AnSci 3 - Slaughter of Animals and Animal Products Processing Learning Guide

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CSU-CAA, Department of Animal Science, Ampayon, Butuan City 2023

 AnSci 3 - Slaughter of Animals and Animal Products Processing Learning Guide

Activity 2
Handling of Animals before Slaughter/Dressing

Introduction:

The production of meat consistently meets consumer’s expectations that require vigilance and control at all points in the
supply chain. In particular, control is required during the critical period from farm or pen to slaughter as the inevitable stress that all
livestock experience can result losses of meat quality. When an animal is stressed due to heat, anxiety, fasting, loading and transport,
mixing and interaction with humans, rough treatment or environmental factors, the meat that comes from the animal will be lesser
quality. Pre-slaughter stress is both an animal welfare and a meat quality issue. For example, if an animal becomes agitated in the
chute, stress hormones like adrenalin are released, and muscle pH drops. For cattle, this can result in “dark cutters”, or dark spots, in
meat. For hogs, this can cause Pale Soft Exudative (PSE) tissue, which appears as pale, soft spots in pork. On the other hand, behavioral
and physiological studies revealed that poor handling practices on the farm, during transport and at the slaughter plant are aversive to
livestock and may result to loss of profits due to animal losses during transport and in lairage.

However, poor pre-slaughter handling can also lead to losses in carcass value due to contamination and meat quality defects.
These quality defects cause direct economic losses to meat companies. Thus, good management combined with well-designed
equipment must be used together to ensure adequate animal welfare during transport and slaughter. It is noted that good pre-
slaughter procedures and facilities offer important benefits – bruising is reduced, meat quality and animal welfare are improved,
labor cost are reduced and employee safety is better.

Objectives:
At the end of the activity, the students will be able to:
o Relate the trends of animal handling before slaughter or dressing;
o Apply the universal principles in animal handling prior to slaughter or dressing;
o Assess the magnitude of application on animal handling principles to domestic situation; and
o Synthesize the information on animal handling prior to slaughter or dressing.

Procedure:

Visit a nearby livestock farm or to animal auction market and observes and document the handling of animals from farm and to
the abattoir or auction market; how the personnel apply the principles of animal welfare and humane handling during the
process.
Conduct an interview among the personnel’s of the offices: market administrator, Department of Agriculture or Veterinary
Office or National Meat Inspection Services regarding their monitoring and regulating the animal handling prior to
slaughter. Make necessary documentation (i.e., pictures, Municipal/City/Barangay Ordinances) and present it for evaluation;
Visit the library or any website to acquire additional information on the animal handling prior to slaughter;
Submit news or article or research abstract from journal (photocopy or printout) including their sources or references that
exhibits the animal handling before slaughtering. Give at least ten sentences (hand written) each for highlights and critic at
the back page of the news or article or research abstract;
Fifteen minute presentation on the actual observation or assessment from the farm/abattoir/auction market as well as on the
submitted articles or journals.
Write your report / answer (handwritten) legibly in along bond paper.

Questions:
1. Discuss the effects of transport and movement? How to improve fitness of animal for transport?

Manteca (1998) says concern for animal welfare is a major consideration in meat production and is based upon the belief that
animals can suffer. Welfare may be considered (Manteca, 1998) in terms of the subject experiences of animals (measured using
preference testing) or in terms of biological functioning (measured using reactions to stress including plasma levels of
glucocorticoids, catecholamines, prolactin and endorphins, as well as heart rate and brain levels of neurotransmitters).

2. Discuss the problems associated with improper handling of livestock such as DFD, PSE, bruising and injury, and spoilage
of meat.

CSU-CAA, Department of Animal Science, Ampayon, Butuan City 2023

 AnSci 3 - Slaughter of Animals and Animal Products Processing Learning Guide

a. Stress –leading to DFD beef and PSE pork

b. Bruising –perhaps the most insidious and significant

production waste in the meat industry

c. Trampling –this occurs when animals go down due to

slippery floors or overcrowding

d. Suffocation -this usually follows on trampling;

e. Heart failure -occurs mostly in pigs when overfed prior to

loading and transportation;

f. Heat stroke -pigs are susceptible to high environment

temperatures and humidity;

g. Sun burn -exposure to sun affects pigs seriously;

h. Bloat -restraining ruminants or tying their feet

without turning them will cause this;

i. Poisoning -animals can die from plant poisoning during

trekking on hoof;

j. Predation -unguarded animals moving on the hoof may

be attacked;

k. Dehydration -animals subject to long distance travel

without proper watering will suffer weight

loss and may die;

l. Exhaustion -may occur for many reasons including

heavily pregnant animals or weaklings;

m. Injuries -broken legs, horns

n. Fighting -this occurs mostly when a vehicle loaded

with pig stops, or amongst horned and polled

cattle.

CSU-CAA, Department of Animal Science, Ampayon, Butuan City 2023

 AnSci 3 - Slaughter of Animals and Animal Products Processing Learning Guide

3. Explain the flight zone and animal behavior.

An animal’s flight zone is the animal’s safety zone and handlers should work on the edge of the flight zone. If an animal
turns and faces a person, the person is outside the flight zone. When a person enters the flight zone, an animal will turn away. If an
animal in a pen or race becomes agitated when a person stands too close to them, this indicates that the person is in the flight zone and
should move backwards away from them.

4. Relate your observation and assessment on the domestic handling of cattle/carabao, pigs, poultry, goats or sheep.
Cattle/ Carabao - domestic handling of cattle and carabaos tends to focus on providing spacious grazing areas with access to clean water and
proper nutrition. Regular veterinary care, including vaccinations and deworming, is crucial for maintaining their health
Pigs - proper handling involves providing clean living quarters with adequate space for movement and proper ventilation. Pigs need a balanced
diet rich in nutrients to support growth and health. Regular cleaning of pens or housing areas is essential to prevent the buildup of waste and
disease.
Poultry - The domestic handling of poultry involves various aspects such as housing, feeding, health management, and biosecurity measures.
Observations and assessments may include the cleanliness of the coop, quality of feed and water
Goats - Observations and assessments of domestic goat handling may include the quality of housing and fencing, availability and quality of
feed and water, signs of illness or injury in the goats, implementation of parasite control measures, and overall welfare of the herd.

5. How the respective agencies strictly monitor and regulate the proper handling of animals prior to slaughter?

Meat inspection (ante-mortem inspection and post-mortem inspection inclusive)

All animals intended for human consumption and admitted to the licensed slaughterhouses for slaughtering and dressing are subject to both
ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections. Before food animals are slaughtered, they are kept in the lairages for ante-mortem inspection
carried out by the Ante-mortem Inspection Unit of the Slaughterhouse

6. Why animal welfare and humane handling became an issue? How does these affect to the processed products?

Animal welfare and humane handling became significant issues due to increasing public awareness and concern for the well-being of
animals raised for food production.
Quality: Animals subjected to stress and inhumane conditions may experience changes in muscle composition, texture, and flavor of their
meat. Stress hormones released during improper handling can affect meat tenderness and juiciness, leading to tougher and less palatable
products.
Safety: By prioritizing animal welfare and implementing humane handling practices, producers can help mitigate these risks and ensure that their
processed products meet safety standards and regulations, safeguarding public health and consumer confidence in the food supply.
Reputation: Companies with poor animal welfare standards may face backlash from consumers, advocacy groups, and the media, leading to negative
publicity and damage to their reputation. This can result in decreased sales, loss of market share, and long-term harm to brand loyalty.

CSU-CAA, Department of Animal Science, Ampayon, Butuan City 2023