The transport and slaughter of livestock is associated with various stressors that need to be minimised. Farm slaughter can reduce stress - transport to the slaughterhouse is no longer necessary. In Switzerland, only a very small proportion of poultry is currently slaughtered on the farm. Most laying hens and broilers are transported over long distances for slaughter, sometimes even to neighbouring countries. This is because there are very few poultry slaughterhouses in Switzerland. The animals spend a lot of time in the transport crates, with the associated animal welfare problems such as heat, cold, little space and long sobering-up periods. The aim of this project is to investigate and promote the farm slaughter of poultry.
There are currently two service companies in Switzerland that offer mobile slaughtering for poultry. The introduction of these slaughter facilities and other non-mobile farm slaughter methods are to be scientifically evaluated and optimised. The focus is on animal welfare. In order to minimise stress as far as possible, special attention will be paid not only to slaughter, but also to depopulation. The behaviour of the animals and stress-indicating parameters in the stall blood are examined.
Ideally, additional revenue can also be generated for farmers through better sales of products from animals that were slaughtered on the farm. For this reason, possible sales channels will be promoted. The project is being carried out together with KAGfreiland.
Project management
