UK: FAWC Secretariat

– France: Institute d’Elevage/INRA

– Sweden: SLU

– The Netherlands: Wageningen UR Livestock Research

– Spain: IRTA

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2. Identification of the main causes of the difficulties in implementation

of requirements for waterbath stunning in poultry and the valid and

reliable assessment of unconsciousness

• Questionnaire to Competent Authorities:

– Bottlenecks

– Actions

– Guidelines

– Revision

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Waterbath stunning in poultry:

• Huge variation in stunning parameters.

• Poor understanding of the variation in current delivered to

each bird.

• Very difficult to assess effective waterbath stunning.

• One solution to gain greater control is the use of SOPs.

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Main conclusions

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Development of standardized assessment guidelines in response

to Regulation 1099/2009 in most of cases.

• The industry has applied to the CA for collaboration.

• The CA has revised the guidelines.

– The industry has consulted to competent authorities the difficulties

faced and CA have taken actions to improve the assessment

procedure:

• WBS in poultry in all cases except Sweden.

• Electrical stunning in sheep in Spain and Sweden.

• Gas stunning in pigs in Netherlands and Spain

• Captive bolt stunning in cattle in Spain

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Main conclusions

Subtask 3.4.2. Identification of the main causes of the difficulties in implementation of

requirements for waterbath stunning in poultry and the valid and reliable

assessment of unconsciousness

• Spot visit to abattoirs: (5 per specie)

– AWOs: difficulties, criteria, SOPs, scientific support

– OVs: difficulties

– Direct assessment of the main difficulties, risk factors.

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Slaughterhouses questionnaires

• SOPs

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Gas stunned pigs Electrically stunned sheep

WBS poultry Captive bolt stunned cattle

Unconsciousness assessment SOP No unconsciousness assessment SOP SOPs to assess unconsiousness No SOPs to assess unconsiousness

– The assessment of unconsciousness is carried out according to

the description of the SOP

– Animals that recovered consciousness before brain death and

are not detected by operators

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Main conclusions of direct observation

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– Common:

• Lack of training of both the operators and the AWO.

• Slaughterhouse facilities often do not allow a correct assessment

of unconsciousness.

– Cattle:

• Questionable security for the operator.

• Clonic activity occurred from hoisting and made assessment of

rhythmic breathing difficult in some animals.

– Pigs:

• Rhythmic breathing is difficult to assess.

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Main conclusions

Risk factors

– Sheep:

• Post-stun convulsions (clonic activity) can mask the presence of

rhythmic breathing.

– Poultry:

• The high line speed difficult the assessment of unconsciousness.

• Access to the birds is sometimes very difficult due to

slaughterhouses facilities.

• The criteria used to determine effective electrical stunning is

compromised by the application of the stunning current to the whole

bird, which can result in paralysis without stunning.

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Main conclusions

Risk factors

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– Assessment of the operation of a poultry WBS.

– Assessment of unconsciousness:

• In poultry after electrical waterbath stunning.

• In sheep after electrical stunning.

• In pigs after gas stunning

• In cattle after captive bolt stunning

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3. Development of strategies and SOP

3. Development of strategies and SOP

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Focus on management

recommendation, not

structural

– Objective.

– Responsibility.

– Procedure.

– Control measures:

• By the operator.

• By the AWO.

– Corrective actions:

• By the operator.

• By the AWO.

– Records:

• Operator.

• AWO.

– Operator decision tree.

– AWO decision tree.

