Abstract
The current review was initiated to encourage the government of Ethiopia, stakeholders, and policymakers about the substantial effects of handling, slaughtering process, and transportation on welfare and meat quality of farm animals of animals. In Ethiopia, until this review was made, there is no comprehensive legislation, rules, or regulations articulated for farm animals’ welfare during rearing, transport, and slaughter. Hence, the welfare of animals was not taken into consideration and often constrained by high levels of poverty, cultural perceptions and beliefs, lack of training and knowledge of animal handling, inadequate transport, and slaughter facilities. The most common farm animal transport system was on the foot from a rural area to a nearby market and then by vehicle to the urban area. During transport, farm animals were exposed to several potential stressors like trip distance, design of vehicle, animal standing orientation, loading and unloading facilities, and temperature fluctuations that affect the welfare, quality, and shelf life of meat and meat products. Aversive ways of handling farm animals, including improper use of sticks, pushing, pulling, and beating them on their head and body frequently by handlers and slaughtering them without stunning, were common practices. This aversive way of handling also causes carcass damage such as bruising, hemorrhages, skin blemishes, blood splash, and broken bones. Therefore, from this review, it has been recommended that, in order to improve animal welfare and thereby meat quality that has been affected by improper handling, transport, and slaughter, the government of Ethiopia is strongly encouraged to endorse inclusive animal welfare jurisdictive acts that would protect animal sentience, define animal welfare in line with OIE standards, and prohibit animal brutality. Creating awareness for stakeholders, particularly for handlers about behavioral principles, proper handling of farm animals, basic concept and role of good animal welfare, and its significant impact on the quality of meat is also imperative.
Highlights
The livestock population of Ethiopia ranks first in Africa and tenth in the world
Good animal welfare is a prerequisite for high-quality and Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2020; 8(4): 84-92 sound farm animal production [7] and is an increasing concern around the world, which has resulted in the introduction and enforcement of government regulations and the formation of animal welfare organizations [8]
Behavior of farm animals might change during transportation when they encounter fluctuations of temperature in a vehicle higher than 20°C because it causes poor animal welfare [28, 29]
Summary
The livestock population of Ethiopia ranks first in Africa and tenth in the world. Numerically the country had about 60.39 million cattle, 31.30 million sheep, 32.74 million goats, 56.06 million poultry, 2.01 million horses, 8.85 million donkeys, 0.46 million mules, 1.42 million camels and 5.92 million hive bee colonies [1]. Good animal welfare is a prerequisite for high-quality and Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2020; 8(4): 84-92 sound farm animal production [7] and is an increasing concern around the world, which has resulted in the introduction and enforcement of government regulations and the formation of animal welfare organizations [8]. In developing countries welfare of farm animals is limited [9] and is often hindered by high levels of poverty, cultural perceptions and beliefs, lack of training and knowledge of animal handling, and inadequate transport and slaughter facilities [10]. The current review was initiated to encourage the government of Ethiopia, stakeholders, and policymakers about the substantial effects of handling, slaughtering process, and transportation on farm animals’ welfare and meat quality
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