Abattoir antemortem inspection protocol: Observation of unloading improves detection of transport welfare compromises in livestock.

Observing livestock during unloading significantly improves detection of transport-related welfare compromises.

This observational study evaluated the effectiveness of an unloading-inclusive antemortem (AM) inspection protocol at a UK abattoir for detecting transport-related welfare compromises in livestock. Researchers observed 94 cattle/buffalo, 2508 sheep/goats, and 781 pigs over one working week, with 1749 animals observed during unloading and 1634 in lairage post-unloading. The key finding demonstrated that systematic observation of animals during the unloading process significantly enhanced detection of welfare issues compared to conventional lairage-only inspection, particularly for behavioral indicators such as lameness, slipping, and falling. The study highlights critical gaps in current standardized AM inspection protocols and proposes that incorporating unloading observation into official inspection procedures would improve feedback mechanisms to farmers and transporters, enabling earlier detection and intervention for welfare concerns. While the authors acknowledge limitations including single-abattoir focus, short observation period, and absence of a validated gold standard for welfare assessment, the findings suggest meaningful improvements to animal welfare monitoring and food chain safety through protocol modification.

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