Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
PLoS One. 2018 Jun 22;13(6):e0197028. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197028. eCollection 2018.
China is the world's biggest livestock producer, and has a rapidly expanding intensive livestock production in response to growing demand. The large size of the country and geographical dispersion of the livestock production systems means that animals are often transported long distances to slaughter. This study investigated perceptions of animal welfare issues by stakeholders in the Chinese transport and slaughter industry using utility scores and adaptive conjoint analysis. An initial workshop for experts in this field identified key concerns; these were then included in a questionnaire, which was distributed electronically to stakeholders. Stakeholders, particularly those with higher levels of education, were most concerned about the absence of pre-slaughter stunning and failure to maintain unconsciousness throughout the slaughter process. For all livestock species electrical stunning was considered the best method of stunning and blunt trauma the worst; for cattle and sheep stunning using a penetrating captive bolt was considered preferable to the use a percussive captive bolt. Other concerns considered very important were journey quality and livestock workers' experience and attitudes. Heat stress and closed-sided vehicles were of greater concern than cold stress. Loading facilities and journey length were considered of intermediate importance, while lairage and methods for catching chickens were of least concern. The importance of some welfare concerns, e.g. livestock having to remain standing during a journey, was more commonly recognised by stakeholders who reported a high level of knowledge and experience. Therefore, these welfare issues could be a focus for future training activities. Compared to respondents directly involved in livestock transport, respondents involved in teaching and researching within livestock production rated the presented animal welfare issues as more important. These results can be used to guide development of training programmes, animal welfare research, and certification and regulatory control to target challenges to animal welfare in livestock transport and slaughter in China.
中国是世界上最大的畜牧业生产国，为了满足不断增长的需求，其集约化畜牧业生产也在迅速扩张。由于国家规模庞大，畜牧业生产系统地域分散，动物往往需要长途运输到屠宰场。本研究采用效用得分和适应性联合分析，调查了中国运输和屠宰行业利益相关者对动物福利问题的看法。一个专门领域的专家初始研讨会确定了关键问题；然后将这些问题纳入问卷调查，并通过电子邮件分发给利益相关者。利益相关者，特别是那些教育程度较高的利益相关者，最关心的是没有在屠宰前进行致晕，以及在屠宰过程中未能保持无意识状态。对于所有的牲畜物种，电击致晕被认为是最好的致晕方法，钝击伤是最差的方法；对于牛和羊，使用穿透式固定头枷致晕比使用撞击式固定头枷致晕更可取。其他被认为非常重要的关注点还包括运输质量、牲畜工人的经验和态度。热应激和封闭式车辆比冷应激更受关注。装卸设施和运输距离被认为是中等重要的，而畜栏和捕捉鸡的方法则不太重要。一些福利问题的重要性，例如牲畜在运输过程中必须保持站立状态，在那些报告具有高水平知识和经验的利益相关者中更为常见。因此，这些福利问题可以成为未来培训活动的重点。与直接参与牲畜运输的受访者相比，参与牲畜生产教学和研究的受访者认为所提出的动物福利问题更为重要。这些结果可用于指导培训计划、动物福利研究、认证和监管控制的制定，以针对中国牲畜运输和屠宰过程中的动物福利挑战。
