Human-animal relationships at sheep and cattle abattoirs

Abstract

There are accumulating international data in a number of livestock industries that show that a negative attitude by stockpeople towards interacting with pigs, dairy cattle and poultry is correlated with increased levels of fear and stress in farm animals and in turn reduced animal productivity. While most of this research has been on-farm, one study has shown similar attitude-behaviour correlations in a pig abattoir. The major aim of this research was to examine the stockperson attitude-behaviour at sheep and cattle abattoirs. Twenty-two Australian abattoirs participated in the collection of stockperson attitudes and behaviour (81 stockpeople-35 cattle stockpeople and 46 sheep stockpeople; six abattoirs slaughtering cattle, six slaughtering sheep and ten slaughtering both cattle and sheep). Several significant correlations between stockperson attitudes and behaviour were detected. In particular, the perceived pressures imposed by perceived lack of control over their actions, perceived time constraints, perceived effect of poor facilities and inappropriate beliefs about arousing livestock were all associated with frequent use of forceful handling behaviours by the stockperson. These results were similar to observations in pig abattoirs that have been reported previously. These relationships at cattle and sheep abattoirs indicate that there may be an opportunity to improve stockperson behaviour and consequently reduce stress in sheep and cattle at abattoirs by targeting attitudes (and behaviour) for improvement, with appropriate educational and training material in a way that is similar to the uses of such training with livestock species in farm settings.

Cattle behaviours and stockperson actions related to impaired animal welfare at Swedish slaughter plants

“…On the other hand, a low line speed means fewer stockperson actions and animal behaviours associated with poor AW per time unit because the animals are less stressed, although handling times will be longer. Coleman et al (2012) found that the pressures imposed on abattoir stockpersons by a perceived lack of control over their actions and perceived time constraints were associated with frequent use of forceful handling actions. Thus, if long handling times follow from a deliberately low line speed, it may in fact contribute to improved AW.…”

“…High action counts for some stockpersons may also be explained by problematic personal attitudes towards slaughter animals, a lack of knowledge about animal behaviour, and poor animal handling skills. Attitudes of abattoir stockpersons towards animals influence how they treat cattle at slaughter, as shown by Coleman et al (2003Coleman et al ( , 2012, who found that the pressures imposed on abattoir stockpersons by a perceived lack of control over their actions, perceived time constraints, a perceived effect of poor facilities and inappropriate beliefs about arousing livestock were all associated with frequent use of forceful handling actions. The degree of knowledge and skills can be expected to vary considerably between stockpersons, depending on e.g.…”

“…1099/2009 (on the protection of animals at the time of killing) came into force on 1 Jan. 2013, requiring formal education of all abattoir stockpersons, the amount of theoretical and practical training was possibly unsatisfactory in some persons, including stockpersons in the present study. The results of the studies by Coleman et al (2003Coleman et al ( , 2012 indicate that there may be an opportunity to improve stockperson actions and consequently reduce stress in cattle at abattoirs by targeting attitudes with appropriate educational and training material. Moreover, the management of an abattoir probably plays an important normative role for the staff, as suggested by , who stated that "Maintaining high standards of animal welfare requires management commitment to welfare".…”

Facilities, breed and experience affect ease of sheep handling: the livestock transporter’s perspective

“…The impact of stockman (non-gender specific) attitude on handling behaviours towards sheep has been demonstrated previously (Coleman et al, 2012) and it is reasonable to imply that this could have flow-on effects on ease of handling. The use of perspective taking among the transporters and equating sheep feelings with human ones demonstrated empathy and care for the animals.…”

“…As the handling of livestock involves people, there is a social component, and it has been documented in sheep (Coleman et al, 2012), cattle (Hemsworth et al, 2002;Mounier et al, 2008;Coleman et al, 2012) and pigs (Hemsworth et al, 1989) that attitudes held by stockmen affect the behaviour of livestock. It is also understood that many other factors, including breed, age, sex and rearing conditions, may contribute to animal behaviour during handling, although traditionally these factors have been assessed in isolation under experimental conditions (Romeyer and Bouissou, 1992;Viérin and Bouissou, 2003;Boissy et al, 2005).…”