Quantifying animal welfare preslaughter using behavioural, physiological and carcass and meat quality measures -- Cattle -- Fish -- Horses -- Pigs -- Poultry -- Sheep -- Species destined for non-traditional meat production: 1. African game species, cervids, ostriches, crocodiles and kangaroos -- Species destined for non-traditional meat production: 2. Goats and South American domestic camelids -- Avoiding live-animal transport to slaughter: mobile abattoirs.

This book provides both evidence-based scientific studies and practical guidance to enhance the welfare of cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry at slaughter. Temple Grandin and Michael Cockram have brought together a range of international experts to prepare chapters on philosophical and ethical views on the slaughter of farmed animals. These include welfare issues and their assessment, the condition of animals on arrival and their management during lairage, animal handling, methods of humane slaughter and assessment of unconsciousness. The book boldly tackles controversial issues around the compromises necessary when balancing animal welfare concerns with commercial realities, as well as religious slaughter. Chapters cover methods of stunning, pre-slaughter handling, equipment design, monitoring welfare with abattoir data and auditing methods. It is an important publication for those involved in implementing improvements in the humane slaughter of farmed animals and is recommended for veterinarians, students, abattoir managers and government regulators.

"It is essential reading for students and practitioners in animal welfare and animal science, and will also be of interest to readers in meat, veterinary and food sciences, and applied ethology."--BOOK JACKET.

Outlining the core principles of the subject, this introductory-level textbook covers the production of meat, its structure and chemical composition, meat quality and hygiene, and animal welfare, handling and slaughter. The new edition has been updated to cover significant advances such as the process of conditioning, leading to the tenderization of meat, and new coverage of the use of molecular genetic techniques to try to select animals for improved meat quality. It is an essential text for students and professionals in food science and technology, those working in the meat industry, meat inspectors, and vets. * New larger format in two colors throughout * Fully revised and updated including new coverage of genomics * Carefully selected references and titles for further reading

If we are to better understand and negotiate current and future problems in the food supply chain, it will be essential to pay more attention to the role and position of professionals involved. 'Professionals in food chains' addresses questions as: What are the main ethical challenges for professionals in the food supply chain? Who within this complex field holds responsibility for what? What does it mean for the food-related professions to operate in an atmosphere of immense social tension and high expectations? Which virtues are required to do a 'good' job? In brief: What can be said about the roles, responsibilities, and ethics of professionals across this dynamic field? Topics covered include general issues on professional roles and responsibility, sustainable food supply chains, novel approaches in food production systems, current food politics, the ethics of consumption, veterinary ethics, pedagogical/educational and research ethics, as well as aquacultural, agricultural, animal, and food ethics.

One of the biggest challenges faced by meat producers today is the requirement to improve the quality of meat while maintaining focus on efficiency and higher yields. Numerous studies have shown that consumers are willing to pay premiums for meat products with guaranteed eating quality. This book examines the complicated multistep process of producing high-quality meat, from the growth of the animals to the final product. It discusses specific aspects of meat quality for beef, pork, and sheep. Meat Quality: Genetic and Environmental Factors covers key topics such as animal welfare, nutrition, pre-slaughter handling, slaughter technology, breeding strategies, and the influence of common genetic factors on meat quality. It also discusses the latest meat production systems designed to ensure high-quality meat and the role of transgenic animal technology in meat quality. The book devotes separate chapters to beef, pork, and sheep quality, looking at the effects of breed, genetic type, gender, and age on meat quality. The chapters are written by contributors from universities, research institutes, and breeding companies from different countries and continents. The chapters are based on the research and teaching experience of the contributors as well as on a critical evaluation of the current literature. No other book available today covers the key issues regarding meat quality in such a comprehensive way. This book should be of keen interest to students of food technology, nutrition, commodities sciences, and animal sciences, as well as to food scientists and engineers who want to update their knowledge about the determinants of meat quality.

A Seminar in the CEC Agricultural Research Programme, held in Dublin, Ireland, November 21-22, 1985. Sponsored by the Commission of the European Communities, Directorate-General for Agriculture, Division for the Coordination of Agricultural Research