Animal welfare assessment at slaughter

Because welfare is a condition of the animals, outcome measures are likely to be the most direct reflection of their actual welfare state. It permits evaluation of the welfare by directly observing the animals, regardless of how and where they are housed. Animal-based measures are evaluative, obtained in a precise way and usually quantitative. Therefore, in the present chapter, where animal welfare assessment at slaughter will be addressed, those measures really assessed on the animals will be prioritized. Inside these measures named ‘outcomes’, it is important to consider the three main types: physiological, health and behavioral ones. In addition, the validity, repeatability, and feasibility of the measures should also be considered. A proper assessment of animal welfare at the time of slaughter will take into account not only the moment of killing, that includes the stunning process, the sticking and any other process until the death of the animal, but as well how the animals are managed prior to the arrival to the slaughterhouse, how they are unloaded and driven to the lairage, lairage conditions and displacement to the stunning and slaughtering area.