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. 2017 May 30;15(5):e04782.
doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4782. eCollection 2017 May.

Animal welfare aspects in respect of the slaughter or killing of pregnant livestock animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses)

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW); Simon More, Dominique Bicout, Anette Botner, Andrew Butterworth, Paolo Calistri, Klaus Depner, Sandra Edwards, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Margaret Good, Christian Gortazar Schmidt, Virginie Michel, Miguel Angel Miranda, Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Antonio Velarde, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Liisa Sihvonen, Hans Spoolder, Jan Arend Stegeman, Mohan Raj, Preben Willeberg, Denise Candiani, Christoph Winckler

Animal welfare aspects in respect of the slaughter or killing of pregnant livestock animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses)

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) et al. EFSA J. .

Abstract

This scientific opinion addresses animal welfare aspects of slaughtering of livestock pregnant animals. Term of Reference (ToR) 1 requested assessment of the prevalence of animals slaughtered in a critical developmental stage of gestation when the livestock fetuses might experience negative affect. Limited data on European prevalence and related uncertainties necessitated a structured expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) exercise. Estimated median percentages of animals slaughtered in the last third of gestation are 3%, 1.5%, 0.5%, 0.8% and 0.2% (dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, respectively). Pregnant animals may be sent for slaughter for health, welfare, management and economic reasons (ToR2); there are also reasons for farmers not knowing that animals sent for slaughter are pregnant. Measures to reduce the incidence are listed. ToR3 asked whether livestock fetuses can experience pain and other negative affect. The available literature was reviewed and, at a second multidisciplinary EKE meeting, judgements and uncertainty were elicited. It is concluded that livestock fetuses in the last third of gestation have the anatomical and neurophysiological structures required to experience negative affect (with 90-100% likelihood). However, there are two different possibilities whether they perceive negative affect. It is more probable that the neurophysiological situation does not allow for conscious perception (with 66-99% likelihood) because of brain inhibitory mechanisms. There is also a less probable situation that livestock fetuses can experience negative affect (with 1-33% likelihood) arising from differences in the interpretation of the fetal electroencephalogram, observed responses to external stimuli and the possibility of fetal learning. Regarding methods to stun and kill livestock fetuses at slaughter (ToR4), sets of scenarios and respective actions take account of both the probable and less probable situation regarding fetal ability for conscious perception. Finally, information was collated on methods to establish the dam's gestational stage based on physical features of livestock fetuses (ToR5).

Keywords: Slaughter; animal welfare; conscious perception; fetus; livestock species; pain; pregnant animals.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic comparison of the uncertainty assessment of ToR1 and ToR3
Figure 2
Figure 2
Decision tree to support farmers to reduce the likelihood of pregnant animals sent to slaughter during the last third of gestation
Figure 3
Figure 3
Logical model for assessment of ToR3 (capacity of fetuses to experience pain and other negative affect)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Visualisation of corticogenesis (i.e. migration of neurons formed in the ventricular zones) in mice during neurodevelopment; by Wikipedia, CopperKettle https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37111233
Figure 5
Figure 5
Scenarios and respective courses of action as regards handling of the fetus/neonate under the assumption that the neurophysiological situation of the fetus does not allow for consciousness and taking into consideration when the pregnancy is detected and if the fetus has been exposed to air.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Scenarios and respective courses of action as regards handling of the fetus/neonate under the assumption that the neurophysiological situation of the fetus does allow for consciousness and taking into consideration when the pregnancy is detected and if the fetus has been exposed to air
Figure C.1
Figure C.1
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of pregnant cattle (dairy cows) slaughtered
Figure C.2
Figure C.2
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of pregnant cattle (dairy cows) slaughtered at the third term of gestation
Figure C.3
Figure C.3
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of pregnant beef cattle slaughtered
Figure C.4
Figure C.4
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of pregnant beef cattle slaughtered at the third term of gestation
Figure C.5
Figure C.5
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of pregnant sows slaughtered
Figure C.6
Figure C.6
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of sows slaughtered at the third term of gestation
Figure C.7
Figure C.7
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of pregnant ewes slaughtered
Figure C.8
Figure C.8
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of ewes slaughtered at the third term of gestation
Figure C.9
Figure C.9
Density of probabilities expressing the collective view of the group regarding the overall prevalence of pregnant goats slaughtered
Figure C.10
Figure C.10
Probability density regarding the overall prevalence of sows slaughtered at the third term of gestation
Figure D.1
Figure D.1
Flow charts of logical models as circulated prior to workshop. For version revised at workshop, with questions as elicited, see Figure D.2 (later)
Figure D.2
Figure D.2
Revision of the logical model
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