Sheep welfare during transport and slaughter in Bulgaria – Impact of welfare on slaughter carcass and meat quality: a review

Nikolay Todorov IVANOV

doi:10.3906/vet-1909-30

Abstract

The present work aimed to review the state of sheep welfare in Bulgaria during transportation and slaughter and to evaluate its relationship with slaughter carcass and meat quality. Over the last few years, animal welfare has become increasingly important. Normative documents related to welfare during rearing, transport, and slaughter of animals have been developed and promulgated. A major percentage of these animals are reared for meat production, but attempts to minimize stress and pain during transport and slaughter should be made. Stress reduction and pain control improve animal welfare and also impact carcass and meat quality. This overview demonstrates that improper preslaughter handling deteriorates meat quality and increases stress levels in animals. Consumers are increasingly concerned about meat quality and are even ready to pay more to purchase products of higher quality. One of the main ways for improvement of meat quality is to comply with animal welfare standards. This review focuses on some EU countries such as Bulgaria, taking interest in proper preslaughter handling of sheep due to its beneficial effects on meat and carcass qualities. In addition, this review highlights the factors to consider in sheep handling and their effect on meat and carcass quality.

Highlights

The issues of animal welfare and humane attitudes to animals have gained increasing popularity in recent years, both in European countries in general and in Bulgaria.Animal welfare is a concern for the animals’ suffering and satisfaction [1]
Stress is a physiological response of animals to threats or harmful situations
If the animal experiences stress before and during slaughter, glycogen is depleted, and the lactic acid formed in meat postmortem decreases [29]

Summary

Introduction

The issues of animal welfare and humane attitudes to animals have gained increasing popularity in recent years, both in European countries in general and in Bulgaria. According to the same normative act, the following conditions must be met during accommodation of animals on the premises for resting/relaxing: · all animals are provided with drinking water in a suitable waterer and those that will be slaughtered after more than 24 h should receive moderate amounts of food at appropriate intervals in a way providing access to food to each animal; · if the animals are tied, this should be done in a way allowing them to lie down without difficulties; · animals that may injure one another by reason of species, gender, or age are accommodated in separate pens/paddocks or sheds; · protection against adverse climatic conditions should be ensured, and in humid and very hot weather, measures should be taken to cool the animals by appropriate means; and · the duration of preslaughter rest is up to 4 h for transportation distances up to 80 km, and for distances over 80 km it is up to 12 hours. Recommended electric current parameters and stunning time and duration of stunning phases in animals

Duration of phases electrical stunning Tonic Clonic Recovery

Conclusion