[Animal welfare in the slaughterhouse].

The importance of correct handling of slaughter animals at the farm, on transport and in the slaughterhouse is described. The status of animal welfare in slaughterhouses, the relations between animal welfare, preslaughter animal condition and meat quality are discussed. Possibilities of better information exchange by integrated quality systems are shown. A summary of the first-year-work experiences of the Beratungs- und Schulungsinstitut für tierschonenden Umgang mit Nutz- und Schlachttieren (bsi) gives an overview of handling and related animal welfare problems during the slaughter process.