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(EFSA Journal 2013;11(12):3460 - bovines)

(EFSA Journal 2013;11(12):3521 - poultry)

(EFSA Journal 2013;11(12):3523 - pigs)

(EFSA Journal 2013;11(12):3522 - sheep and goats)

“MONITORING PROCEDURES AT SLAUGHTERHOUSES”

on loss of consciousness

able to detect, with high level of confidence, unsatisfactory stunning / slaughtering practices

Specify the criteria for selecting indicators, based on the level of sensitivity and specificity

Identification of indicators

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Ex. Operation WBS

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Ex. Operation WBS

OPERATOR(S) DECISION TREE

Before bleeding: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Eye movements

Record re-stun Revise equipment and stunning procedure

One or more indicators of consciousness are present or in

case of doubt

STICKING

Before hoisting: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Eye movements


None of the indicators of consciousness are present

Before being released from the box:

- Remain standing or resume standing posture

- Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing



case of doubt

Re-stun


case of doubt


Re-stun


During bleeding - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Eye movements



case of doubt

Re-stun Re-stick

Re-stun


case of doubt

SOP cattle stunned with captive bolt

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OPERATOR(S) DECISION TREE

Before bleeding: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Eye movements



case of doubt

STICKING

Before hoisting: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Eye movements



Before being released from the box:

- Remain standing or resume standing posture

- Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing



case of doubt

Re-stun


case of doubt


Re-stun


During bleeding - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Eye movements



case of doubt

Re-stun Re-stick

Re-stun


case of doubt


ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICER DECISION TREE

Before bleeding: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex - Nose pinching response

Ask the operator to

re-stun


case of doubt

Just after stunning: - Remain standing or resume standing

posture - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex

- Check stunning procedures and equipment (short-term correction) -Retrain operator in the application of the SOP -Internal audit (long-term correction)


case of doubt

Ask the operator to

re-stun

None of the indicators of

consciousness are present

Before hoisting: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex - Nose pinching response




case of doubt

Ask the operator to

re-stun



During bleeding: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex - Nose pinching response




case of doubt


Ask the operator to re-stun and to re-

stick


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ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICER DECISION TREE

Before bleeding: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex - Nose pinching response

Ask the operator to

re-stun


case of doubt

Just after stunning: - Remain standing or resume standing

posture - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex



case of doubt

Ask the operator to

re-stun



Before hoisting: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex - Nose pinching response




case of doubt

Ask the operator to

re-stun



During bleeding: - Righting reflex - Vocalizations - Rhythmic breathing - Corneal reflex - Nose pinching response




case of doubt


Ask the operator to re-stun and to re-

stick


• 25 slaughterhouses

• FBOs, AWOs and OVs

• 1st visit: Presentation of the SOP

• 2nd visit (after 2 months):

– Assessment of implementation and effectiveness

– Interview

– Direct evaluation of the monitoring procedure

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4. Assessing the effectiveness of the SOPs in the

pilot study

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• Level of implementation:

5 slgthouses: To complement their own protocols

4 slgthouses: To improve their own SOPs.

6 slgthouses: Adapted the SOPs to their own procedures and

facilities

5 slgthouses: Without apparent interest to adopt the SOPs

4 slgthouses: Lack of time, but with interest to implement the

SOPs in the near future

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4. Assessing the effectiveness of the SOPs in the

pilot study

5. Evaluation of the role of the technical network in the

development of the SOPs

• 2nd technical meeting to assess the effectiveness of the

technical network in identifying and implementing

knowledge based strategies to overcome the difficulties.

• Identification of experts from other EU countries for possible

inclusion in a future network designed to further progress

the work on welfare at slaughter.

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5. Evaluation of the role of the technical network in the

development of the SOPs

• Identification of experts from other EU countries for possible

inclusion in a future network designed to further progress

the work on welfare at slaughter.

Identification of experts in AW at slaughter in EU countries.

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• Report on the main causes of difficulties in implementation of requirements for waterbath stunning in poultry and the valid and reliable assessment of unconsciousness in all species.

• SPOs for the WBS of poultry and the valid and reliable assessment of unconsciousness after mechanical stunning in bovines, electrical stunning in ovines, water bath electrical stunning in poultry, and gas stunning in pigs.

• Report on the effectiveness of the SOPs developed here and of the role and efficiency of the pilot technical network of experts.

• List of candidate groups and/or individuals in each EU country for possible inclusion in a future technical network on welfare at slaughter).

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Deliverables

Thank you for your attention

[email protected]

Website: http://www.euwelnet.eu


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