ABSTRACT
Careful, calm handling of cattle, pigs, or sheep will improve both animal welfare and help preserve meat quality. This chapter will discuss results from research studies and practical information on welfare for the stage in the animal’s life when it is transported from the farm through preslaughter, handling, and restraint. The effects of stunning on meat quality will be covered in Chapter 8. The public is becoming increasingly concerned about how farm animals are treated (Rollin et al. 2011). Today, many mobile telephones are video cameras, and activities that were previously hidden from the public can now be recorded and instantly uploaded to the Internet. Everyone who is involved with harvesting animals for meat must always be aware of the importance of maintaining both good animal welfare and protecting product quality. This chapter will draw information from both the research literature and the author’s extensive practical experience in several hundred slaughter plants in many countries. Its aim is to help bridge the gap between scientic research and practical applications that can be used by transporters and plant managers.
