Treating farm animals humanely

 
  Fall 2016
Download 2236K pdf file ("FN_SepOct2016_APPROVED.pdf")PDF
(2236K)
     Subscribe to our free E-Newsletter, "Agri-News" (formerly RTW This Week)Agri-News
This Week
     Field Notes HomeField Notes Home
 
 
 
 It’s not a pleasant scenario, but sometimes farm animals can be injured or develop health conditions that may require emergency treatment, and in the event they are unfit for travel, even immediate slaughter.
When such situations arise, it is important to consider the welfare of the animal and act in the most humane way possible to mitigate suffering.

There are three options available for dealing humanely with these animals:

1. Euthanize the animal.

2. Contact a mobile butcher to slaughter the animal. Using this option means the meat is considered uninspected and cannot be sold—it can only be consumed by the owner and his immediate family.

For information on the emergency slaughter of feedlot cattle, visit http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/beef11992

3. Contact an appointed inspector to provide inspection—which allows the meat to be sold with Alberta.

For information on the appointed inspector program, visit http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/general/progserv.nsf/all/pgmsrv456

Increasing the awareness of the options available to producers for emergency slaughter helps to ensure humane handling and improve animal welfare.

 
 
 
 
Share via AddThis.com
For more information about the content of this document, contact Eileen Kotowich.
This information published to the web on September 23, 2016.